2010 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos Must Pounce on Maurkice Pouncey

The Broncos top brass certainly have many factors to weigh in the hours leading up to the 2010 NFL draft.  Juggling their draft board, position needs, player values, and an uncertain NFL landscape can be enough to boggle the mind and create indecision.

But make no mistake about it, the Broncos have very specific goals that need to be achieved from Thursday through Saturday.

At the top of that list is to obtain a starting center that is capable of stepping in from day one.  McDaniels wants someone that can call the assignments and who is big and strong enough to play the power blocking scheme.

Maurkice Pouncey fits that description to a "T".  His work ethic, positive attitude, and award-winning resume will go a long way towards anchoring what could be an elite young offensive line.

The Broncos must act decisively though in order to get Pouncey, as many teams behind them in the draft will happily use a mid first-round pick on him.

No. 16: Tennessee Titans

With Kevin Mawae still in limbo, and not getting any younger, the Titans need a long-term solution at center, or at guard, if Eugene Amano moves into the starting center role.

No. 18: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers need so much offensive line help that they wish there were Pouncey quadruplets instead of twins.

No. 19: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have worked Pouncey out and were very impressed with him.  Pouncey would be a starting RG for the Falcons immediately while taking over for the under-rated Todd McClure down the road.

No. 22: New England Patriots

McDaniels' mentor-nemesis has the same gleam in his eye for Pouncey and rumors are that he wants to move up several spots to get him.

No. 23: Green Bay Packers

Starting guards Spitz and Colledge were both tendered for one more year. Tackle is a more pressing need, but they have been impressed with Pouncey.

No. 24: Philadelphia Eagles

Philly needs interior line help at guard and center. They have multiple high picks to move around wherever they want to be in the draft to get their man.  This is certainly the team to be most concerned about stepping in front of us to get Pouncey.

No. 25: Baltimore Ravens

While they have Matt Birk at center, he is 34 years old and his contract is running out soon.  Bringing in Pouncey to play guard and then take over at center when Birk is done would be a sound strategy.

No. 29: New York Jets

Rumored to be shopping LG Alan Faneca and willing to trade up in the draft to get Pouncey.

Sitting just ahead of the Broncos in the draft order is the Jacksonville Jaguars who are taking offers to trade down, but they also have needs that Pouncey could fill. This position is the dangerous one for the Broncos' hopes to draft Maurkice.

The Broncos cannot afford to pass up Pouncey, despite the NFL's historical aversion to drafting centers early in the first round.  Throw that rule of thumb out of the window and do what is best for the team.  If we try to play games with trading back into lower picks we could run the risk of not getting our man.

Maurkice is so talented that he is the exception to the rule, the mold-breaker, and missing out on him would be cause for regret for many years to come.  This is a draft that is very unique with defensive tackles and safeties at the top of the draft board and the depth of talent at most positions reaching into the fourth or fifth rounds.  Using "rules of thumb" in this draft could end up being very costly.

So, if Rolando McClain is still there at No. 11 and the Giants are on the phone wanting to swap picks with their No. 15 selection if they throw in a fourth rounder, it would certainly be tempting to take the trade or to even take McClain ourselves.  But that would create an opportunity for any of the above teams to move into the 12 to 14-pick range and snatch this prize.

There are many players that can add value to our team at ILB, TE, WR, OG, CB, and DE later in the draft.  The drop-off between Rolando McClain in the first round and Brandon Spikes, Donald Butler, or Jamar Chaney in the third or fourth rounds is marginal compared to the drop-off in talent from Pouncey to Matt Tennant or J.D. Walton later in the draft.  Dez Bryant brings lots of talent but many concerns while guys like Arrelious Benn, Demaryius Thomas, Damian Williams, Mardy Gilyard, and Brandon LaFell could all be better professionals drafted in later rounds.

No other player in this draft class can match Florida's Maurkice Pouncey in all the aspects that the Broncos need in a center. Rarely does such a convergence of opportunity, talent, and need come together and the Broncos cannot afford to pass it up.

Take Pouncey with the 11th pick and know that we have another anchor in a championship foundation put in place.

And he already looks good in the orange and blue!