Broncos to Work Out Ole Miss WR Donte Moncrief

Sep 7, 2013; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Donte Moncrief (12) catches the ball and carries it in for a touchdown during the first half against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos continue their pre-draft visits and workouts, and according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt, they are going to be working out one of this year’s top underclassmen receivers.

Moncrief is generating a lot of positive hype since declaring for the draft a few months ago. At 6’2″ 221 pounds, he ran a 4.40 second 40-yard dash and despite not having played at a passing juggernaut in college, teams are really intrigued by his upside.

The general consensus seems to be that Moncrief is a solid 2nd round pick, but the way Rob Rang of CBS Sports talks about him, it wouldn’t be a shocker if the Broncos used their first round pick on him.

“WEAKNESSES: Perhaps the only thing standing in Moncrief’s way of becoming the first “skill-position” player from Mississippi to earn a first round draft selection since Eli Manning (No. 1 overall, 2004) is the question about his straight-line speed. Moncrief was not caught from behind on tapes viewed but the big-bodied receiver may not possess elite timed speed.”

To reiterate, Moncrief ran a 4.40 second 40 yard dash. I’d say his straight line speed issue is cleared.

With Emmanuel Sanders signed to a 3-year contract, the Broncos have some flexibility. Wes Welker’s deal expires after this season, so Sanders could theoretically move into the slot in 2015 and the Broncos could draft a replacement for the “Y” receiver spot this year, grooming him now since receiver is one of the toughest positions to learn in the NFL.

From the sounds (and looks) of things, Moncrief is a guy that would be worthy of a first rounder for the Broncos, or potentially a trade down into the early portion of the second round. His combination of size, speed, and upside won’t last long. In fact, his measurables remind me somewhat of Demaryius Thomas coming out. Thomas was considered a potential late-first or second round pick out of Georgia Tech, and the Broncos maneuvered in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft to secure him.

With a deep WR class, Moncrief would be a welcome bargain addition to the Broncos’ stacked offense.