What Denver Broncos' Offseason Approach Says About Team's Draft Plans

During the offseason, we’re left to assemble clues about what the Denver Broncos intend to do in the NFL draft. The team is working hard behind the scenes at UC Health Training Center in an effort to build the best draft board possible. They’ve lost key free agents, but the team has also added a few players (or kept players) that give us hints as to what they’ll do in the draft.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak is concerned with the roster taking shape this offseason, but his confidence remains high.

“I think as a coach you’re concerned about the team all the time," Kubiak said. "We’ve had some guys leave, but we have a lot of good players on our football team and we’re trying to put this group together. There is always going to be change.”

Kubiak continued, “There is always going to be things that happen from year to year. But the most important thing is that our standards stay the same. You’ve got to be patient, too. You can’t make poor decisions. You make poor decisions that can hurt you in the long haul.”

What does Denver’s offseason approach say about their draft plans? Let’s take a look.

Offensive Tackle Not a Priority

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The Broncos offensive line was a mess in 2015, but they’ve moved swiftly to upgrade the position this offseason. With two moves in free agency, the Broncos have changed three spots on the offensive line where only center Matt Paradis will remain as a starter from 2015.

The Broncos' first move once the free-agency gates were open was to sign offensive tackle Donald Stephenson. The former Kansas City Chiefs lineman has played all across the offensive line—and shined—during his time in the NFL when healthy. Other than center, Stephenson can play any position up front.

He started the first six games at left tackle for the Chiefs last year before a nagging ankle problem forced him to move to the right side. He’s the likely starter at right tackle for the Broncos this year, and he’s a clear upgrade over Michael Schofield. With Stephenson added to the roster, Schofield should be the team’s swing tackle, but he could also move inside to right guard—a spot he started 10 games in during his college career with the Michigan Wolverines.

The other big move on the offensive line was to add free agent left tackle Russell Okung. A first-round pick for the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, Okung has All-Pro potential as a blindside protector—if he can stay healthy. Okung has missed 24 games over his six-year career, and that’s prevented him from being the consistent and dominant force that he can be.

Go ahead and pencil in Okung as the team’s starter at left tackle. With his addition, Ryan Clady becomes expendable. By releasing him, the Broncos would free up around $9 million in much-needed salary-cap space. However, the Broncos may entertain trade offers for Clady, and if they get the right price, they could deal him instead of cutting him.

If healthy, Okung is clearly a massive upgrade over last year’s starter for the most of the year at left tackle, Ryan Harris, now of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Okung’s addition also means that 2015 second-round pick Ty Sambrailo is likely to move inside to guard this season.

Sambrailo was originally drafted to be a right tackle, but he had to move over to left tackle after Clady went down with a knee injury in minicamp. Sambrailo only lasted three games in the starting lineup before a shoulder injury ended his rookie season prematurely. This year, he’ll have to prove himself at a different position in the starting lineup.

Early mock drafts had the Broncos selecting an offensive tackle like Jason Spriggs (Indiana) at the end of the first round. With the addition of Stephenson and Okung, that may not be the case now. The Broncos should add some offensive line talent via the draft, but it may not come with a premium pick.

No Need For a Bell Cow Back

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When the Broncos matched the Miami Dolphins' offer for running back C.J. Anderson, they spoke volumes. The language of the NFL is money, and by paying Anderson at an increased rate, they are saying that he’s going to be the team's lead back.

Behind Anderson, the Broncos have question marks at the position.

Juwan Thompson has plenty of power as a runner, but he’s a straight-line guy with little wiggle to his game. Kapri Bibbs continues to impress in practice each year, but he has yet to prove himself in pass protection enough to even make the 53-man roster. After two years on the practice squad, Bibbs may be in a make-or-break season this year. The Broncos have flirted with the idea of bringing back free agent Ronnie Hillman, but they could get a younger (and likely cheaper) back via the draft.

The running back class lacks elite-level talent at the top (except for Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott), but it’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet if you’re in the market for a part-time or change-of-pace back.

Whereas early mocks had the Broncos taking a back like Derrick Henry (Alabama) at the end of the first round, those can now be scrapped. Never say never, but the Broncos are likely to look for running back help with a mid- or late-round pick.

In the mid-rounds of the draft, players like Alex Collins (Arkansas), Tyler Ervin (San Jose State) or Daniel Lasco (California) could interest Denver.

Collins is a swift runner at 217 pounds, and he’s a patient runner who will immediately accelerate when a hole opens up. Ervin’s game is all about speed, speed and more speed. On tape, Ervin is one of the most explosive players in the draft and can get to top speed in a hurry—something that makes him a dangerous option as a return man too. Lasco has a good all-purpose skill set and can make quick cuts to find space as a runner.

Late-round picks like Josh Ferguson (Illinois), Keith Marshall (Georgia) or DeAndre Washington (Texas Tech) could be players they like. Ferguson has great explosion and can change direction without losing much speed. Marshall has plenty of speed to burn (4.31 40-yard dash at the combine), but injuries cut his Bulldogs career short. Washington is a smaller back (5’8”, 204 lbs), but he has a low center of gravity, is explosive in the open field and willing to ram the ball in between the tackles.

Depth at Defensive Line

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The Broncos have made two moves on the defensive line this offseason that cannot be overlooked. By losing Malik Jackson to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, there will be an opportunity to win a starting job on one of the league’s best defenses. This is where newly acquired Jared Crick comes into the mix.

A fifth-year player formerly of the Houston Texans, Crick has experience under both Kubiak and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. That was a big reason why he chose to sign with the Broncos.

“It was a huge part of it. Just being with Kubes for two years, Coach Wade for two years and [defensive line coach Bill] Kollar for three years, I know the schemes, what they expect of me and I know what to expect of them," Crick explained. "To come back and play for them again, it was a huge part of the decision.”

Crick could easily step into the lineup and start for the Broncos at defensive end opposite Derek Wolfe. He has compiled 146 career tackles (81 solo) with 5.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. While not the pass-rusher that Jackson is, Crick can set the edge as a quality run defender.

The other—and previous—move in addition to Crick was the signing of defensive tackle Phil Taylor. Originally a first-round pick for the Cleveland Browns in 2011, Taylor’s career fell off track due to injury. If healthy, he may not be a starter at nose tackle, but he gives the team amazing depth behind Sylvester Williams. In fact, there’s a chance we could see Williams line up at defensive end for a few snaps here and there because of Taylor’s ability to dominate in the middle.

This is an incredibly deep and talented defensive line class, and the Broncos could potentially find quality starters through the first four rounds—and maybe even later.

Summary

Things are setting up nicely for the Broncos as we are less than three weeks away from the start of the 2016 NFL draft. The Broncos haven’t been as active in free agency this year as they have in years past, but that hasn’t prevented them from assembling some quality talent to compete in 2016.

Kubiak praised Elway in his work this offseason maneuvering within the restraints of the salary cap. “We’ve got a great guy running our program there. Mr. Elway does a great job. Our front office does an excellent job. We’ll keep our patience here, keep working and stay focused on the team that we do have.”

We’re left to put the puzzle pieces together over the next three weeks, but the Broncos already have a clear direction of what they want to do in 2016—protect their Super Bowl title as best they can.

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.