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Josh McDaniels Embraces Pick Stockpiling Philosophy, But Does It Work?

Apr 23, 2010, 7:40 PM UTC

The Broncos are getting the most attention today primarily for their decision to take Tim Tebow with the 25th pick, but the team has made just as many waves with a series of trades executed before and during the first round.â†µâ†µIn the last 10 days, the Broncos have been involved with six trades involving draft picks, four of which happened during the first round last night. All told, it’s gotten them three additional picks in this year’s draft (including an extra first-round selection last night), plus a bonus second-round pick for next year. In that process, the team has also dealt often troublesome receiver Brandon Marshall to Miami and tight end Tony Scheffler to the Lions. â†µ

â†µâ†µObservers will note that head coach Josh McDaniels’ strategy mirrors that of his mentor, Bill Belichick, who has often taken the Jimmy Johnson/Bill Parcells approach to drafting, which dictates that it’s always better to stockpile draft picks unless a player available fits a clear need. Meanwhile, by moving down twice late in the first round last night, Belichick acquired an extra third and fourth round selection.â†µ

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â†µThe question, of course, is whether stockpiling always translates to success. While getting a bunch of lower-round picks increases the chances that the team could stumble upon an undiscovered talent without risking a first-round pick's high salary, it doesn't always mean that the approach always works as intended. In recent years, the Patriots, who have been the principle advocates of this approach, have had a harder time plucking great players from obscurity. When Jimmy Johnson tried it in his coaching stint with the Dolphins, he was never ever to replicate the bounty that came his way from the Herschel Walker trade in Dallas.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe pressure placed on McDaniels to get high value with his remaining selections in this draft is immense. A star receiver, however frustrating off the field, is a proven commodity. And he’s been replaced with a rookie who may not work out. A good receiving tight end is gone, and the future of the quarterback position is presumably being entrusted to someone whose ability to play the position on an NFL level has been frequently questioned. Right now, the best receiver in Denver is Eddie Royal, who had a decent but unspectacular rookie campaign. The coordinator who led the defense which served as the backbone of the team last year is gone. With all of that serving as context, McDaniels must have a lot of faith in the ability of Tim Tebow to take that much of a risk.â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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