POD Community Mock Draft: Pick No. 18

Rd. # Player Pos. College 1 18 Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia General Manager: tricks318

With the eighteenth pick of the 2009 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Denver Broncos select Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno.

Here is tricks318's reasoning for the pick:

This was a really, really tough one to figure out. I've changed it 10 times in my head while writing this. Denver really needs a Nt still, but the only interior defensive lineman left that would be close to value are 4-3 tackles, too small to be the space eating Nt's a 3-4 requires. Past that they could use more linebackers, and Clay Matthews is still there, but I'm not sure how he fits in their defense, and not many teams can justify 2 first round Lb's. Even though they solidified it in the off-season and have one of the best corners in the game, they could still use secondary help, and Vontae Davis is REALLY tempting here. In the end though, with this being the second pick the Bronco's have in the first round, I just went with as much value as I can possibly get and still get a player who will make an immediate impact, meaning the first running back taken, Knowshon Moreno.

I really hesitated because the Bronco's don't usually use first round picks on running backs, and the one first rounder the Patriots used didn't turn out well, so I'm unsure that either Bowlen or Xaviers/McDaniels would be willing to take a running back. He is the best player available though, and after toughening up the run defense with the first pick, it gives a little leeway for the second. I don't think there is any question, however, about his talent, and surely he is worth the 18th overall pick. He lacks ideal size but is tough as nails. I can't remember him missing any games at Georgia, so pounding the rock up the middle won't be a problem, and he has the speed to get to the corner. He's not a great blocker, but I'd imagine he'd be utilized more as a receiving back than kept in to protect the Qb, especially with such a solid O-line.

I think the Bronco's would be happy coming away with a haul of Maualuga and Moreno, getting one player to address their most dire needs and getting a major impact player that will give Kyle Orton one of the best supporting casts of any Qb in the NFL. I know a lot of people would have liked a Qb somewhere in those 2, but Kyle Orton is the starter going into next year, and is a 5 year vet, meaning that, until Orton proves he can or can't play, the Bronco's do not have a need at Qb.