Did Denver Broncos Make the Right Call by Picking Defensive End Shane Ray?

Two days and three rounds of the 2015 NFL draft have now been completed. While the first round went mostly as expected following weeks of analysis, the Denver Broncos managed to stir the pot a bit by trading up with the Detroit Lions in order to draft former Missouri Tigers defensive end Shane Ray. 

The Broncos gave the Lions their 28th pick, offensive guard Manny Ramirez and a pair of fifth-rounders in 2015 and 2016 in exchange for the 23rd pick. With the trade up, the Broncos nabbed Ray in a move that was clearly deliberate. Ray had been considered top-10 talent at one point, yet a nagging toe injury and a ill-timed arrest for marijuana possession caused many teams to avoid him. 

The Broncos have made it clear that they are not concerned about either Ray's toe or his trouble with the law. As they should, they are outwardly expressing excitement and enthusiasm for the man they selected with their first pick in the draft. Despite Ray's obvious talent and work ethic, however, the Broncos made a foolish selection in nabbing the defensive end. 

I don't have a problem with Ray's recent legal problems, as the Broncos are a stellar organization with an enormous number of role models and leaders both on and off the field who can assist Ray in fighting any demons. (I would make a "weed is legal in Colorado" joke, but I'm gonna take the high road.)

My problem lies in that Denver traded up to obtain a flashy player who plays a position that they don't need the utmost of help in. Ray's speciality and selling point as a player is his pass-rushing ability, yet the Broncos boast outside linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware already. Between Miller, Ware and other contributors, the Broncos finished tied for ninth last season with 41 sacks. 

Unless you've been enjoying life under a rock, you know that future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning is the quarterback for the Broncos. You also likely know that he turned 39 in March and has dealt with a slew of injuries over the past few years, including some that he purportedly played through last season, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

The Broncos No. 1 priority needs to be to keep Old Man Manning on his feet, for the wrong hit at his age could render him out for an extended period of time and devastate the team's quest to secure a Lombardi Trophy in the Manning era. 

In selecting Ray, the Broncos passed up on former Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson, who was selected by the Lions with the 28th pick. Tomlinson, a true guard, could have been a welcome addition on an offensive line that struggled last season to protect Manning and was as a whole an older unit. 

The Broncos selection of Ray wasn't without logic however. None of the top-tier offensive linemen prospects were falling and general manager John Elway knew that he would be able to secure a solid big man in the second round, which he did when the team selected offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo. 

Ultimately, the Broncos determined that while defensive end wasn't their greatest need on paper, the talent of Ray was too good to pass up on. Denver is certainly rolling the dice with this selection, yet Elway and Co. are clearly in win-now mode, and they are determined to make their team as lethal as possible in the immediate short term.

Time will tell if Ray was worth the gamble or if the Broncos should have gone after a top-tier offensive lineman. If Manning isn't hobbled by Week 17 and the Broncos are sack machines on defense, we'll know that they made the right call.