2016 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos mock draft update, all seven rounds including projecting a trade for Colin Kaepernick. How does that affect draft plans?
What are the Denver Broncos going to do in the 2016 NFL Draft? Will they have Colin Kaepernick by the end of next week? Will they still have more questions than answers at quarterback by taking a signal caller in the first round?
John Elway’s draft class this year is going to be under the microscope, but there’s no doubt in my mind he’s got an opportunity, even with the last pick in the first three rounds, to do some great things for this roster.
I haven’t done a mock draft yet that included a trade for Colin Kaepernick, so I went ahead and made one and was a little on the aggressive side in terms of possible compensation. Here’s a three-round mock draft that I came up with if Kaepernick is in the mix…
1. (31st overall): Keanu Neal, S, Florida
I’m of the opinion that the Broncos should take a safety in the first round, and Neal is one of the best in this year’s draft. He flies to the football, has great instincts, and hits like an old school middle linebacker. Not everyone agrees with me that the Broncos need to take a safety this early, but Darian Stewart is a free agent after this season, and the style of play for both he and T.J. Ward means the Broncos are going to need to be ready in case of injury.
No offense to Shiloh Keo at all, but David Bruton had developed into the team’s best coverage safety, and at least when he filled in for Ward or Stewart, the play didn’t drop off significantly. When Bruton and another one of the Broncos’ starting safeties were hurt, the play dropped off on the back end.
I think you get a talent like Neal who can start in the near future, but also play a lot of snaps early on. Bradley Roby was drafted in the 1st round with Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. already on the roster, but his role hasn’t been diminished. The third safety should play at least 55 percent of the snaps in Denver’s defense, which would be a significant role for 2016.
Neal is a good one, too.
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