As we saw in last week's SB Nation NFL mock draft, the Denver Broncos moved to a more disruptive player in Nick Fairley with the No. 2 overall pick. Two weeks before the Broncos selected Alabama Crimson Tide DE Marcell Dareus because he was the safe pick. Well, this week in SB Nation's latest 2011 NFL mock draft, the Broncos are back to the safe pick with Dareus.
Dareus is a great pick, just as Brian Galliford writes. There's nothing wrong with the selection, but why not play into the apparent interest the Broncos have in this year's crop of quarterbacks? Cam Newton goes No. 1 overall to the Panthers in this version, so why not have the Broncos draft Blaine Gabbert at No. 2? It's a mock draft, after all. Having quarterbacks go No. 1 and No. 2 in a mock draft would open up potential scenarios not seen in other versions.
And the lack of trades also hurts since those throw curveballs in the process. Of course, without a new CBA in place, players can't be traded, only draft picks. That would make it harder for trades to happen. So, maybe it is better to just mock the first round without any trades.
The NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 28 and runs through Saturday, April 30.