Drew Lock’s red-hot start is the best thing that could have possibly happened to the Broncos this season. That being said, Lock’s stellar start will hurt Denver’s draft position which isn’t ideal.

The 2020 class, like every draft class, has its own areas of strength and of weakness. In 2019, the top-end talent wasn’t great, but the depth was phenomenal.

In 2020, it’s the exact opposite, and with the Broncos closing out the season strong, they’ll likely find themselves out of range of one of this draft’s elite talents at areas of need like cornerback Jeff Okudah or tackles Andrew Thomas and Tristan Wirfs.

Who can they take instead?

Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

Kristian Fulton is by no means the flashiest or most exciting or most athletic defensive back in this draft class, but outside of Jeffery Okudah — who should be considered a top-five lock — he’s the most technically sound defensive back in the class.

As a player, Fulton is very reminiscent of another LSU graduate, Tre’Davious White. Like Fulton, White wasn’t hyper-athletic and he didn’t have the flashy traits or play that Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore and Marlon Humphrey all had, but he was much more polished.

White would be the fourth corner off the board, but is now making an argument for himself as a perennial Pro Bowler at the position and has done a better job of shutting down Courtland Sutton than any other defensive back this season.

For the Broncos the question will be: Do you want a safe, polished, Day 1 starter like Fulton who doesn’t have an elite ceiling because of his physical limitations, or would you rather have a risky, raw, project like Alabama’s Trevon Diggs who is a freaky athlete with great ball skills but is still learning the position?

Given the Broncos’ defensive coaching they may opt for the latter, but the former is probably the right decision.

Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Drew Lock appears to be “the guy” at quarterback for the Broncos, and that means surrounding him with talent is a top priority. Denver can go about this two ways, either investing heavily in the offensive line early or investing in receiver early.

While the offensive line value is at the top and bottom of the first round, guys in the middle like USC’s Austin Jackson or Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills have too many question marks around them currently to justify a top-20 pick (unless you want to force it despite the value and end up with another Garett Bolles situation on your hands). The Broncos also have Mike Munchak, who should be able to develop later-round talent, like Dalton Risner, into quality starters.

With value at offensive line not on the board, the Broncos should look to add some wide receiver depth in Devonta Smith.

Smith is Alabama’s third wide receiver but has easily been their most productive this season. Smith is a crafty, quick receiver that excels in his route running and has soft hands. The Broncos already have their over-the-top threat in the redzone or on the deep ball in Sutton, so they’d be wise to add a shifty, underneath receiver that can pick up yards after the catch.

It’d be hard to create a better replacement for Emmanuel Sanders even if you were cooking one up in a lab.

Grant Delpit, S, LSU

As stated in the intro, it’s unlikely the Broncos find themselves in a position to draft an elite talent this year thanks to Lock storming out the gate and an easy schedule down the stretch.

However, Grant Delpit is the exception to that statement and has a good chance to be 2020’s version of Derwin James.

James was viewed as a top-10 lock entering his final season at Florida State but tumbled down draft boards as his 2017 season was his worst in college. He then slid down the draft boards, only to get scooped up by the Chargers where he’s been a bonafide stud since Day 1.

Delpit was the draft’s second-best defensive player behind only Chase Young entering this season, but he hasn’t shown the same fire he has in the past. On tackles you can see him making career decisions, as you could with James. That being said, Delpit is the most talented safety to enter the draft since Earl Thomas.

Could the Broncos draft the best player available and move Kareem Jackson back to cornerback? Safety certainly isn’t a need and it would be a risky pick, but when you have the opportunity to add a talent like Delpit, it’s often worth rolling the dice.