Broncos Draft 2016: Team Selects Hunter Henry from Arkansas
By Tylor Walden
The FanSided site With the First Pick has done a first round mock draft and Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry was drafted with the 31st Pick by the Denver Broncos. I take a look at what he can provide for the Broncos.
The offseason for the Denver Broncos has not quite started yet as they still have two more weeks in their season left. After defeating the New England Patriots, the Broncos will be representing the AFC in Super Bowl 50.
But just because the season is not over does not mean we can’t look ahead to what is in store for the Broncos in 2016.
This offseason will be really huge for the Broncos as they have quite a few of their players hitting free agency when March rolls around.
They already took care of one of their defensive players as Derek Wolfe was signed to a four year extension just days before the divisional round game against the Steelers.
However, I think it is safe to say that not every player on the Broncos roster will be returning in 2016. So, let us look ahead to see what holes will possibly need to be filled.
The FanSided site With the First Pick covers anything regarding the NFL Draft for the 32 teams involved. They do a tremendous job and they have released their mock draft leading up to the Super Bowl between the Broncos and Panthers.
The first thing that intrigued me was that the last two picks in the draft won’t be determined until after the big game, but Carl Cockerham made a bit of a prediction and had the Broncos with the final pick in the first round. This means that he predicts that the Broncos will end up victorious.
So, who do the Broncos pick with the 31st overall pick?
Now, I know what you are thinking. Why would the Broncos draft a tight end when they have three on the active roster and 2015’s third round pick Jeff Heuerman waiting in the wings?
Well, I will go into a bit of detail on why this man was drafted. It all started with the Monday after the Broncos 29-10 win over the Green Bay Packers. On that day, the Broncos traded a couple of draft picks with the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for tight end Vernon Davis.
Sadly enough, that trade has not worked out for them. Since coming to the Broncos, he has recorded 20 receptions for 201 yards and no touchdown catches. He hasn’t really helped them in the postseason either as he has no catches in both games the Broncos have played.
For me, I was really hoping he would help out, but he has not produced. In fact, we have seen Owen Daniels thrive in the spotlight at times. Now Davis has pretty much been limited to a few snaps and special teams work. With Davis becoming a free agent at the end of this year, I see no way that the Broncos bring him back.
That leaves the Broncos with Daniels, Virgil Green, and Heuerman on the active roster. So, how does Henry help the team in 2016? Well, I took a look at his draft profile over at NFL.com, and he has a lot of potential.
Henry was the John Mackey award winner in 2015 as the nation’s top tight end. He had a spectacular 2015 campaign that saw him record 51 catches for 739 yards and three scores. In fact, since his freshman year, his numbers have improved significantly.
He stands 6-foot-5 inches and weighs 253 pounds. This guy looks like an NFL tight end. But this one trait that he has could help the Broncos in the offense.
During his time at Arkansas, he was a big contributor to the team’s running game, having the ability to turn away outside linebackers and cornerbacks away from the running back. With Gary Kubiak’s offense, this would be a great player to have for those types of situations.
This could especially hold true if Brock Osweiler ends up leading the team. With a possible retirement by Peyton Manning a possibility, Henry could become that tight end for Osweiler to throw to if he is in a jam.
Next: Broncos must prioritize Von Miller and Malik Jackson
While Owen Daniels has proven that he can be a solid option, having Henry to run block and catch passes gives the Broncos a player that could replace the production of what Julius Thomas had before he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
From initial looks, he certainly fits the bill. What do you think Broncos Country? Would you like to see this guy in that blue in orange? I would without question. But let me know what you think in the comments below.