The Broncos should consider a Lawrence Welk deal with the Houston Texans.
A one and a two and a three … dunth, dunth-dunth, dunth, dunth, dunth.
No, Welk is not a prospect in the NFL draft. The late accordion player-bandleader would begin every song with “A one and a two and …”
If the Broncos traded their 28th, 59th and 133rd picks to coach Gary Kubiak’s former team — whose general manager, Rick Smith, used to be Denver’s director of pro personnel — they would get the 16th choice in the first round.
They could circumvent, and outwit, the San Diego Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs and select the draft’s best offensive tackle.
The Broncos draft 6-foot-6, 329-pounder Ereck Flowers from the University of Miami, and John Elway sends bouquets of roses to the Chargers and the Chiefs.
The Broncos would end up with their starting right tackle for 2015, and a possible future replacement for left tackle Ryan Clady.
Flowers is a heavy load who can pass block and run block, and move. The Kevin Costner-like deal may seem like a hefty price, but the Broncos actually would lose a pick only in the second round. They would obtain No. 16 and still have a third-rounder (143 in a previous trade with Chicago — when John Fox was the Broncos’ coach). And they would retain a total of nine (with four compensatory picks).
Why give up all three? According to the NFL draft trade value chart, those three Broncos picks would be an aggregate 1,000.5 points, and the Texans’ position is worth 1,000.
The Broncos, currently at 28th in the first round, would pass San Diego (17), Kansas City (18), Cleveland (19) and Carolina (25). Those four salivate over an offensive tackle too.
Voila.
The Broncos sign one of these two free-agent centers: Will Montgomery (a starter the last half of 2014) or Chris Myers (who started for Kubiak in Houston). Both played in the zone-blocking system. With a healthier Clady, and Ben Garland and new acquisition Shelley Smith competing for the starting job at left guard, and Louis Vasquez returning to right guard where he belongs, Montgomery or Myers, and Flowers taking over at right tackle, the unsettled offensive line would be set. Chris Clark (tackle), Michael Schofield (tackle), Matt Paradis (center) and Garland or Smith would be the backups.
Don’t like that idea, John?
OK, I got others.
The Broncos can draft Cameron Erving out of Florida State. Erving began last season as a tackle but moved to center, and also could be a guard in the pros. A solid pick, but Erving’s not Flowers, and he probably couldn’t start at any of those spots as a rookie.
Juwan Thompson probably will move to fullback because of the crowd at running back.
The Broncos are shy of depth at defensive end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and safety. And they never can possess enough corners. So they must utilize third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks at all those positions, especially at free safety and defensive end. And they need to find someone to spell DeMarcus Ware, because he did wear down, and out, last season.
I like the draft’s best name — UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa.
Oddly, though, many expert types believe the Broncos will select a nose tackle in the first round. The Broncos felt Pot Roast had become Pork Belly, and most others in the NFL agreed. He didn’t even receive a guarantee for one year. Danny Shelton of the University of Washington will be gone when the Broncos pick, but they could choose 6-5, 329-pound Jordan Phillips out of Oklahoma. He has surprising mobility and pass-rushing talent.
Then there’s the Kubiak running back influence. The last time Kubiak persuaded the Broncos to draft an injured running back was in 1995 when he was the offensive coordinator. They took Georgia’s Terrell Davis in the sixth round. Todd Gurley, who tore his ACL in his final season at Georgia, will be selected late in the first round. In one game before the injury he rushed 15 times for 198 yards and returned a kickoff 100 yards.
Hurly Gurley Man?
The Broncos can have a champagne music draft in honor of Welk.
Woody Paige: woody@woodypaige.com or twitter.com/woodypaige