Denver Broncos' Round 1 Big Board Before the Combine
The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine gets started at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Feb. 23. The combine is a major event in the pre-draft process, as teams get to closely examine the incoming college talent.
These players will go through extensive medical checks as teams work to find the best fits for their squads. The prospects will also go through position-specific drills in the biggest job interviews of their lives.
The Denver Broncos won the world championship and have their sights set on winning another title in 2016.
General manager John Elway said from day one as an executive with the team, “We want to win now, but we also want to win from now on.” With a Super Bowl title after only five years on the job, Elway has proved that he’s got what it takes to build a contender. Now, Elway is tasked with keeping Denver a contender despite multiple upcoming changes to the roster.
There are a ton of questions for the Broncos with free agency looming. The new league year starts on March 9, and the Broncos don’t even know who their starting quarterback will be for the upcoming season.
The Broncos are unlikely to be looking for a quarterback in the first round, but could be looking to improve either the offensive or defensive line. The offensive line dealt with multiple injuries before and during the season and thus performed poorly in its first year under head coach Gary Kubiak. The defensive line might be taking a big hit if defensive end/tackle Malik Jackson moves on in free agency.
That’s why the Broncos may be looking to the trenches with their premium pick. However, these two spots aren’t the only places the Broncos may address with their first-round selection.
Here is a look at Denver's big board for Round 1 before the combine.
5. Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
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The Broncos have the luxury of taking a player who might not even play in 2016. They could do just that if Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith falls to them at the end of the first round.
Smith might have been a top-five pick in the 2016 NFL draft, but he sustained a serious knee injury (torn ACL and MCL) in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. Now, Smith faces months of recovery and a timetable that could see him return late in the year.
When healthy, Smith has the ability to play any linebacker position in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. This makes him arguably the most versatile player in the entire draft. Smith could be a nice fit for the Broncos at multiple positions and could develop into a star if he overcomes this serious knee injury.
The Broncos have a fantastic group of linebackers, but Danny Trevathan is an unrestricted free agent and Brandon Marshall is a restricted free agent this offseason. They may be able to sign both players, but the Broncos could use some depth behind them if injuries strike at the position again. The Notre Dame linebacker can chase down running backs as a run defender and can make plays in coverage as well.
Smith could also fill in for Von Miller or DeMarcus Ware as an outside pass-rusher. With elite play speed, Smith can bend and burst around the edge to get to the quarterback.
Even with this major injury, Smith is ranked as the 20th overall prospect by NFLDraftScout.com.
It may be considered “outside the box” for the Broncos to take Smith, but his natural talent and versatility may be too much to pass up if he’s on the board when they pick. There’s even a chance Denver could trade up for such a gifted player.
4. Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
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When you’ve had cancer, any other obstacle must seem small in comparison. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2010, Shon Coleman spent over two years with the life-threatening disease—and came out on top.
Coleman arrived at Auburn as a highly touted high school prospect, and the team never gave up on him during his cancer treatment. He worked his way back, developed as a reserve tackle then took over as the starter at left tackle and did a fine job.
With the size and length to control his man at the point of attack, Coleman plays with a bit of a nasty streak. This “road grader” mentality makes him a devastating run-blocker who can clear out plenty of space in front of him.
Outside rushers find it difficult to get around Coleman. He’s got a strong punch after the snap that can jar an unsuspecting opponent. Even pass-rushers with multiple moves to the quarterback have a hard time tricking him.
At this time, it’s unknown if Ryan Clady will return to the Broncos in 2016. He’s only played in 18 games over the last three seasons, and the team may decide it’s time to move on and save about $9 million by releasing him. If the Broncos can agree to restructure Clady, they could still be interested in a potential starter like Coleman.
Clady is great when healthy, but he’s getting up there in age, and adding a potential replacement like Coleman makes a lot of sense.
NFLDraftScout.com has Coleman listed as the 39th-overall prospect in this draft class, so there’s a chance he could be on the board when the Broncos pick.
3. Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
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If there is a run on offensive line talent, there may still be a player on the board that could be perfect for their zone-blocking system. Jason Spriggs is an ascending talent at the tackle position, and going through the tape shows off a skill set that would be nicely utilized in the zone-blocking sytem.
Spriggs measures in at 6’5” 301 pounds, and he’s the type of knee-bender who works well in pass-protection or run-blocking. With the athleticism to move quickly and laterally at the snap, Spriggs has shown the footwork to move well in unison with his teammates.
The ability to work well on combo-blocks is there with Spriggs. He doesn’t shy away from blocking a moving target, and he does a good job with hand placement when striking an opponent at the second level of the defense. Spriggs shows good awareness and can quickly get to the outside when a defender simply tries to burst around him.
While Spriggs may not be a left tackle in the pros, he does at least have the makings of a solid right tackle. The Broncos have a decision to make at left tackle for 2016, and the answer may be 2015 second-round pick Ty Sambrailo.
Originally meant to start on the right side as a rookie, Sambrailo was moved to the left tackle position when Clady went down with an ACL injury in minicamp. He was put on Injured Reserve in early November after a shoulder injury knocked him out of action after only three weeks. If Sambrailo is healthy and starting on the left side, then Spriggs could be a fine pick to start for the Broncos on the right side.
Spriggs is considered the 42nd-overall prospect in the 2016 NFL draft by NFLDraftScout.com. Lance Zierlein, of NFL.com, compares Spriggs to on-again, off-again Broncos tackle Ryan Harris.
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2. Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Mississippi
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The Broncos have seen talent fall to them for different reasons near the end of the first round, and this year may be no different.
Defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche starred for Ole Miss in college, but his career with the Rebels came to a screeching halt after an arrest for marijuana possession that caused him to be suspended for the team’s bowl game.
On the field, Nkemdiche still has yet to play up to his enormous potential.
Measuring in at 6’4” and 296 pounds, Nkemdiche has a muscular physique and looks quite intimidating with pads on. His strong arms and long reach help him snare running backs trying to slip past him between the tackles. Nkemdiche is an explosive player who can run down the line of scrimmage to make a tackle if needed.
Even though he plays inside, Nkemdiche plays like a defensive end and could prove to be quite a versatile player under a defensive coordinator like Wade Phillips. The Broncos would likely be able to get the most out of him as a pass-rusher, as he has the ability to knife through blockers on his way to the quarterback—the young prospect just needs a little more refinement to his game.
Nkemdiche is ranked 18th overall by NFLDraftScout.com. The amazing natural talent is there, and the big man’s recent trouble may cause him to slide within the range of the Broncos—similar to what happened with Denver 2015 first-round pick Shane Ray.
1. Jarran Reed, DL, Alabama
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Don’t look for sacks with this prospect, but look at the physical build in what could be an ascending talent in the NFL. In two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Jarran Reed only had two sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Reed has the size/strength combination to regularly take on double-teams inside. He’s an immovable object who can violently attack an opponent on two downs. He was a valuable run-stuffer for Alabama’s suffocating defense, and that’s at least what Reed will be at the pro level.
He showed well earlier this year during the week of practice for the 2016 Reese’s Senior Bowl. In the one-on-one drills each day, it seemed like Reed was unblockable. He showed good burst at the snap and was able to move most any blocker with his brute strength.
At this time, we don’t know if the Broncos are going to give a fifth-year extension to defensive tackle Sylvester Williams. Even if the team does extend him, developing a prospect like Reed to one day be a starter would be a wise move.
NFLDraftScout.com has Reed as the 21st overall prospect in this draft class. His production from college may not make your jaw drop, but Reed’s best plays may be yet to come. That potential makes him an intriguing prospect and one Denver should be considering for the first round.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com.
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