Pro Football Weekly and Riddell present ...
2002 NFL draft
Broncos bolster WR depth
Lelie a move for the future more than the present
By Andy Hanacek, Associate editor
April 20, 2002
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| The Broncos didn’t miss the playoffs by much last season, and the
final result wasn’t indicative of how good the team really was. Injuries to WR Ed
McCaffrey and QB Brian Griese really slowed the offense, but the defense played solid
football all season long, ranking eighth in the league overall. The Broncos were very,
very active in free agency last season, but their draft wasn’t very successful. This
year, it seems that they’ve started out on the right track. After an active
free-agency period, they have brought back TE Shannon Sharpe and added WR Rob Moore and OT
Ephraim Salaam.
It seemed as though the Broncos’ two biggest needs were at wide receiver and
cornerback, and Denver addressed one of those needs, selecting Hawaii WR Ashley Lelie. The
depth questions that plagued the Broncos last year at wide receiver shouldn’t crop up
this season.
Lelie was somewhat of a tease to NFL scouts. Leading up to the Combine, all the rage
was about Lelie’s anticipated 40-yard dash workouts. But Lelie tweaked his hamstring
and could not run that weekend. At the time, Lelie had shot up draft boards like a rocket
based on his potential speed.
When his Pro Day rolled around, the anxiety of NFL scouts and draftniks rose once
again. But Lelie’s hamstring let him down again during the 40-yard dash, when he
pulled up midstride. This dropped Lelie back down on draft boards across the nation, as
teams did not want to take a chance with Lelie’s tender hammy.
The knock on Lelie is that he’s not extremely big, but small receivers have
excelled in this league before. He is also not the best route runner in the nation, but
that can be taught over time. With veterans such as McCaffrey, Sharpe and WR Rod Smith in
front of him to teach him, Lelie shouldn’t have a problem learning the ins and outs
of the Denver offense and life in the NFL in general.
Clearly this is a depth move for now, but one that looks to the future. McCaffrey will
turn 34 in August and Smith will turn 32 in May. These guys aren’t on their last
legs, but the Broncos need to begin looking for their replacements. Lelie possesses the
potential to be one of those replacements, and he should be well-groomed by the time his
full-time turn rolls around. |
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