Broncos NFL Draft Rumors: Devin Funchess an Intriguing Fit
The Denver Broncos are in the market for a new pass catching tight end. That much is certain. The divorce between the Broncos and Julius Thomas got ugly at the end, and while it hasn’t ultimately led to his signing with another team yet, everyone is making plans as though Orange Julius is no more.
I guess it was fun while it lasted.
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But the rumor mill at the NFL Scouting Combine surrounding the 2015 NFL Draft is heating up, and I my fingers can’t type fast enough to share with you thoughts on intriguing possibilities and options for the Broncos as we get closer to what I consider my favorite event of the NFL year — the draft.
The Broncos hold the 28th overall pick in the draft, so the options are literally endless. There is no sure-fire guarantee of which players will or will not be available, and there are plenty of different positions the Broncos could look at, especially with a ‘best player available’ approach that is typically preached by General Managers.
One option for the BPA for the Broncos in the first round is Michigan playmaker Devin Funchess, who is one of the best pure pass catchers in the draft. Funchess is an extremely impressive athlete who ran a somewhat disappointing (and unofficial) 4.70 second 40-yard dash. Still, Funchess is a guy who can create mismatches for your offense and a player that tracks the ball so well, high points it, and makes really tough catches with an incredible catch radius.
Funchess is a ‘tweener’ at the WR/TE position, but the Broncos are obviously into that. They have drafted athletic specimens before like Julius Thomas and Virgil Green, and brought in a guy in Jacob Tamme who has played both WR and TE for the Broncos in his time.
The Broncos should not limit themselves to a blocking TE with their top pick, if indeed that is the position of choice, because Virgil Green is already one of the best blocking tight ends and they need someone who can pick up the slack as a pass catcher.
What makes Funchess so valuable is that he can play multiple positions. You don’t need him to come in and be a punishing blocker, but teach him to be a willing blocker and the opportunities to be a great receiver will come. He is so dynamic and a mismatch on smaller cornerbacks and slower linebackers. I think Funchcess is the type of guy that could come to Denver and be an immediate impact player for Peyton Manning in year one and Brock Osweiler (hopefully) from that point forward.
Thinking about a core of players that includes Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Cody Latimer, and Devin Funchess at the skill positions is a thrilling prospect, and something the Broncos should seriously consider.