Winners and Losers from Denver Broncos' Draft
The Denver Broncos started off the 2015 NFL draft by doing something they had not done under the guidance of general manager John Elway. In the first round, the Broncos traded up from the 28th pick to the 23rd pick in order to select pass-rusher Shane Ray.
They started things off with a bang, and their picks have changed the landscape of the roster. Throughout the process, these moves will make things better—or worse—for players and coaches on the team.
Here are the winners and losers for the Denver Broncos from the 2015 NFL draft.
Winner: Wade Phillips
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With the addition of Shane Ray in the first round, the Broncos defense got even more dangerous. One of the biggest differences that Broncos fans can see in 2015 is on the defensive side of the ball. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is known for building an aggressive 3-4 defense, and he’ll bring that to Denver this season.
Ray has the ability to be a fantastic pass-rusher for the Broncos. He believes he can fit perfectly in Phillips’ defense.
“I think as an edge-rusher, (in) my game I just really try to be relentless and nasty and just bring a consistent level of effort. I try to be as athletic as possible. Coming here with guys like Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware and actually being able to learn from them, I feel like I can attribute my game and just become even better and produce for this team.”
Ray is yet another piece Phillips can use to get after the quarterback. The Broncos are still in a Super Bowl window, and Phillips’ defense is the unit that could lead the way for them on their quest.
Loser: Michael Schofield
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The Broncos wanted to add better competition to the right tackle spot, and that’s why they picked up Ty Sambrailo from Colorado State in the second round. This pick was bad news for Michael Schofield.
Last year in the draft, the Broncos selected Schofield in the third round. Schofield never saw the field as a rookie even though he made the final roster out of training camp. He was inactive for every single game of his rookie season for a couple of reasons.
First, Schofield had trouble putting on weight and spent some of his rookie season around 285 pounds. Second, he struggled with pass protection and couldn’t work his way up the depth chart even though the Broncos had problems finding a quality starter at right tackle.
Now Schofield is going to have to beat out Sambrailo for the starting job this year. Sambrailo is confident in his ability to learn the right tackle spot after starting at left tackle for the Rams over most of his college career.
“Repetition kind of smooths everything over. I think playing left tackle for the last two years, you kind of get fixed into a groove in how you set and how your body feels. Over these last few months, just taking more reps at right tackle and coming up in the minicamps and OTAs, getting more reps at right tackle will make it kind (of) smooth. I don’t think it’s any different, left or right, in zone blocking.”
Sambrailo concluded, “It’s the same steps, just on a different side.”
The Broncos took Sambrailo higher than Schofield, and even though Schofield has more experience, it may be tough for him to make it onto the field during his second season.
Winner: DeMarcus Ware
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Denver’s pass rush is going to be even more aggressive under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. The addition of pass-rusher Shane Ray is going to greatly help veteran DeMarcus Ware.
Last season in his first year with the Broncos, Ware started out strong. In the first eight games of the year, he compiled 8.5 sacks. The last half of the season is where the veteran pass-rusher struggled to make an impact. Over the last eight games in 2014, Ware only had two sacks.
The Broncos can use Ray to keep Ware fresh over the course of the season. They can also use the rookie pass-rusher to keep Ware fresh in-game each week.
Ray is excited to be with the Broncos because of the amazing talent he’ll get to learn from.
“I’m just excited to be able to come in and learn from two—a current great in Von Miller and a legend in DeMarcus Ware. I’m so excited to be able to be under their tutelage, be able to step my game up and learn from them.”
Ware should be excited that he’ll be able to get a breather and stay stronger in the late-season push—and the playoffs.
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Loser: Matt Paradis
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In the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos decided to take a center in Florida’s Max Garcia. The center position has seen additions and subtractions this offseason.
Earlier this year, the Broncos traded the Baltimore Ravens for center Gino Gradkowski. On the first day of the draft, the Broncos shipped Manny Ramirez off to the Detroit Lions as part of the package to move up for Shane Ray.
All of these transactions will impact the stock of second-year pro Matt Paradis.
Last year in the draft, the Broncos selected Paradis with a sixth-round pick. The former Boise State walk-on has the athleticism to work well in the team’s new zone-blocking system. As a rookie, Paradis did not make the final roster—instead spending the season on the Broncos practice squad.
Earlier this year, there was some thought of Paradis competing for the starting center position. He’s still going to compete for the job, but the competition around him is better. Garcia is going to push Paradis for his spot on the roster, and Gradkowski is likely to win the starting job.
Winner: Brock Osweiler
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The Broncos' quarterback of the future might still be on the roster. Entering this draft, there was a feeling that the Broncos would be looking to add a quarterback in the second or third round. When the Broncos did not add a quarterback in the first two days of the draft, it was a good sign for fourth-year pro Brock Osweiler.
Entering the final year of his contract, Osweiler needs to be signed to an extension if he’s going to be the quarterback to take over for the Broncos when Peyton Manning retires. Osweiler has worked diligently to improve his game over the last few years, and he’s anxiously awaiting his opportunity to start.
Coming out of Arizona State, Osweiler was an intriguing second-round pick for the Broncos in the 2012 NFL draft.
He has a rocket arm, but his release point was too low. Osweiler is mobile, but when throwing in a clean pocket, he would often be flat-footed. Now Osweiler sets up quickly and properly with good footwork and his release point is at the correct spot over his head.
He’s been a quick study behind Manning, and in this new offense you could make the argument that Osweiler is a better fit for the Gary Kubiak system. It would be very interesting to see Osweiler in an offense that worked so well with Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens last year.
Osweiler is not quite the player that Flacco is, but their physiques and skill sets have familiar traits. The Broncos didn’t add a quarterback with a premium pick in the 2015 NFL draft, so that is good news for the chances of Osweiler getting an extension to stay in Denver.
Loser: Tony Carter
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On the final day of the draft, the Broncos added a quality cornerback when they selected Tulane’s Lorenzo Doss. The Broncos secondary is one of the best in the league. With starters like Chris Harris and Aqib Talib, there are few teams in the NFL that can boast such an amazing starting duo. Behind those two, second-year pro Bradley Roby gives them an amazing third corner for nickel packages.
The depth behind those three includes quality reserves. The player at the end of the depth chart is likely veteran Tony Carter. The addition of Doss is bad news for Carter’s chances of making the final roster again.
An undrafted free agent out of Florida State in 2009, Carter is a smaller corner (5'9", 175 lbs) who does not back down from any challenge. He subbed in for an injured Antonio Cromartie as a freshman in college and started every game since then for the Seminoles.
He bounced around the league over the first two years of his career, but Carter has been with the Broncos as a fringe player since 2011. He may not be able to stay on the roster if Doss shows that he’s a better player in training camp.
Carter is the type of player who loves to bait quarterbacks into bad throws. He has the speed and quickness to recover quickly and can make plays on the ball in flight. However, that gambling style can lead to him getting burned often.
The Broncos may be ready to move into the future with a player like Doss instead of Carter.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided by 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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