The Denver Broncos have some uncertainty on the offensive line this season, and while adding another rookie might not solve that problem, they could look to make a move with the future in mind on Thursday.
The NFL’s annual supplemental draft is taking place and we’ve already previously written about how it would behoove the Broncos to at least take a strong look at Clemson tackle Isaiah Battle, who despite off-field concerns is a pretty talented football player.
Rumor has it Battle is a perfect fit for the zone blocking scheme with his athleticism, and he showed a bit of that at his pro day. Scouts considered his pro day ‘good’ for whatever that’s worth, but there were 26 teams on hand at Clemson to watch it all take place.
Battle would not be a starter for the Broncos in 2015 unless it were for injury, so using a 1st or 2nd round pick on him would be madness, especially considering he’s got some serious off-field concerns. He says he entered the supplemental draft process because of a child on the way, but there are also rumors that he failed a ‘three strikes, you’re out’ policy at Clemson.
Whatever the case, Battle is available to NFL teams and while he has some troubles, he is a talent that everyone is talking about getting drafted. He started 11 games for Clemson at left tackle last season and was rumored to be perhaps the second best tackle in college football as it relates to NFL prospects.
His teammate at Clemson, Kalon Davis, also participated in the supplemental draft Pro Day, though for different reasons. Davis was actually previously an undrafted free agent acquisition of the Broncos, and some were talking about him as one of the better ones they had acquired.
The Broncos put Davis through a physical, and he failed, which ultimately led to his release. He now says he’s getting healthier and hopes he will get another shot in the NFL.
John Elway wouldn’t be hurting anyone by giving both of these guys a shot, especially on an offensive line that is as blank a canvas as you could ask for right now in Denver. The Broncos have only a sure-fire All Pro in Louis Vasquez, and even he was playing out of position most of last season.
It’s a strange situation to be in but the Broncos obviously believe they have the pieces in place to get a cohesive offensive line by the start of the season. At any rate, they are going to need to start shaping that unit for the future, and adding both Battle and Davis would be a strong move if for no other reason than they would have more young talent to pick from.
The Broncos are also playing with house money in a way since they lost Julius Thomas to one of the richest UFA contracts in the league when he signed with Jacksonville. That should equate to a third or fourth round pick at worst and the Broncos could very well bid their own pick in either one of those rounds knowing they would later recoup said pick.