John Elway has an easy fix for day two NFL Draft woes
John Elway’s poor track record of second and third round draft picks needs a solution. What can the Denver Broncos GM do to fix it?
There’s been a lot made recently of John Elway’s poor track record drafting in the second and third round. After Elway’s disastrous class of 2013, people feel more entitled to take some shots at Elway’s drafting ability, which does deserve some criticism, specifically on day two.
Dating back to 2011, Elway’s first year making decisions with the Broncos, the results have been poor to say the least.
2011 Day Two Selections
2nd round: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
2nd round: Orlando Franklin, OL, Miami (FL)
3rd round: Nate Irving, LB, NC State
2012 Day Two Selections
2nd round: Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincinnati
2nd round: Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
3rd round: Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State
2013 Day Two Selections
2nd round: Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
3rd round: Kayvin Webster, CB, South Florida
2014 Day Two Selections
2nd round: Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana
3rd round: Michael Schofield, OL, Michigan
2015 Day Two Selections
2nd round: Ty Sambrailo, OL, Colorado State
3rd round: Jeff Heuerman, TE, Ohio State
2016 Day Two Selections
2nd round: Adam Gotsis, DL, Georgia Tech
3rd round: Justin Simmons, S, Boston College
Now, I’ll be darned if not every one of these players — save for those just drafted last year — didn’t either play in or start in a Super Bowl, some in multiple. While John Elway hasn’t drafted well in the second or third round, he has done a better job than anyone in the NFL of rounding out his roster through free agency, trades, undrafted players, waiver wire pickups, identifying developmental players for the practice squad, etc.
The Broncos have extracted exactly what they’ve needed from the players listed here, even Montee Ball whose future looked incredibly bright after his rookie season in 2013, backing up Knowshon Moreno in the most prolific offense in NFL history.
Unfortunately, none of these picks had staying power. They all had their moments with the Broncos, but from Elway’s first three draft classes, only one player (Derek Wolfe) remains from his day two selections.
The jury is still out on the 2015 class (entering year three) and the 2016 class (especially Justin Simmons) shows some promise. The 2014 class includes two year starter Michael Schofield, who has played mostly right tackle and right guard.
There’s no excusing Elway’s poor picks in these particular rounds. They are what they are. What’s not useful is simply complaining about it or not coming up with some type of solution.
Of course, the Broncos could just continue to use their second and third round picks (they have three total this year), or they could put them to good use. Last year, Elway packaged an extra third round pick to move up and select quarterback Paxton Lynch.
I’m suggesting an even bolder move in 2017.
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Elway should eliminate the possibility of making a poor second or third round selection by moving back into the first round for a second time, ultimately making two first round picks.
It wouldn’t be a lack of confidence on Elway’s part. It would be a bold move, believing that this Denver Broncos team is merely a couple of players away from having a championship caliber roster. There aren’t a ton of glaring holes on the Broncos’ roster, and they have 10 selections to work with.
Perhaps the Broncos could keep the 20th pick, and package their second, third, and fourth round picks for a first from a team like the New Orleans Saints, who have two first round picks (and no fourth). That type of a trade would give the Broncos the final pick in the first round, as well as allow them to keep one of their third rounders.
This would make for a boring day two of the draft for Broncos fans, but it would allow Elway to work where he works best — the first round.
The 20th overall pick is the highest Elway has had since drafting Von Miller 2nd overall in 2011. You know the Broncos are going to be looking for high impact players that can make this roster even better and getting two potential starters in the first round.
So, instead of taking risks in the second or third round, just get out of there all together, Elway. Make a splash, and trade back into the first round for an additional day one pick.
Stay in your element.