ENGLEWOOD – Saturday’s NFL draft, at least for the Denver Broncos, wasn’t as much about whom they drafted as it was about how much better coach Mike Shanahan and company made the team.

In that vein, the day wasn’t as much about their two players as it was about the players their divisional opponents drafted.

The question is, did the Broncos hold serve? Did they match wits well enough and get as lucky with their selections as the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.

“Any time you have teams picking fourth, fifth and 12th, you think you’re going to get better,” Shanahan said. “Obviously Kansas City has had a number of picks and their first three picks, in my opinion, have been excellent. The Raiders got a back that they think is a big-time, productive back. He’s got size. He’s got speed. They see him fitting in their offense. I think both Kansas City, the Raiders and us all three got better today.”

But how much better?

There are a lot of holes when you finish 7-9 as the Broncos did last season. So, the Broncos would’ve been hard-pressed to make a few bad picks.

The Broncos needed to get better on the offensive and defensive lines. With wide receiver Javon Walker leaving for the Raiders, the Broncos needed somebody to not only fill that position, but somebody who could excel. And the return game hasn’t been what the Broncos have wanted for years. So finding somebody who could field punts and kickoffs had to be high on the list.

The Broncos did well taking Boise State offensive tackle Ryan Clady. Shanahan said the Broncos were eyeing Clady the entire time, but that’s what he’s supposed to say.

Still, what Shanahan said that he wasn’t supposed to was surprising.

“He’ll start at left offensive tackle the day he comes in,” Shanahan said to a smattering of laughs.

But Shanahan was serious. The left tackle spot is Clady’s to lose. It’s one thing to draft a guy. It’s another to give him the starter’s job less than 15 minutes after drafting him.

“The thing that impresses you is his feet,” Shanahan said. “I haven’t been around a tackle that has that type of feet….He’s got excellent, excellent feet.”

That’s coach-speak for he’s quick, agile or nimble for a big man.

Clady’s agility should serve him well while learning zone blocking schemes. In zone blocking, the offensive linemen have an area they cover instead of having to block a specific, predetermined opponent. Success in that requires the quick feet Shanahan obviously loves.

So, give Shanahan an “A” for that one.

It’ll be interesting watching the battles between Clady and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, the Chiefs’ top pick.

Taking kickoff and punt returner Eddie Royal with the second pick was a decent move. It filled a need, but it could’ve been filled later.

I would’ve liked to have seen the Broncos go defense with that pick, something in a front seven specifically because of the Raiders – Colorado’s Jordon Dizon would’ve been great.

As much as Broncos fans will hate it, the Raiders will be good sooner than later. The Raiders’ offense looks like it’s catching up with a defense that has been good for several years. The Raiders have two young players in quarterback JaMarcus Russell and running back Darren McFadden who should be an excellent tandem for the better part of a decade.

The Broncos haven’t had the greatest success bringing in defensive linemen lately. The draft seemed like the best place to make sure they held serve.

In the end, they didn’t.

Boise State’s Ryan Clady was selected by the Broncos in the first round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS