Denver Broncos Mock Draft: Updated Day 2 Predictions
How far would Shane Ray fall? That was one of the biggest questions being asked prior to the start of the first-round of the 2015 NFL draft. The answer came when the Denver Broncos selected him after trading up to the No. 23 slot in the first round.
In the trade with the Detroit Lions, the Broncos sent away the No. 28 overall pick, a fifth-round pick in this draft and next year's draft and offensive lineman Manny Ramirez.
That's a hefty price to move up five slots, and it shows the Broncos were determined to get the pass-rusher from Missouri. That could make the Broncos one of the most feared pass-rushing defenses in the league.
The Broncos still hold eight picks in this draft, and there are still holes to be filled and depth to be added. So how might they use those picks? Here's a look.
Second Round, No. 59 Overall: Ali Marpet, Guard, Hobart
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The Broncos surprised many fans with their selection in the first round, so they won't be afraid to use a second-round choice on a player from the Division III level.
John Elway and the organization must be sold on last year's third-round pick Michael Schofield, and he could be the front-runner to line up at right tackle this season. As a result, the Broncos move to beef up the interior of the offensive line, selecting Hobart's Ali Marpet.
Despite playing at a lower level and coming from a school most people have never heard of, Marpet is worth a pick at the bottom of the first round.
Marpet is an intelligent, technical player who could be dominant as soon as he learns the system. Though he played against inferior competition while at Hobart, he showed well at the Senior Bowl.
The Broncos need to address the offensive line soon, especially now that Ramirez has been traded. Marpet would be a solid choice.
Third Round, No. 92 Overall: Cody Prewitt, Free Safety, Mississippi
2 of 8Some might consider this pick a reach in the third round, but the Broncos will want to make sure they land Cody Prewitt. He would be a perfect addition to the team.
Not only would he replace Rahim Moore, who joined the Houston Texans via free agency, he would be a better option.
Prewitt plays the position very well, capable of coming up to lay a thunderous hit on a running back or making a play on the ball in coverage, he does it all.
A member of the All-SEC first team in 2013 and 2014, Prewitt posted 12 interceptions during his time at Mississippi. He also had 247 tackles and five forced fumbles.
The Broncos could possibly find him in the fourth round, but they'll decide not to take that risk and snatch him in the third.
Fourth Round, No. 133 Overall: Tyeler Davison, Defensive Tackle, Fresno State
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The Broncos decide to bypass defensive tackles such as Grady Jarrett and Carl Davis and settle on Fresno State's Tyeler Davison. Much less heralded than either of those two players, Davison brings plenty to the table.
Very quick off the snap and possessing impressive strength, Davis had 14.5 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss in his time at Fresno State. He was dominant in many games and would be a nice under-the-radar pick in the fourth round.
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Fifth Round, No. 164 Overall: Bryce Hager, Linebacker, Baylor
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Time to find help at the inside linebacker position, and Bryce Hager is still on the board.
Hager is a supreme tackler with great play recognition. Though he's a little undersized at 6'1" and 235 pounds, Hager understands the position very well and plays with great technique. He rarely misses a tackle.
He relies on his instincts rather than his strength or athleticism, so you worry about him getting pushed around at the next level. If chosen, the Broncos would have to work with him on getting off blocks and he'd likely just be a two-down, rotational player until he could become more reliable in coverage.
Still, an inside linebacker who is this reliable as a tackler is worth a pick in the later rounds.
Sixth Round, No. 203 Overall: Wes Saxton, Tight End, South Alabama
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The Broncos could address the tight end position earlier in the draft, but they don't really need to due to the additions of Owen Daniels and James Casey.
That's how they can afford to wait and take a developmental prospect like Wes Saxton.
Very raw in his skill set, Saxton is a freakish athlete who moves very well for a man near 250 pounds. He also has excellent hands for a player that size and is tough to bring down after the catch, plowing through defenders and fighting for extra yardage.
The coaching staff would need to work with Saxton on running better routes and developing his skills as a blocker, but as stated, they have the players in place for Saxton to sit back and learn from.
In the sixth round, there would be some good value with this pick.
Seventh Round, No. 250 Overall: Chris Bonner, Quarterback, Colorado State-Pueblo
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The Broncos will likely address the quarterback spot in this draft, but selecting a player such as Garrett Grayson or Bryce Petty doesn't seem likely.
Instead, they elect to wait until the very end of the draft and grab the much lesser-known Chris Bonner from the Division II level.
Bonner is the tallest quarterback in the draft at 6'7", but he is very mobile for a player that size. With a strong arm that can make all the throws, he becomes a very intriguing prospect.
Though Brock Osweiler won't play in the 2015 season unless Peyton Manning suffers an injury, the Broncos still need to get him as ready as he can to eventually take the reins. However, with his contract running out at season's end, they will have a big decision to make.
Drafting Bonner to come in and compete with Zac Dysert for the team's third-string quarterback or a spot on the practice squad makes a lot of sense given the circumstances.
Seventh Round, No. 251 Overall: Levi Norwood, Wide Receiver, Baylor
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The Broncos need a player who could come in and help on special teams and have a chance to be a developmental prospect at wide receiver. That could lead the team to select the sibling of one of their current players.
Levi Norwood is the younger brother of current Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood.
Though Omar Bolden did spark the team with a few nice kickoff returns last season, the Broncos don't really have a player who can be a fixture as a return man on the roster.
Norwood could come in and take a crack at it or earn a spot on the practice squad, much like Isaiah Burse last season.
Though he would face a huge uphill battle to make the team, using a late seventh-round pick on Norwood wouldn't hurt.
Seventh Round, No. 252 Overall: John Crockett, Running Back, North Dakota State
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With their last of three consecutive picks in the seventh round, the Broncos take a shot at running back John Crockett out of North Dakota State.
Crockett is a physical runner who gained 4,309 yards and ran for 41 touchdowns in college. Last season, he gained 1,994 yards on the ground.
But Crockett also has the tools to be a complete running back. He began to develop as a receiver out of the backfield during his senior season, and he is able to step up and protect the quarterback as well.
If the Broncos could find Crockett near the end of the draft with this pick, he would be a bargain who could eventually develop into a star player.
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