Denver Broncos: Analyzing Latest NFL Draft Rumors and Reports
The Denver Broncos are putting the final touches on their draft board this week. General manager John Elway spoke to the media last week, and he indicated the team has yet to compile their own mock drafts, which prepare for multiple scenarios.
“We haven’t started yet. We’ll start those on Monday,” Elway responded. That means the Broncos will be looking at various ways the first round could shake out.
Drafting at the end of the first round, the Broncos are looking at all the possibilities before them. They could move up, although the team has yet to do that under Elway’s guidance.
“We’ll look at all of the different scenarios and look at all the possibilities. We do have some ammunition, which is good. You never have enough of them (draft picks) either.” Elway continued, “Sometimes the more bullets you have the more chances you have to be successful. There are two theories of thought there. It’s always expensive going up though.”
The team could move down in the first round of the draft, but with only four picks behind them on Thursday, that limits how much they could move. They could always move completely out of the first round like they did back in 2012 when their first pick was defensive end Derek Wolfe, taken 36th overall in that draft.
The Broncos have options, and we could see them go in any number of directions on the draft’s first night.
Let’s analyze the latest NFL draft rumors and reports coming in about the Broncos.
Shane Ray a Possibility?
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Missouri’s Shane Ray is arguably one of the best pass-rushers in this draft class. Most people aren’t making the connection with the Broncos, as they already feature star players outside like Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. However, a team can never have too many pass-rushers, and that makes Ray an option for Denver in the draft.
Jeff Legwold, from ESPN.com, reports the Broncos would take a long look at pass-rushers like Shane Ray late in the first round if he was available.
“If for some reason one of the premier edge rushers tumbles down the board, either because a team or two reached on a prospect or teams felt they needed something else, the Broncos would take a long look at Missouri outside linebacker/defensive end Shane Ray or Clemson’s Vic Beasley,” Legwold wrote.
Ray has been bothered by a turf-toe injury during the predraft process, and that could cause him to slide a bit in the draft. Rumors initially surfaced that Ray would need surgery to repair his injury, but he cleared the air on ESPN’s First Take. Ray said that his toe only needs time to heal, and he should be ready for the start of the regular season.
Ray can get after the quarterback with first-step quickness, a nonstop motor and closing burst. Ware seemed to wear down last year as the season went on, and Ray would be great to rotate in on certain downs as an extra pass-rusher.
Eric Kendricks Could Help
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The Broncos have a need at the linebacker position. Yes, they selected two linebackers in the draft last year (Lamin Barrow, Corey Nelson), but they might go back to the well this year.
Troy E. Renck, from The Denver Post, highlights Kendricks as a player who could help.
A tackling machine for the Bruins, Kendricks can play from sideline to sideline. He has a nose for the ball, and Kendricks arrives at the ball-carrier with natural violence.
Kendricks is smaller than ideal size-wise for an inside linebacker, but he does have the athleticism to cover on underneath routes. His lack of length could prevent him from making plays when covering larger tight ends, but he has the speed to stay with most players tasked with running routes in his area.
The Broncos already have Brandon Marshall (Sam) and Danny Trevathan (Bow) slated to start at inside linebacker in 2015. However, both are recovering from injuries/surgeries right now with the expected timeline of a return at the start of training camp. Marshall is recovering from foot surgery (Lisfranc), and Trevathan is recovering from the last (of two) knee injury he had last season.
Kendricks can make plays as a three-down player in the NFL. The Broncos may add him in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Eddie Goldman a Candidate Early?
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The defensive line could use some help via the draft. The Broncos will be utilizing a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and they need to find a fulcrum for the unit inside at defensive tackle.
Right now, Sylvester Williams should be considered the front-runner for the starting nose tackle job. Williams was a first-round pick in 2013, and the team is looking for him to take a big step this season after a disappointing 2014. Behind Williams, Marvin Austin will be counted on for competition.
A player the Broncos may pick in the draft is Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.
The nose tackle in a 3-4 defense is often a large player who essentially takes up space and eats up double-teams in order to free up the linebackers behind him to make tackles; Goldman fits that bill. Measuring in at 6’4”, 336 pounds, Goldman is a space-eater who plays with tremendous power.
He can stand strong as a run-stuffer, and Goldman has the violent-striking hands that scouts look for with an interior player.
An anonymous scout tells Mark Eckel, from NJ.com, that Goldman’s upside is limited. "He's a big, old, run guy. There's not much pass rush there. He's big and talented, but he's a two-down player.”
Goldman doesn’t have to be a pass-rusher in order to work for the Broncos. They are likely to use a rotation at nose tackle this year under Phillips. Goldman could be used on run downs or short-yardage situations, then he could come off the field in obvious passing situations.
We could see Goldman come off the board in the late first or early second round.
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Benardrick McKinney Will Be Strongly Considered
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Another inside linebacker the Broncos could be considering is Mississippi State’s Benardrick McKinney. Jeff Legwold, from ESPN.com, recently wrote about how the Broncos could show interest in the Bulldogs linebacker.
The need for depth and playmakers at linebacker is there, and McKinney might be a target in the second round for the Broncos.
McKinney has great size at the position. Measuring in at 6’4”, 246 pounds, McKinney is a take-on tackler who does not shy away from contact. He does a good job of using his length to shed blockers as he diagnoses the play in front of him.
The problem with McKinney is his lack of athleticism to cover at the pro level. In the NFL, we’re likely to see McKinney as only a two-down thumper.
The Broncos have options at Bow linebacker (weak-side inside linebacker) in guys like second-year pros Lamin Barrow and Corey Nelson. However, McKinney would give them better depth at Sam linebacker behind Brandon Marshall.
T.J. Clemmings Is on the Radar
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According to Denver Post Broncos beat writer Troy E. Renck, now is the time for the Broncos to add a building block. In his report, Pittsburgh’s T.J. Clemmings is said to be on the team’s radar.
Bob McGinn, from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, recently wrote about the best offensive linemen in the draft. In that article, McGinn featured quotes from an anonymous scout who had nothing bad to say about Clemmings. "I've got no negatives at all. He's got excellent strength, power, aggressiveness, tenacity. Good pass-block technician."
It’s easy to make the argument that Clemmings has the highest upside of any offensive tackle in this draft class.
Clemmings spent two years playing as a pass-rusher for the Panthers. He then switched to the offensive side and had two seasons of experience outside at tackle. He still plays with the ferocity of a defensive player, but he has the athleticism to keep defenders at bay.
He has the kick-step quickness to mirror edge-rushers on the outside, but Clemmings does have to work better against secondary (usually inside) moves.
If Clemmings is added by the Broncos, he can work on his technique and compete with guys like Michael Schofield and Chris Clark for the right tackle job.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.
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