Denver Broncos: 4-Round Mock Draft to Get Back On Track

3rd Round:  Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple

The building of the trenches continues with Dion Dawkins of Temple.  This is another one of those “bully” type OL players.  It only takes a few plays of watching this kid to see the power and athleticism that has teams excited around the league.  Beyond just that teams also have 4-years worth of film as he started as a true freshman on the OL for Temple.

There really is so much to like about his game.  He has long arms that make it very difficult for any defender to get around him.  He has the power to open up huge holes in the run game.  In fact one of my favorite things to watch was when the Owls had a 3^rd and short or goal line situation a majority of the time they ran right behind this kid and quite often they were happy with the results.

Of course there are some things he needs to work on.  He can get caught leaning forward a bit too much allowing teams to throw him off balance.  Some of that is he bends a little too much at the hips instead of the knees.  This is something that coaching can help him get on the right track.  He can also play a bit high losing some of his power.  Some of this is why if the Broncos did draft him I could see them starting him off on the inside because of his great power in the run game and wing span to keep defenders from being able to run stunts in the pass game.  As he improves his technique then move him to either tackle spot and continue to watch him grow.

3rd Round:  Jaleel Johnson, DT/DE, Iowa

Here is another Defensive Lineman that I think is the perfect fit with what we want to accomplish on defense.  He most likely would be a NT for us but he has the athleticism to play at the DE position as well.

There are so many things to love about Johnson’s game.  Johnson plays a ton of snaps but you just never see him stop working.  Most big guys you see them take some snaps off but with this kid he just keeps coming at you.

That motor is combined with a good first step and very active hands that have helped him produce at a very high level this year.  Johnson has 8.5 sacks on the season and is consistently making plays in the back field.  He was a big part of why they are one of the top defenses in all of college football.

Johnson does have some work ahead of him to maybe add some more muscle to his frame.  He can struggle to anchor at times when he doesn’t win with quickness.  There were times that he became a liability in the run game because he was getting pushed back a bit.  Still I just love the fire this kid plays with and I think with some great coaching this kid could become a very special player.

3rd Round:  Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama

Gerald Everett is probably a player that not many have heard of.  My guess is though that this kid is about to sky rocket up draft boards after a great showing at the Senior Bowl here in a month.  Teams are going to fall in love with his game.

As a receiver he has everything you are looking for.  He has decent speed for a man of his size.  Maybe one of my favorite qualities is that of his route running.  Most TE’s in the college game just use their size or speed mismatch to get open but Everett uses his route running to help him get defenders turned around leaving him wide open.  Then you add to that combination he has very soft hands and great body control.  All of this adds up to him being a very good receiving option for any QB.

As a blocker he is definitely on the smaller end of what you are wanting in a TE.  This does show up as he can get blown backwards by guys with 50-60 lbs. on him.  What teams will really like though is that he is a very willing blocker.  He doesn’t shy away from contact.  I think coaches will look at that and see a kid they can really build into a good blocker at the TE position.  He is a bit of a project but I think one that is definitely worth a shot in the 3^rd round.