Broncos Select Shane Ray, DE/LB, Missouri With 23rd Pick

The Denver Broncos traded up in the 2015 NFL Draft with the Detroit Lions to select Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray.

Ray was a top 10 player on my board, though that’s not a unanimous thought, and when Jeff Legwold picked Ray in the first round of the ESPN NFL Nation mock draft, realizing that this was a possibility got me really excited.

To move up and get Ray, the Broncos traded their first round pick, Manny Ramirez, and two fifth round picks — one this year, and one next year.

The price to move up was cheap considering the 49ers got a fourth and fifth round pick from the Chargers to move up two spots earlier in the first round to select Melvin Gordon.

Ray has off field issues, including a citation for marijuana possession the week of the draft. It wasn’t the best look for him, but the Broncos have spent far more valuable picks in the draft on guys who were in the NFL’s drug program. Von Miller was in stage 1 of the program and Bradley Roby was cited for a DUI prior to the 2014 NFL Draft.

John Elway is not afraid to take risks, and this is certainly a risk, but it will be worth it. Ray is a phenomenal pass rusher. He was one of the best closers I scouted on tape and the Broncos are getting a guy that has been compared to Robert Mathis by Bill Polian, the guy who drafted him.

I have no qualms with this pick whatsoever. In fact, I think the Broncos made a phenomenal choice. Shane Ray will be a really good NFL player.

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