Denver Broncos 2015 NFL Draft: 7-Round Mock Reactions
Perusing through the 2015 NFL Mock drafts aplenty across the web, I had to stop and take a long look when I saw one done by Lance Zierlein and Chad Reuter at NFL.com, two of the best in the business at evaluating incoming NFL talent.
For the Denver Broncos, I think they did a really good job with the picks and they addressed all of the team’s needs with a wide variety of positions and different types of athletes. I really liked their choice for the Broncos’ top pick, and I think they might be dead on if Denver chooses to stay at 28. Here’s their 10 picks for the Broncos and my reactions to the picks.
Round 1 (28): Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
Round 2 (59): Mario Edwards, DE, Florida State
Round 3 (92): John Miller, G, Louisville
Round 4 (133): Davis Tull, OLB, Tennessee-Chattanooga
Round 5 (143): Hayes Pullard, ILB, USC
Round 5 (164): Xavier Williams, DT, Northern Iowa
Round 6 (203): James O’Shaughnessy, TE, Illinois State
Round 7 (250): Jordan Leslie, WR, BYU
Round 7 (251): Marcus Rush, OLB, Michigan State
Round 7 (252): Kyshoen Jarrett, S, Virginia Tech
Jake Fisher
This pick makes a lot of sense for the Broncos. Fisher could come in and start at either right tackle or left guard for the Broncos and I think that’s what they really need at this point. There is almost a 100 percent certainty the Broncos are going to look to the trenches for their top selection, but what remains to be seen is whether or not it will be on the offensive side of the ball or defense.
Adding Fisher would give the Broncos a strong, athletic player that could kick inside as a rookie while (hopefully) Michael Schofield develops at the right tackle position.
Mario Edwards
I haven’t done a ton of research on Edwards, but there’s been buzz as of late that he could very well go in the first round. He doesn’t have ideal size for a defensive tackle nor is he fast or quick enough to be a defensive end, but he’s a talented athlete that has room to grow and needs some good coaching. In Denver, he would certainly have it with Bill Kollar coaching the line defensively.
John Miller
Miller is a powerful guard who would certainly offer the Broncos a physical, phone-booth mauler on the inside. This would help the Broncos get their running game going over a long period of time. Miller isn’t exactly known as an athletic marvel so some might question his fit with the zone scheme, but there’s no doubt he would upgrade the running game immediately.
Davis Tull
Three-time conference defensive player of the year and All-American at the FCS level who has incredible athletic ability and would be an awesome value for the Broncos at this point in the draft. After taking a risk on Mario Edwards for the defensive front in the second round, getting a stellar athlete like Tull to learn behind DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller would be excellent value.
Hayes Pullard
Athletic inside linebacker prospect who has good range, but doesn’t have a killer instinct you’d like to see out of a player at his position. I’d be a bit confused by this pick for the Broncos since they have some guys already on the back end of the depth chart behind Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan that could do similar things.
Xavier Williams
You’v seen Williams on my mock drafts before, and he’s one of my favorite small school defensive linemen. He is quick off the ball, physical, and has a relentless motor. I think he could be the type of gap shooting nose the Broncos would covet in this draft, though they could take one much earlier than this.
James O’Shaughnessy
Athletic “move” tight end that has a ton of upside, but also continues the theme of this draft’s middle rounds of going after small school guys. He’s got the ability to eventually be a really good mismatch when he adjusts to the speed of the NFL game.
Jordan Leslie
Another really intriguing athlete who is a former transfer from UTEP that has speed to burn and is a bit of a sleeper at this point but obviously someone they feel has late round value. Was arrested a couple of years ago, and personal life will need some digging into.
Marcus Rush
Edge bender from Michigan State who is undersized but has good length and is a really underrated player, actually. If the Broncos are able to get him in the seventh round, I really think he’d have a good shot at making the team.
Kyshoen Jarrett
Physical safety who would be a force on special teams right away, Jarrett is a smaller strong safety than you’d prefer but he’s got good range.
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If this were how the draft went for the Broncos, it’s hard to say anyone would really complain. In the first three rounds, you address your top needs on the offensive line and you also get in rounds two and four guys that can contribute to your defensive front seven rotation right away.
This would be a fun draft for the Broncos with all the different small school guys in the middle rounds too. What would you think about this draft?