Broncos: Boom-or-Bust Prospects Denver Should Gamble on in NFL Draft
Though NFL teams would like to hit on every selection they make in the draft, the reality is that's very tough to do. In fact, the draft is often about taking chances.
The teams that take those chances are often rewarded, as was the case when the Minnesota Vikings selected Randy Moss in 1998 after he fell down the board due to issues off the field.
At the same time, teams are often burned, usually a lot more often, when selecting a player with character flaws or prior injuries.
So which players are worth the risk, and which ones aren't? That is the million dollar question general managers ask each other every year heading into the draft.
Here, we have identified seven players who may be considered risky picks for one reason or another.
Whether it be a previous injury history, problems off the field or just questions about whether they have the skills to play in the NFL, they are all players who the Denver Broncos should roll the dice on if given the chance.
Dorial Green-Beckham, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
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Dorial Green-Beckham may be the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the entire draft class, but someone will take a chance on him.
Green-Beckham began his collegiate career at Missouri, but the school suspended him and kicked him out of the program following an incident in which he allegedly pushed a woman down at least four stairs. Prior to that, he had multiple marijuana-related incidents.
At 6'5", 225 pounds, Green-Beckham is a physical specimen at wide receiver. He backs up his size with incredible athleticism.
He would become an instant threat on any offense because of his ability to go get the ball over defenders. He's not Calvin Johnson, but he can make the type of plays Johnson is capable of.
"Dorial Green-Beckham isn't just best raw WR talent in this draft. Might be the best raw football talent at any position in draft, period
— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) February 5, 2015"
The Broncos don't necessarily need another wide receiver, but they didn't need one last year either when they selected Cody Latimer in the second round.
You can never have enough options at wide receiver in today's NFL, and though Green-Beckham's troubled past presents a serious red flag, the team that takes a chance on him could strike gold.
Gerod Holliman, Free Safety, Louisville
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The perfect complement to the hard-hitting T.J. Ward in the defensive backfield is a safety who can track down the ball and come up with turnovers.
There is no better free safety in the entire draft who can do that better than Gerod Holliman, who tied an NCAA record with 14 interceptions last season. That helped him earn the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back.
With Rahim Moore set to hit free agency, the Broncos could take a chance on Holliman at the bottom of the second round.
But as good as Holliman was at going after the ball at Louisville, his skills aren't totally refined in order to shine at the professional level.
He can get beat across the middle easily, and with the issues Denver has had with defending tight ends in recent years, that would be an issue that would need to be addressed.
Additionally, he struggles against the run and would need a major improvement in that area. If not, he'd probably be relegated to nickel and dime packages for the most part.
Still, if the Broncos lose Moore, Holliman could be a possible replacement.
Tyler Kroft, Tight End, Rutgers
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Julius Thomas could very well be on his way out of Denver as a free agent. If that becomes the case, the team will have to address the tight end position, even if it chooses to re-sign Virgil Green.
One way the Broncos could do that would be to draft Tyler Kroft out of Rutgers in the middle of the draft.
At 6'6", 240 pounds, Kroft is built more like a wide receiver than a tight end, but he still can get the job done as a blocker. He would need to develop his skills more as a route-runner, but the physical tools are there.
Kroft has good hands and is tough to bring down after making the catch. He could be a younger version of Jacob Tamme, a player Peyton Manning was always able to get the most from.
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Denzel Perryman, Linebacker, Miami (Florida)
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The major knock on Denzel Perryman is his height. He stands just 5'11". However, the rest of his game is quite good.
Perryman is a great run defender and shows some explosiveness in his tackling ability. He is also very good at slipping blocks to make a play.
But where Perryman is most impressive is in pass coverage. He quickly diagnoses plays and drops back into coverage. He is adept at covering tight ends and was even able to stick with most slot receivers during his time at Miami.
Perryman may not have the desired height, but he plays the position well. The Broncos should have a shot at him toward the end of the second round, though Mike Mayock feels he could be a first-round pick.
"On NFLN, Mike Mayock says he thinks Denzel Perryman can be a first-round pick if he "runs well at the Combine."
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 24, 2015"
Depending on what happens with free-agent linebacker Nate Irving, Denver could be looking for another inside linebacker.
T.J. Yeldon, Running Back, Alabama
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Is there a bigger boom-or-bust position in today's NFL than running back? Perhaps that's why a running back hasn't been drafted in the first round in either of the last two drafts.
T.J. Yeldon definitely has the talent to play running back in the NFL; he'll just have to prove that he can do two things.
First of all, he has to protect the football. At Alabama, he was prone to fumbling. In addition, he'll have to show he can help in protecting the quarterback as a blocker. That is the difference between a running back who sees a high number of snaps and one who gets a few touches each game.
Broncos fans may point to the performance of C.J. Anderson last season as reason for Denver to shy away from selecting another running back this year.
But the only thing they have behind Anderson is uncertainty with Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball. In fact, Anderson isn't even guaranteed to be the starter next season.
Yeldon is a quick running back who is able to execute perfect lateral cuts in order to avoid defenders. He hits the hole hard and has very good vision.
If he can protect the ball, he has a bright future in the league.
Ty Sambrailo, Tackle, Colorado State
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If you want to say that Ty Sambrailo didn't face stiff competition while playing at Colorado State, you'd be right. But that doesn't mean his game can't translate to the NFL.
The Broncos will almost certainly address the offensive line in the offseason, and bringing in a quality tackle like Sambrailo would be an excellent choice.
Sambrailo shows terrific lower-body agility, and he is a very aggressive player. While at Colorado State, he also showed his versatility.
He played in four of the five offensive line spots.
Sambrailo was not highly recruited coming into college, but he developed himself into a good offensive lineman, eventually earning the starting left tackle spot for Colorado State.
He would probably need to work on his strength and conditioning at the next level, but he has the tools to be a fixture on a team's offensive line for many years to come.
Jordan Phillips, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma
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At 6'6" and 334 pounds, Jordan Phillips is a big interior defensive lineman who is much quicker and more agile than one would think by just glancing at him.
Phillips is a powerful man who can disrupt the running game as well as get after the quarterback.
The Broncos will have a decision to make with free-agent defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. But even if they do re-sign him, Phillips could prove to be a better option than former first-round pick Sylvester Williams.
The questions surrounding Phillips as he prepares for the draft will largely center around his health. He had an operation done on his back that caused him to miss most of the 2013 season. As a result, he was a starter for just one full season at Oklahoma.
There are a few things that Phillips will have to sharpen up, such as using his hands more effectively and getting to the point of attack more frequently, but the back surgery will be the biggest question mark.
"Lots of folks asking who I like in draft. Looking at Oklahoma DT Jordan Phillips early. Had back injury but could be answer at NT. #Colts
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) February 5, 2015"
If he can show that the old injury won't be a future setback, he is well worth drafting, even in the first round.
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