Broncos Draft preview: Positions of need – 9NEWS.com
KUSA—Trying to keep up with the Great Pursuit of Colin Kaepernick was all-consuming for a spell but now has the feel of wasting too much time.
And now it’s snowing outside by the feet in what can now be officially called late April. What else am I going to do? Might as well to start paying attention to the draft.
Specifically, the Denver Broncos’ draft.
Before getting into exactly what the Broncos will do with their first selection, which currently stands as the No. 31 overall pick, let’s review their current situation.
First, they have 10 draft picks, three more than the base allotment of seven, or one per round. The extra three picks gives the Broncos ammunition to both acquire Kaepernick from the San Francisco 49ers and move up from their No. 31 spot.
Another note about the Broncos set of 10 picks: Four come within the first three rounds, otherwise dubbed the “starter” rounds.
This depth with draft picks comes at a good time for the Broncos because the free-agent period left their roster in need of significant repair.
The only position that was upgraded was the offensive line. The Broncos also did well in keeping their three primary positions of strength — edge pass rushers, cover corners and outside receivers – intact.
The Broncos also picked up quality stopgaps at quarterback (Mark Sanchez) and defensive end (Jared Crick).
Let’s identify, with explanation, the positions where the Broncos currently have gaping holes. Those positions are quarterback, safety, 1B running back, pass-catching tight end, 3-4 defensive end, inside linebacker and long snapper.
Oh, and because this draft is deep with blockers and Russell Okung is essentially playing on a one-year contract, offensive tackle.
Here’s a look at why the Broncos have needs at those eight spots:
Quarterback: Peyton Manning retired. Brock Osweiler bolted for Houston. The Broncos did well to pick up the experienced Sanchez and they return Trevor Siemian, a seventh-round rookie a year ago who didn’t play.
The Broncos will pick up two more: One veteran and one through the draft. The round in which they draft a quarterback will depend on the veteran they pick up. If the Broncos acquire Kaepernick, they don’t have to draft a quarterback until the middle rounds at the earliest. The team could even go the undrafted, free-agent route with their No. 4 quarterback.
If they don’t get Kaepernick, the Broncos better draft a quarterback within the first three rounds.
Pie-in-the-sky picks: Paxton Lynch, Memphis; Kevin Hogan, Stanford
Safety
The Broncos wound up giving significant defensive snaps last year to five safeties. Only two return – strong safety T.J. Ward and free safety Darian Stewart.
They are the best two for they are the starters. But the reason the Broncos used so many safeties last year is Ward and Stewart hit like linebackers with safety bodies. Which is great play-to-play but not necessarily conducive to staying healthy week to week.
Stewart is the final year of his contract and Ward is in year three of his four-year deal so the Broncos could use a safety who can play in “big nickel’’ packages as a rookie and start in year two.
Pie-in-the-sky picks: Karl Joseph, West Virginia; Keanu Neal, Florida; T.J. Green, Clemson
1B running back: One reason why it was the Broncos’ year in 2015 is they went 19 games needing just two running backs: Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson.
Negotiations between the Broncos and Hillman, who has spent the past six weeks on the free-agent market, have heated up and he could re-sign by the team meeting Monday morning.
Even if Hillman does return, the Broncos figure to draft a young running back capable of taking a few carries a game behind Anderson, who is getting paid $6 million this year to be the 1A back.
Pie-in-the-sky picks: Devontae Booker, Utah; Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State
Tight end
After spending 10 seasons with three teams as Gary Kubiak’s starting tight end, Owen Daniels was released. Jeff Heuerman, a third-round pick last year who didn’t practice much less play as a rookie because of a torn ACL, is the projected starter and Virgil Green is a solid No. 2.
But neither are established pass catchers. Heuerman only had 26 and 17 catches in his final two seasons at Ohio State and Green’s 12 catches last season were the most in his five-year career.
The Broncos could add Garrett Graham, who had 49 catches in 2013 while playing for Kubiak and tight ends coach Brian Pariani in Houston.
One thing we learned about Kubiak last year is if he has four tight ends, he wants five. And if he has five tight ends, he wants six.
Pie-in-the-sky-pick: Hunter Henry, Arkansas; Jerell Adams, South Carolina
Defensive end
The two departures who are going to be the most challenging to replace are Osweiler and Malik Jackson. And Jackson may be the more difficult of the two because we still don’t know how Osweiler will handle the leap to full-time starter.
We know Jackson is one of the NFL’s most talented interior pass rushers. A 3-4 defensive end/4-3 defensive tackle who can disrupt the passing game and penetrate the backfield is hard to find.
It’s why Jacksonville is paying $18 million to Jackson in 2016. The Broncos found him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, but it took him a while to develop. He barely played as a rookie and didn’t break out until his fourth season.
Crick is a high-effort guy who can share reps with Vance Walker at the defensive end opposite Derek Wolfe, but the Broncos need to find a pocket pusher in the draft.
Pie-in-the-sky picks: A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama; Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss.
Inside linebacker
Danny Trevathan was a starter for two full seasons. Each season he was the Broncos’ leading tackler. He broke in as a nickel linebacker who had the speed to cover but following knee reconstruction in 2015 he became more of a run-stopper.
Trevathan wound up leaving for free agency and the Chicago Bears where he is reunited with former coach John Fox. The Broncos plan to have Todd Davis, Corey Nelson and Zaire Anderson compete for Trevathan’s vacated position.
Then again, because inside linebackers are not valued like they used to because of the proliferation of the passing game, some quality players at this position could fall and be on the board when the Broncos select at No. 31.
Pie-in-the-sky pick: Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
Long snapper
Aaron Brewer was a fine long snapper the previous four seasons but behavioral issues led to his release. He, too, was picked up by Fox in Chicago.
The Broncos signed Casey Kreiter from a four-snapper tryout on April 7. He had spent the previous two preseasons with the Dallas Cowboys but has yet to make a 53-man roster.
The Broncos will bring in one more rookie longsnapper to compete with Kreiter during OTAs. Long snappers are rarely drafted but with the Arizona Cardinals also needing to replace the retired Mike Leach, don’t be surprised if the Broncos use one of their two, seventh-round picks on this position.
Pie-in-the-sky picks: John DePalma, West Virginia; Nathan Theus, Georgia.
Offensive tackle
Kubiak has been asked his thoughts about this year’s draft and he’s often started his answer by saying it’s deep with offensive linemen. Hmm.
Ryan Clady is gone, Ty Sambrailo is getting moved from tackle to guard, and with the Broncos unlikely to pick up Okung’s $11.7 million payout in 2017, an offensive tackle who can redshirt in 2016 and start in 2017 and beyond is a possibility.
Pie-in-the-sky picks: Jason Spriggs, Indiana; Taylor Decker, Ohio State
Copyright 2016 KUSA
Copyright 2016 KUSA
