I'm going to make this short. I'm going to make this sweet. I know many of my fellow Bronco fans don't like Dez Bryant. I also know that many (including me) were beyond happy to get rid of Brandon Marshall and get better compensation than the Santonio Holmes and Anquan Boldin trades combined. But one thing remains clear. The Broncos need to add a playmaker on offense, maybe two if Eddie Royal is still in the witness protection program come fall 2010.
That is where Dez Bryant can step in. I know, I know the kid has had some troubles in his life off the field. He's getting painted with the broad brush of Brandon Marshall, an Randy Moss but if the Broncos want to make an impact at pick 11 Dez is the guy they should be looking at.
Here are just five reasons why.
1. Dez Bryant is only 21 years old.
Age is in his favor. Josh McDaniels inherited a 25 year old, unhappy, reckless football player in Brandon Marshall. There was really nothing Coach McDaniels could do to reel him into the program. With Dez, things are a bit different. At age 21 he is a blank slate that McDaniels and leaders like Kyle Orton and Daniel Graham can take under their wings. Not to mention Rod Smith is a phone call away. I bet that his streak of tardiness to meetings instantly stops soon as he's a pro.
2. Dez Bryant does not have a police record.
The character movement is strong in Denver. Dez Bryant doesn't seem to fit into the program on paper but when you look closer at his "character issues" you find a young man who made it out a rough background and has found immense success at such a young age. The only thing he did "wrong" as far as breaking a rule was violating an NCAA bylaw by having lunch with Primetime and failing to fully tell the NCAA about it. He was also accused of receiving a cell phone from someone which would break an NCAA rule as well, but never found guilty.
3. Dez Bryant is the best prospect at his position to come along in a long time.
Here's a list of first round talents at the wide receiver position.
2009: Mike Crabtree, Kenny Britt, Jeremy Maclin
2008: NO FIRST ROUND RECEIVER TAKEN.
2007: Calvin Johnson, Ted Ginn Jr., Dwayne Bowe, Robert Meachem, Buster Davis, Anthony Gonzalez
Coming out of college, Dez is better than every wide receiver in the last three years, barring Calvin Johnson. Michael Crabtree is arguable.
4. Eddie Royal and Jabar Gaffney aren't scaring anyone.
I think Eddie and Jabar are great guys and good players, but they aren't scaring any cornerback duos in the NFL. Eddie Royal suffered the sophmore slump last year and Jabar is a guy who came out of college as the next big thing but never made consistent contributions until he was a 3rd or 4th receiver in New England. In the division alone we have to see Nnamdi Asomugha twice. As I said before, a playmaker who can contribute right away is needed at the receiver positon in a big way.
5. Just Win Baby.
I find it very odd and irrational that many of the same fans that are calling for Josh McDaniels' head after one season are many of the exact same fans that don't want to draft Dez Bryant. Well you tell me, what other receiver not only looks the part but has the talent to step right in and fill Brandon Marshall's shoes? You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Either you want to win and draft Dez now, or you want to become a rebuilding team and draft players we will have to wait on like Dannario Alexando or Dezmon Briscoe. It's one or the other, and I think if you ask any fan they want to win.
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