The Denver Broncos coach made the former Heisman Trophy winner a first-round NFL draft pick Thursday, a bold move that surprised many in football, but not Florida coach Urban Meyer.
Tebow helped Florida win two national championships in the Gators’ run-heavy system, but many wondered whether he was worthy of a first-round selection because his skills may not translate to some NFL teams’ passing-centric offenses.
Tebow, he said, “has all the traits you’re looking for in terms of toughness, competitiveness, he’s intelligent, he’s won a lot of games, he’s a leader, he works hard, he’s got all the intangibles you look for in a player at that position.”
The Broncos traded three picks to Baltimore for the Ravens’ first-round pick, then took Tebow at No. 25 with two more polished quarterbacks, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, still available.
“The Denver Broncos are getting a winner,” Meyer said. “Tim will show on the field what he is capable of doing and more than anything Tim has a competitive fire that will constantly push him to get better and do whatever he can to help his team win.”
The Broncos gave up choices in the second (No. 43), third (No. 70) and fourth (No. 114) rounds to move back into the first round and draft Florida’s southpaw quarterback, whom McDaniels had raved about last week.
Although it’s highly unlikely he’ll be the starting quarterback in five months’ time, Tebow will begin his NFL career Sept. 12 in his hometown of Jacksonville when the Broncos play the Jaguars in the season opener.
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