How Should The Broncos Attack The Draft?

Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos general manager John Elway speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

With the NFL Draft just a few days away, John Elway and the Denver Broncos are preparing to further their chances at a Super Bowl championship with the help of some college draft prospects. The Broncos have ten draft picks. This gives them so much flexibility to move around and trade picks in order to fit their needs at that time.

There is no doubt on which positions the Broncos need to draft in 2015. The biggest needs are on the offensive line, defensive tackle, and safety. There is also the possibility of the Denver Broncos taking a quarterback in the draft. Where they draft the quarterback remains to be seen. With Peyton Manning’s retirement looming and Brock Osweiler in the final year of his rookie contract, the quarterback position could be something to look at in the draft.

The Broncos have at least one pick in every round in this draft. Four of their picks (Round Four, Selection 133 and Round Seven, selections 250-252) are part of the compensatory, so those picks won’t be traded away. But six picks to work with is plenty for John Elway to work with.

But what should the Broncos do for the draft? I think they will find a way to trade in the first round with a team to move up. Selecting near the bottom of the draft would mean the Broncos might not get the player they would like to draft because they would already be drafted. And I can think of at least three teams ahead of Denver that are in needs of offensive linemen help. So why not trade draft picks with a team that does not need glaring needs that is ahead of the teams needing offensive linemen help.

I believe that they focus on offensive line with the first two picks of the draft. The positions on the offensive line that are taken care of is left tackle and right guard with Ryan Clady and Louis Vasquez respectively. That leaves left guard, center, and right tackle to cover. I believe they will focus on right tackle and center with their first two picks. I would say that they will wait until the later rounds to focus on a left guard because they have Ben Garland and Shelley Smith right now at that position.

However, if they decide not to draft up and miss out on the offensive linemen on their big board, then I think they should take a look at defensive tackle with the first pick. Jordan Phillips could be on the board by then, but it is difficult to tell where he could land because of his decline down. Most analysis have him out of the first round.

I can also see a possibility of the Broncos trading out of the first round, especially if they do not have any first round prospects and could get a solid prospect in the second round. They did this back in 2012, when they had two second round draft picks in which they selected Derek Wolfe and Brock Osweiler.

There are many possibilities that the Broncos could go about in the draft. But one thing is certain. John Elway will be looking to be building in order to win now and in the future in this draft.