The NFL draft is just a few hours away, and excitement is bubbling throughout the league, especially amongst the most diehard of fans who are hoping and praying their team doesn’t screw up these next few days.
And while, yes, the NFL draft is a crapshoot, and any takeaways we have on Friday after Round 1 or on Monday after Round 7 won’t mean a thing in three years, it’s fun. It’s really fun. That’s why they’ve turned the first three rounds into primetime events, and why Mel Kiper, Todd McShay and Mike Mayock are now household names.
The draft lasts three days, and yet many of us talk about it for 362 more.
So before we get consumed in the festivities, let’s run through a few predictions, shall we?
The Broncos will trade for a quarterback
By the time Round 7 ends on Saturday, John Elway needs to have secured at least one (hopefully) starting-caliber quarterback to at least compete with Mark Sanchez in training camp. Whether that be Colin Kaepernick, Case Keenum, Mike Glennon or Sam Bradford, I don’t know.
If I had my choice, though, I’d do just about all I could to get Tyrod Taylor in the building. I detailed my affinity for him earlier this offseason, but the possibility of it happening only seems to be increasing as time goes on. The Bills don’t seem to be interested in locking him up long term, and they’ve made it clear they’re looking to add a quarterback in the draft, as early as the first round.
That’s not likely to sit well with Taylor, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he forces himself out of Buffalo in short order. We already know he’s got a relationship with Gary Kubiak, so don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly looking up Tyrod Taylor highlights this weekend — trust me, they’re fun.
The Broncos will take a high-risk, high-reward player in the first round
Given that the Broncos can secure their quarterback via a trade, my guess is that they take a home-run swing with their first pick. While there are several holes that need to be fixed on this team, this is still a championship roster, and Elway has the ability and job security to make a high-risk, high-reward move.
The two players that come to mind are Robert Nkimdiche and Jaylon Smith.
I wrote about Smith earlier this week, and the idea is that he’s one of the most talented linebackers to come out of college football in years, and injury or not, that’s worth betting on. He won’t play this season, and there’s a chance he doesn’t play next season, but that’s a risk the Broncos may be uniquely capable of taking.
Likewise, Nkimdiche is a top-five talent, but his off-the-field issues have forced him down into the latter portions of the first round, if not the second. He’d be the perfect replacement for Malik Jackson, and there’s probably not a locker room more suited to keep Nkimdiche in line than the Broncos’.
The Broncos will select at least three offensive linemen
John Elway has devoted most of his free agency towards shoring up the Denver Broncos offensive line, but there’s still a ways to go, especially in the middle.
Both Evan Mathis and Louis Vasquez, the Broncos’ two starting guards from the Super Bowl, are now gone, and they haven’t exactly been replaced. Sure, Max Garcia will likely step in at one of the guard spots, and he did a solid job in a limited role last season, but there’s no guaranteeing that he’s ready to take on a full-time role. Likewise, Ty Sambrailo has been rumored to be making a move inside, but the Broncos know even less about him.
And even if they both end up starting and playing well, the Broncos need depth, as evidenced last year. The last thing anybody wants is Michael Schofield playing major snaps down the stretch.
No matter who’s at quarterback, Denver needs to do a significantly better job protecting their passer, and the draft is the best place to start.
The Broncos will select another running back on day two
Since John Elway has returned to Denver he has proven two things: He’s going to draft a defensive player with his first pick, and he’s not afraid to bring in running back after running back.
Whether it’s Montee Ball or Ronnie Hillman in the draft or C.J. Anderson and Juwan Thompson after it, Elway is going to keep his cupboard stocked, and he’ll do it again this year.
Now, he did invest a lot of money in the backfield of Anderson and Hillman this offseason, but I’m not positive he’s truly in love with either of them — he let both guys test the market.
The guy I’m looking at is Kenyan Drake from Alabama who’s much more than just a running back; he may be one of the better returners in the draft, too, and he’s a very competent pass catcher out of the backfield. Even if he’s only getting limited carries, Drake could impact the game in a multitude of other ways.
The Broncos draft a quarterback on day three
Under the assumption that the Broncos trade for their starting quarterback during the draft, it doesn’t make much sense for them to draft another quarterback in one of the first three rounds. That said, I’d be shocked if they didn’t take a flier on a guy in day three.
Why? Because you never know.
The Broncos need a quarterback, and the more guys they have to choose from, the more opportunities they’ll have to find one.
Not to mention, there are a lot of interesting names at the back end of the draft. The most interesting being Dak Prescott, whom the Broncos have already expressed interest in this offseason. If he falls into the fourth or fifth round, Denver would be unwise not to pounce.
If he’s gone, though, guys like Kevin Hogan, Brandon Allen, Jacoby Brissett or Vernon Adams could become interesting. Personally, the guy I’d take a shot on is Jake Rudock — full disclosure, I’m a diehard Michigan fan, so take it for what it’s worth.