The Complete Denver Broncos Draft Primer
The 2015 NFL draft is upon us, and the Denver Broncos are ready to add more talent to a team that still has championship hopes. At positions of need for the Broncos, this class is considered a deep group. That bodes well for the Broncos as they need to find impact players that can not only help them win now, but also win from now on.
The Broncos should begin the draft looking for help at right tackle, defensive tackle and linebacker.
They didn’t have a ton of money to use on free agents, but they did add a few key pieces in guys like tight end Owen Daniels and left guard Shelley Smith. The Broncos even added defenders who could play a role for them this season when they acquired defensive ends Vance Walker and Antonio Smith. We even saw Denver make a trade to add center Gino Gradkowski to the mix.
At this time, right tackle is going to be manned by either veteran Chris Clark or second-year pro Michael Schofield. Clark began the season at right tackle last year, but he was eventually replaced. Schofield was a third-round pick for the Broncos last year, but he was not active for a single game as a rookie.
The Broncos spent a first-round pick on defensive tackle back in 2013 when they added Sylvester Williams. As a rookie, Williams started about half the season and showed a bit of promise. Last season, Williams struggled to make a difference for the Broncos.
You can never have too many pass-rushers, and that’s why Denver may be looking at linebackers during this draft. They’ll feature an aggressive 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in 2015. Linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware will star on the outside, but Denver could use better depth behind those two.
Broncos general manager John Elway stated last week that the team is going to look at moving in either direction—up or down—in the first round. If they stay put with the 28th-overall pick, there should be plenty of quality talent for them to choose from.
Let’s get you primed and ready for the 2015 NFL draft.
Departures
1 of 5
The Denver Broncos were intent on letting their own free agents test the open market. This move meant they were likely to lose some key players from the 2014 roster, and they did.
One of the biggest losses is that of Pro Bowl tight end Julius Thomas. He developed from a fourth-round pick in 2011 into one of the best players at his position. Thomas scored 24 touchdowns over the last two years for the Broncos, and now he’ll be catching passes from Blake Bortles with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Peyton Manning lost a favorite target (and another tight end), as Jacob Tamme will be playing for the Atlanta Falcons this season. We’ll see how Manning builds on-field chemistry with the newcomers at the position.
The offensive line is going to have a different look this year. Last season’s starting left guard, Orlando Franklin, will now be lined up for the San Diego Chargers. The Broncos starting center in 2014, Will Montgomery, followed John Fox and Adam Gase to the Chicago Bears.
The Broncos lost a huge man in the middle of the defensive line when Terrance Knighton signed with Washington. This may be the player Denver regrets letting get away the most. Losing that size and dominance at defensive tackle could come back to bite the Broncos run defense.
The defensive line lost quality depth when Mitch Unrein decided to sign with the San Diego Chargers.
Another loss on defense is former starting free safety Rahim Moore. He was a second-round pick by the Broncos in 2011, and he had arguably a career-best season in 2014. Moore will now be playing for the Houston Texans.
The Broncos starting middle linebacker in 2014, Nate Irving, is now going to be playing for the Indianapolis Colts. There’s a good chance the two teams could meet once again in the playoffs this year as the Colts are arguably the strongest overall team in the AFC.
Additions
2 of 5
The Broncos didn’t have the salary-cap space to be as active in free agency as they were last season. With less money, the Broncos still were able to find several valuable players with quality starting experience.
Veteran tight end Owen Daniels was arguably the most important free agent they added this offseason. He’s played almost every snap of his pro career under head coach Gary Kubiak, and Daniels is set to be the lead player at the position. This Kubiak offense will be tight end heavy, and Daniels should become a favorite target of Peyton Manning in 2015.
The Broncos added another tight end with a history of playing under Kubiak by bringing in James Casey, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles. Casey is a jack of all trades but a master of none. He’ll give the team depth at tight end, but he’s mostly going to be used on special teams or as an H-back/fullback for the Broncos.
Another versatile player at tight end/H-back/fullback was picked up in Joe Don Duncan. The former Dixie State product is incredibly strong and athletic. He was an undrafted free agent in 2014 but was out of the league for most of last year as he recovered from a knee injury. He tried out for the Broncos at fullback, and that’s his likely spot if he makes the final roster.
The Broncos added a potential starting left guard when they picked up Shelley Smith in free agency. Smith, a former sixth-round pick by Kubiak with the Houston Texans, is a perfect fit for the new zone-blocking system. He will compete with players like Ben Garland to be the team’s starting left guard in training camp.
The defense got a few new players as well.
The Broncos added veteran depth and experience to the defensive line when they picked up both Vance Walker and Antonio Smith. Walker could start for the team at defensive end, and he’s a strong player who can set the edge regularly against the run. Smith played a ton of snaps for the Oakland Raiders last year at defensive tackle and struggled to impress. This season, Smith could take on a part-time role for the Broncos at both end and tackle.
The linebacker position received a boost with veteran Reggie Walker. He was a special teams standout for the San Diego Chargers, and that’s his likely role with the Broncos.
Losing Rahim Moore to the Houston Texans in free agency meant the Broncos were likely to add a free safety in free agency. They did that by snaring Darian Stewart. He played 14 games for the Baltimore Ravens last year, and Stewart is a capable player who could step in and start from day one for the Broncos.
Top Needs
3 of 5
Right Tackle
Perhaps the most glaring need on this team is at right tackle. The Broncos failed to add a right tackle in free agency, and this draft class has a quality group of right tackles available to select.
At this time, the Broncos would be relying on last year’s third-round pick, Michael Schofield, as a potential starter. Schofield made the final roster last season, but his problems with pass protection (and losing weight) caused him to be inactive for every game of his rookie year. At veteran minicamp this week, Schofield looked much bigger than he did at any point last season.
Schofield will be competing with veteran Chris Clark for the right tackle job in training camp. Clark began last season as the starting right tackle, but he was eventually replaced in the lineup because he struggled to impress. The zone-blocking system is a better fit for a player like Clark, and there’s a chance he could flourish in 2015.
Defensive Tackle
Simply put, it’s a risky move to blindly trust Sylvester Williams at nose tackle in 2015. The Broncos have to find alternative options at the fulcrum of their 3-4 defense. Williams, a first-round pick in 2013, struggled through a poor season in 2014.
Wade Phillips can utilize different-sized defensive tackles in his system. He doesn’t need to have huge run-stuffers in the middle of the line, but it would be a nice asset to have as a rotational/reserve player.
Phillips can also use a smaller, more athletic defensive tackle on the inside. This type of player would be asked to knife through the offensive line on the way to the quarterback. With quarterbacks getting rid of the ball so quickly in today’s NFL, creating interior pressure is a must.
Pass-Rusher
The Broncos are going to have a much more aggressive defense this year under Wade Phillips. In his blitz-heavy 3-4 design, the Broncos can never have too many pass-rushers to get after the quarterback.
Having linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware on the outside is a great asset for the Broncos. However, we saw Ware seem to wear down last year in the second half of the season. Adding another pass-rusher—perhaps with a premium pick—would enable the Broncos to keep all of their outside rushers fresh as the season goes on.
Tight End
Even though they added Owen Daniels to be their top tight end in 2015, the Broncos need to think about the future at the position. Daniels has rarely played a full 16-game season during his career. He’s only done it twice in the NFL, and the last season he played in every regular-season game was 2008.
The Broncos kept Virgil Green around with a new contract this offseason, and he’s a quality player with decent upside. He is an underrated receiver, but Green may not be good enough to be a lead tight end.
If the Broncos believe in Green as a top tight end, then they could add a tight end late in the draft. This would be some developmental player with athleticism and upside, but a player who doesn’t need to play right away.
If the Broncos want to add an eventual replacement for Daniels, then selecting a tight end in the first or second round would be their plan. This is not a great tight end class, so perhaps only the first round is the place to find one of these players.
Kubiak’s system regularly features two tight ends, and the Broncos have to improve depth at the position.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Top Targets
4 of 5
1. Eric Kendricks, Inside Linebacker, UCLA
UCLA’s Eric Kendricks is arguably the best three-down inside linebacker available in this draft. He has the speed, quickness and instincts to cover in the open field and play from sideline to sideline. Kendricks may not be a thumper as a run-defender, but he’s a sound tackler who can drag his man down regularly. If added, Kendricks would give the Broncos outstanding depth (and injury insurance) behind Danny Trevathan.
2. T.J. Clemmings, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
With limited experience playing offensive tackle, Pittsburgh’s T.J. Clemmings still might have the highest upside of any player at his position. A former defensive lineman, Clemmings has been playing tackle for two seasons. He has the size and athleticism necessary to be a standout player in a zone-blocking system. Clemmings is raw in terms of technique, but he has the natural talent to win the starting right tackle job right out of training camp.
3. Shane Ray, Outside Linebacker, Missouri
Some talented players may fall in the draft because of off-field concerns. A player who may see his draft stock slip is Missouri linebacker Shane Ray. On Monday, Ray was issued a misdemeanor citation for a traffic violation and possession of marijuana in Missouri. The timing of this infraction couldn’t be worse.
Ray is a talented pass-rusher who plays with an outstanding motor on the outside. He has violent striking hands, and Ray will use multiple moves to get to the passer. Without this off-field incident, we could see Ray go in the top 15 of the NFL draft. Now, Ray may fall within the range of the Broncos. They should consider adding him to the roster in the late first round.
4. Maxx Williams, Tight End, Minnesota
This is not a great tight end class, but there’s one player worth selecting in the first round at the position. Minnesota’s Maxx Williams has a skill set reminiscent of Jason Witten's (Dallas Cowboys).
Williams is a smooth athlete who creates mismatches because of his athleticism and run-after-the-catch ability. He’s not a seam-ripper with elite speed on downfield routes, but he is quick enough to get open against safety or linebacker coverage over the middle. Williams has strong hands and can regularly win at the point of the catch.
5. Malcom Brown, Defensive Tackle, Texas
At the end of the first round, Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown may still be on the board. He is a disruptive player in the middle of the line. At 319 pounds, Brown is quick off the line of scrimmage, and he can create interior pressure because of it. He’s laterally agile, but Brown also has the strength to anchor against the run.
Seven-Round Mock Draft
5 of 5
Round 1, Pick No. 28: Shane Ray
The Broncos may move up or down in the first round. If they stay at No. 28, then Ray is a fine pick. Ray can work as a part-time pass-rusher for the Broncos as a rookie. He can learn tips on how to be a better pro on the field from DeMarcus Ware. The veteran could also teach Ray how to be better off the field as well.
Round 2, Pick No. 59: Cedric Ogbuehi
This is a strong group of tackles in this draft class, so the Broncos should be able to find a potential starter in the second round. Ogbuehi may slide a bit in the draft because of a torn ACL he suffered in the bowl game against West Virginia earlier this year. He has the footwork and quickness to mirror rushers on the edge. Ogbuehi is not a powerful player, but he can improve his strength at the point of the play with improved technique.
Round 3, Pick No. 92: Garrett Grayson
The quarterback of the future may not yet be on the roster. Brock Osweiler, a 2012 second-round pick, was supposed to be that guy, but his contract is up after this season. That’s why the Broncos select Garrett Grayson in the third round. Grayson is arguably the most pro-ready quarterback in this draft class. He can work from under center, call audibles at the line of scrimmage, use his eyes to manipulate the defense and go through his progressions quickly.
Round 4, Pick No. 133: Blake Bell
The Broncos have a knack for finding and developing talent at the tight end position. Bell, a former quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners, only played tight end for one season in college. At 6’6” 260 pounds, Bell is a gifted athlete who can fly down the field. He has the size and leaping ability to work well as a red-zone target. His speed makes him a mismatch every time he steps on the field.
Round 5, Pick No. 143: Kyle Emanuel
The Broncos get a tackling machine with this pick. They are also getting a player who had 16.5 sacks last season, and Emanuel is a player known for creating pressure from the outside.
Round 5, Pick No. 164: Kurtis Drummond
Denver needs to add competition at the safety position this year. Drummond has good click-and-close ability to quickly swoop in on plays that happen in front of him. He has good ball skills and can compete as a center fielder for any defense.
Round 6, Pick No. 203: Ellis McCarthy
Late in the draft, it’s time to find players with developmental upside. McCarthy fits the bill as a player who went to UCLA with high upside but fell short of his potential. At 6’5”, 335 pounds, McCarthy has the size to stuff the run naturally—but he’s still got the athleticism to get some interior push as a part-time player.
Round 7, Pick No. 250: Zach Zenner
The Broncos get a highly productive collegiate rusher here. Zenner racked up three 2,000-yard seasons for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, and he has great instincts for running the ball. A one-speed runner, Zenner might be better off at fullback, where he can catch passes out of the backfield.
Round 7, Pick No. 251: Adrian Coxson
Denver needs to find a return man, and Coxson is the answer late in the draft. A former 4-star recruit of the Florida Gators, Coxson was supposed to replace Percy Harvin in the Gators offense. Instead, his father fell ill and Coxson transferred to Maryland. He then transferred to Stony Brook after Maryland’s coaching staff was gutted. At Stony Brook, Coxson was a productive player and has the upside to be a better pro than he was a collegian.
Round 7, Pick No. 252: Aaron Davis
The Colorado State prospect could fall to the ranks of the undrafted, but the Broncos snare him near the end. His lack of size (6'0" 225 pounds) could lead to a position switch at the pro level, but he has good instincts and can create pressure on the quarterback.
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.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
