Denver Broncos Mock Draft Roundup: What the Experts Are Saying
No NFL mock draft is going to be perfect, but they provide a number of options for your favorite team in the first round. With the Denver Broncos forced to wait until the end of Round 1, there are a number of possibilities for their first pick.
Despite being the returning Super Bowl champions, the Broncos have a number of pressing needs that have to be addressed at some point in the seven rounds. Adding a quarterback is the most obvious, but the squad also needs help on the defensive line, offensive line and at linebacker while adding depth across the board is a must.
With 10 picks across three days, it wouldn't be at all surprising to see the front office aggressively move up in the first round get an impact player. On the other hand, there could still be plenty of options at No. 31 even if the team stays put.
Here are some projections from across the Internet for who Denver could select on Thursday night.
Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
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While his latest mock draft was completed before the Philadelphia Eagles' trade for the No. 2 pick (a new one should be released Tuesday), Bleacher Report's Matt Miller listed Reggie Ragland as the best option for the Broncos at No. 31.
"Danny Trevathan left Denver in free agency, and while the Broncos would love to get a quarterback or offensive lineman here, grabbing a rock-solid linebacker at No. 31 is a John Elway move," Miller states.
Ragland was the leader for arguably the top defense in college football last season, tallying 102 tackles for Alabama en route to a national championship. While he doesn't have elite speed, he has great instincts to find the ball and rarely misses a tackle. He fits best in a 3-4 defense where he doesn't need to cover sideline-to-sideline, but instead has open space to make plays and help shut down the run.
The Broncos need someone to replace Trevathan, and Ragland would be a perfect fit who could step in and start from Day 1.
Another important note is the fact inside linebacker is not as deep as other positions in this class, so while Denver could find a quality defensive or offensive lineman in the later rounds, there won't be as many quality options to fill this hole.
Of course, other teams will also recognize this position scarcity, which means Ragland could be off the board well before this point. Teams like the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and others would be interested in grabbing the tackling machine before the end of the first round.
Adding Ragland would fill a major hole in the defense, but it might be wishful thinking to expect the linebacker to be available without a trade.
Todd McShay, ESPN: Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
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The Denver Broncos survived last season with a below-average offensive line, and although there have been some additions this offseason, the unit still needs help.
ESPN's Todd McShay predicts the front office will try to solve this issue in the first round, adding Germain Ifedi. The analyst adds, "Ifedi needs to work on his technique, but the raw tools are there. He has the length (36-inch arms), quickness and balance to thrive in pass protection. He could develop into a solid right tackle or guard at the next level."
This last part might be the most important, because versatility will be key for any offensive lineman the Broncos draft.
Free-agent additions Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung will likely be the starting tackles to begin the year, but the squad could still use a long-term solution at the position. Ifedi could potentially grow into that with the right coaching and become a solid starter for a decade. In the meantime, he could be a quality guard for a line that needs more protection inside no matter who is at quarterback.
All of a sudden, a weakness can turn into somewhat of a strength for the Broncos.
Ifedi was once considered a mid-round selection, but has risen up draft boards in recent weeks and now has a good chance of being taken on Day 1. He could be available for Denver at No. 31, but wouldn't necessarily be a reach, potentially representing a strong start to an important three days for the franchise.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
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There is a certain amount of risk in selecting Robert Nkemdiche, but Pete Prisco of CBS Sports sums it up best in his mock draft, saying, "If not for off-field issues, he's a top-10 pick. The Broncos would get great value with this choice."
The "off-field issues" described include being charged with marijuana possession in December after falling out of a hotel window. He was also suspended by the team for the Sugar Bowl.
In addition to what he does in his spare time, Nkemdiche also creates concern with his consistency and lack of production on the field, failing to be as dominant as he should have been at the college level. These question marks are a big reason he won't be going in the top 10.
On the other hand, the defensive lineman has as much potential as almost anyone in the class thanks to his size (6'3", 294 pounds), strength, explosiveness and pure athleticism at the position. He can beat most linemen off the snap and get into backfield in a heartbeat, disrupting both runs and pass plays. If he ever reaches his potential, he could easily be an All-Pro player at either defensive tackle or defensive end.
For the Broncos, Nkemdiche would immediately step into the hole left by Malik Jackson's departure and ensure the defensive line remains as strong as it was last season.
The staff showed it can overlook off-field problems by taking Shane Ray last season, which makes Nkemdiche a reasonable projection for the defending champs.
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Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
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You never know what will happen on draft day, so it's important to keep every option open. This means that if a player like Darron Lee falls to the Broncos, they should draft him and not look back.
Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated projected the Ohio State star to Denver as the final pick in the first round, explaining, "The Broncos will not necessarily head into the draft thinking they must find Danny Trevathan's replacement early, but should the board fall like this—with Lee tumbling a bit—they would jump."
Many have projected Lee as an outside linebacker who can use his pure speed to rush the quarterback off the edge, something that clearly isn't a position of need for the Broncos. However, his athleticism could also be useful on run plays as well as dropping into coverage. While he spent most of his college career as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, he certainly has the tools to play as a 3-4 inside linebacker.
Lee showcased his explosiveness at the combine, where he led all linebackers in the 40-yard dash (4.47 seconds) and broad jump (11'1"), per NFL.com. He also finished in the top five at the position in the vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle run, proving he has the agility to handle multiple spots on the football field.
After spending plenty of time with some of the best players in the nation at Ohio State, Lee will feel right at home alongside Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Brandon Marshall in the Denver linebacking corps. These veterans will also make sure the rookie gets the most out of his ability.
Although teams might pass on Lee due to a lack of size and strength for the position, he would be a steal for the Broncos at No. 31.
Charles Davis, NFL.com: Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
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Defensive line is a big need for the Broncos, but fortunately it is also one of the deepest positions in this draft. If the team chooses not to risk drafting Robert Nkemdiche, there are dozens of alternatives to select throughout the three days.
While Sheldon Rankins, A'Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed and others are possibilities in Round 1, Charles Davis of NFL.com believes Chris Jones of Mississippi State will end up being the pick.
"His stock keeps rising in the eyes of the public, but the league already knows that he can be an explosive inside rusher and can aid Derek Wolfe in keeping the edge pass-rushing lanes open for Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and Shane Ray," Davis explains.
As much as fans want a quarterback, the key to last year's success was the defense, specifically the front-seven. Grabbing a player like Jones would help solidify the unit that was so dominant a season ago and ensure this remains a defense that will be feared around the league.
Jones isn't quite as athletic as Nkemdiche, but he is an imposing player at 6'6", 310 pounds with the versatility to play multiple spots along the defensive line. He probably won't rack up tons of stats in the NFL, but as a 3-4 defensive end, he can take on blockers and open things up for the playmakers elsewhere on the field.
While the Mississippi State product might represent a bit of a reach at this pick, he fills an important need and could be an immediate contributor for the organization.
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
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This was a bit of a different type of mock draft, with ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. selecting players for each team as if he was the general manager. This leads to some situations where players might not necessarily still be available (he has the Broncos taking Andrew Billings at No. 63 overall when the Baylor defensive tackle will likely be gone in the first round), although the entire projection still has value to see possibilities.
Denver's first-round pick in this mock is certainly a realistic option with the team grabbing guard Cody Whitehair out of Kansas State. Kiper broke down his logic for making the pick:
"The need for stability at quarterback is a clear issue, but there isn't a likely Week 1 starter available at No. 31, and there's still time to make a trade to help the situation there. What I do have is an obvious need for another offensive lineman, and Whitehair is a potential starter at guard, where there is a clear need, with experience at tackle.
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Evan Mathis and Louis Vasquez are gone from last year's starting lineup, meaning there is an urgent need for starting guards. While you don't necessarily want to reach for need in Round 1, Whitehair is considered by many to be the best in the class at the position and could be a great fit if available.
The Kansas State player started all four years in college, and while he doesn't have perfect physical traits, he simply knows how to play football and has as high of a floor as you can hope for at this stage in the draft.
Meanwhile, Whitehair could legitimately play tackle, guard or center in the NFL if needed. This will give the coaching staff options next year and beyond along the offensive line, which otherwise features little certainty.
Considering there will be opportunities to fill other needs later in the draft, grabbing an offensive lineman here would represent a solid choice.
Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
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It's no secret the Broncos need a quarterback. Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler left in free agency, which means unless something is done, the only options on the roster will be Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian.
The problem is picking at the end of the first round reduces the quality options available.
Jared Goff and Carson Wentz appear likely to be taken with the first two picks in the draft after a pair of blockbuster trades. Some have projected Paxton Lynch to the Broncos, but there are simply too many teams with a need at the position likely to grab the Memphis product before the 31st pick.
If Denver doesn't make a trade, the best option to fill the position would likely be Connor Cook, the player mocked to the team by Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com. He explains, "The Broncos are almost out of options to address their need at quarterback, which might force their hand with this pick. Cook has NFL-starter traits, which might be enough for John Elway to pull the trigger here."
Cook certainly has good qualities, including a strong arm and a high football IQ. With a lot of experience at the college level for an elite Michigan State team, the quarterback has a chance to make a quick transition to the NFL and at least be a game manager for an otherwise dominant Broncos squad.
On the other hand, Cook lacks the upside of some other players in this class, including potential Day 2 picks like Christian Hackenberg, Dak Prescott and even Cardale Jones. Each one represents a risk, but all could become a franchise quarterback with the right coaching.
Instead of reaching for an average player in the first round, the Broncos can wait to fill this need later in the draft. The team would probably be better off with Sanchez (or possibly some other veteran on the market) as the Week 1 starter anyway while the rookie-to-be-named-later adjusts to life in the NFL.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: T.J. Green, FS, Clemson
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At first glance, safety isn't a big enough need for the Broncos to spend a first-round pick at the position. Unlike other spots on the field, both starters (T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart) return from last year's run and should represent one of the strengths of the team.
Of course, that's assuming they are healthy.
Ward and Stewart both missed time last season while primary backup David Bruton signed with the Washington Redskins. At some point in the draft, Denver needs to add depth at safety. According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, this could come in the first round with the selection of T.J. Green.
"This might seem a bit early for Green," Zierlein wrote. "But he had a tremendous combine and there are teams that believe he has enough coverage potential to move around the field in sub-packages. While he wouldn't be my choice here, Denver could use an athletic safety with coverage ability."
Green's combine was certainly eye-opening, as his 4.34-second 40-yard dash was the fastest of his positional group and fourth-best in the entire class, per NFL.com. This speed gives him incredible range in pass coverage, and he could help make an already elite secondary even better. In a pass-heavy league, you can never complain about having too many quality defensive backs.
With that said, in the first round you want either someone to fill a gaping hole or the best player available; Green wouldn't be either. There will be decent safeties available on Day 3 to round out the depth chart while other spots require instant upgrades.
Safety remains a possibility for Denver in Round 1, but grabbing Green at this spot would be a mistake.
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