2015 Denver Broncos Mock Draft: Early Offseason 7-Round Predictions

A Super Bowl winner has not been decided, but the draft season is already underway for every team.

In the draft season, players do not compete, but instead, we see personnel departments go toe-to-toe. During this time of the year, it’s front office versus front office and scouting department versus scouting department in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos were able to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs for the third season in a row. They also found themselves bounced out of the playoffs in the divisional round for the second time in three years.

Even with all of their success, the Broncos are once again left wondering how to improve enough to win the Super Bowl.

Here, we take a look at what an initial big board for what each round of the draft could look like for the Broncos.

Keep in mind, things are still early in the process, and the team’s board could certainly change once a head coach and defensive coordinator are named and Peyton Manning decides whether to return for 2015.

All player grades, stats and data are courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com.

1st Round

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

In the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos should be targeting help on the offensive line. The team struggled up front in both pass- and run-blocking. In fact, the Broncos could add more than one starter to the offensive line this offseason either through the draft or free agency (or both).

The Broncos are going to be looking for the best possible player they can get regardless of position as they pick at No. 28 overall. Denver should have some fantastic players to choose from.

Ty Sambrailo, OT Colorado State

Protecting Peyton Manning is priority No. 1 for the Broncos. We saw the Broncos use a few different offensive-line combinations this year as they attempted to find the best group up front. All-Pro right guard Louis Vasquez moved outside to right tackle, but he was not as effective. Moving him back inside and selecting a premium tackle in the draft is a great plan.

The Broncos won’t have to look far for that kind of player. Ty Sambrailo was a standout player for the Colorado State Rams just up I-25 in Fort Collins. After playing both inside at guard and outside at tackle, Sambrailo locked down the left tackle spot for the Rams during his junior year.

He has the position versatility that teams covet, and he’s likely to be a star right tackle at the pro level. Sambrailo does a good job of playing with functional strength, and he can dominate an opponent at the line of scrimmage. He also has the footwork and lateral agility to stay with rushers on the edge.

Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota

If the Broncos let Julius Thomas leave in free agency, they’ll need to revamp the tight end position.

Virgil Green is also a free agent this year, but he’s more likely to return than Thomas because his contract won’t be as pricey. While Green could be counted on more as a receiver, the Broncos would be wise to look for a talented tight end in the draft.

Enter Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams. He’s a swift player with a skill set reminiscent of Dallas Cowboys star Jason Witten. Like Witten, Williams is difficult for linebackers to match up with, as he’ll line up in the slot or in line. He can eat up yards quickly after the catch, and he can make difficult catches seem routine.

2nd Round

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Depending on what they do in the first round, the Broncos will have a varying plan for the second round. There will be valuable players who see their draft stock slip into the end of the second round, and the Broncos will be ready to pounce on such players.

If they go with an offensive lineman in the first round, they could turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball in Round 2. Depending on who they add in free agency, the Broncos might be targeting an inside linebacker here.

Eric Kendricks, ILB UCLA

Like his brother, Philadelphia linebacker Mychal Kendricks, Eric Kendricks arrives at the play with natural violence. He’s a smart player who understands personnel structure as the play unfolds in front of him. Kendricks does a good job of finding the ball-carrier quickly, and he can make impact plays with his hard-hitting style.

He needs to work on his instincts in coverage, but Kendricks has the athleticism to keep up with athletic tight ends in space. Kendricks may not have the best measurables, but his bloodlines and college film point to a player who could be a starter and impact player in the NFL.

Denzel Perryman, ILB Miami

Another standout inside linebacker is Miami Hurricanes Denzel Perryman. A team captain, Perryman is an explosive player who can scape and flow quickly to the play. He’s not the biggest linebacker (5’10”, 242 pounds), but Perryman packs a punch at the point of attack.

His aggression can get the best of him, and he will get out of position at times on play-action fakes. Perryman is a tough player who barely missed any time in college. That durability and reliability make him an attractive option for the Broncos here.

3rd Round

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Whether the Broncos address their offensive line may not matter when this pick comes around.

Left guard Orlando Franklin is a free agent, and the team may allow him to move on. That means they would look to the draft for help at the position. This draft class has some very valuable interior players on the offensive line who should be on the board in the third round.

Arie Kouandjio, OG Alabama

The older brother of the Buffalo Bills' 2014 second-round pick Cyrus, Arie Kouandjio is a mountain of a man who can be dominant inside. His frame is ideal for the position at the pro level, and Kouandjio has plenty of experience mauling opponents regularly as a run-blocker.

Kouandjio has good quickness after the snap, and his initial punch can easily knock a defender back. Durability is a concern after he missed most of the season in 2011 with a knee injury. Kouandjio also has more technical flaws than most players with his experience.

Laken Tomlinson, OG Duke

When he was 10 years old, Laken Tomlinson moved to the United States after growing up in Jamaica. His introduction to football was in high school, and Tomlinson was recruited as both an offensive and defensive lineman. He decided on the offensive side of the ball, and Tomlinson was a solid starter with the Blue Devils for four years.

Tomlinson has a wide base, and he takes up a lot of space on the interior of the line. He’s difficult for defenders to get around, and he understands how to use leverage to his advantage. Tomlinson has strong hands and can dominate at the point of attack. Having only played right guard, versatility is a question mark, and Tomlinson needs to show better when asked to block at the second level.

If the Broncos want a dangerous return man, then there is an incredible playmaker who might be on the board here.

Tyler Lockett, WR Kansas State

A smaller target at 5’11”, 175 pounds, Lockett is an explosive player who is electric in the open field. His quickness and agility make him a great option for a team in need of a quality return man. Lockett also has the speed to fly by the defense in the blink of an eye as a receiver on deep routes.

5th Round

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

At this time, the Broncos don’t have a fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft. They traded this pick away when they moved up to acquire wide receiver Cody Latimer in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.

Even though they don’t have a fourth-round pick, the Broncos do have two picks in the fifth round. They have their own pick, but they also acquired the Bears' fifth-round pick when they moved back to select linebacker Lamin Barrow in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft.

The Broncos are likely to let Wes Welker move on in free agency this offseason. That creates a need at the position the draft could fill.

Phillip Dorsett, WR Miami

At the Scouting Combine later this year, we could see Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Phillip Dorsett record the fastest time in the 40-yard dash. At 5’9”, he’s a smaller target, but Dorsett can get open deep regularly.

He’s a threat on deep passes, and Dorsett can plant his foot in the ground to be dangerous after the catch. Dorsett also has a nose for the end zone. In 2014, he caught 10 touchdown passes even though he only gathered in 36 total catches for 871 yards.

Dorsett needs to work on his route running in order to play up to his potential as a pro. Medical checks will also be important for him, as he partially tore his MCL in 2013.

Kenny Bell, WR Nebraska

If the Broncos are looking for a wide receiver who runs crisp routes and is a fine blocker, then Kenny Bell from Nebraska may be on their radar at this point in the draft. He should already be there since his hometown is Boulder, Colorado.

Bell lacks the size (6’1”, 185 pounds) of other receivers available at this point in the draft, but he more than makes up for it with his savvy and guile. He can set up defenders before he makes his break on a route, and he does a good job of controlling his body when running sideline routes.

On long passes, Bell can track the ball over his shoulder consistently. He does a good job of making difficult grabs, and he is fearless in traffic.

6th Round

Dean Hare/Associated Press

The Broncos have done a good job in recent years of finding quality talent late in the draft. At this point, they will be looking for raw natural skill that they feel can develop.

This is about the point where the Broncos could be considering a quarterback, regardless of any decision Peyton Manning makes. In addition to a quarterback, the Broncos might have their eyes on raw players with incredible natural talent.

Connor Halliday, QB Washington State

Halliday had a record-setting career in college at Washington State, but his time as a collegian finished on a down note. In early November against USC, Halliday suffered a broken leg that ended his career. At the time, Halliday was leading the nation in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions per game.

He has a strong arm and sees the field well. Halliday can throw with touch, and he will even drop passes in the bucket on throws more than 25 yards downfield. He is an aggressive quarterback who can throw with good pass placement and anticipation.

Halliday is not a scrambler, but he does enough with his legs to keep plays alive while keeping his eyes downfield. He makes for a great development quarterback for the Broncos to take at this point in the draft. Even with his injury, it’s unlikely that Halliday is going to be available as an undrafted free agent.

Blake Bell, TE Oklahoma

The Broncos have no problem taking a chance on a player who is fairly new to a position. That’s the case with former Sooners quarterback (and now tight end) Blake Bell.

He began his career with Oklahoma as a quarterback, but the Sooners switched him to tight end in 2014. He recorded 16 catches for 214 yards and four touchdowns in his first year at the position. Bell has a great size and athleticism combination, measuring in at 6’6”, 260 pounds.

I watched him closely during the week of practice for the East-West Shrine Game this week, and I came away impressed.

Bell is certainly raw, but he’s a natural athlete who uses his knowledge as a former quarterback to find the right spots to be in when running routes. He already has minor nuances to his game down, as Bell will naturally square to the line of scrimmage and create the largest possible target for his quarterback.

The Broncos don’t have a seventh-round pick at this time. They traded it away last season when they acquired kicker Brandon McManus from the New York Giants.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via NFL.com or ESPN.com unless otherwise noted. Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac.com. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.