Reuben Foster falling to Broncos becoming more realistic

Alabama’s Reuben Foster has been considered a potential top five pick by some, but it’s not impossible that he could fall to the Broncos in round one…

Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster is considered a top five or 10 talent by most evaluators leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft, which would put him well out of range for the Denver Broncos. However, after getting kicked out of the scouting combine, a diluted urine sample, and some concerns about his shoulder, he could fall into the Broncos’ range at 20 overall…

Of course, a lot of information comes out this time of year about players from teams hoping that they might fall to their range. The Broncos might be one of those teams hoping Foster falls to pick no. 20 overall and it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see John Elway pull that trigger.

Elway has drafted players with some pre-draft issues before. Von Miller entered the league under the close watch of the drug program, and was even suspended in 2013 for violating the league’s drug policy.

Derek Wolfe, the team’s top pick in 2012, was suspended for PEDs at the start of the 2015 season.

Bradley Roby was cited for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol just days before the 2014 NFL Draft where the Broncos took him 31st overall.

Shane Ray dropped to the 23rd pick of the first round in the 2015 NFL Draft, where John Elway maneuvered up the board a few picks to get him. Ray was a top 10 player (in my mind) that dropped potentially after he was cited for marijuana possession just days before the draft.

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All of these players have been mostly clean while with the Broncos save for the suspensions handed out to both Miller and Wolfe. All of them are hard-working players with big time ability and the Broncos feel like they have the type of locker room culture to be able to bring these players along both on and off the field.

Foster should be no different, and if there’s any chance he falls to the 20th overall pick, you’d better believe John Elway would be willing to take that risk. Foster is a major difference-maker at linebacker who can play the run and pass equally well, and he can also move around and rush the quarterback.

He would be a stud in the Denver defense with so much talent around him and if he can stay healthy, would be a potential defensive rookie of the year candidate.