Denver Broncos mock draft: Upgrading the offense again
With a pick that is due thanks to the departure of Russell Okung, the Broncos cap off their third round with the selection of Cal linebacker Devante Downs, a player who is consistently flying to the football and has shown huge improvement over the course of the 2017 season.
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He was Cal’s leading tackler as a junior in 2016, and has come out and already won two Pac 12 defensive player of the week awards in 2017, with 46 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks in four games.
Downs has a nose for the football, no doubt, and would give the Broncos a potential starter at inside linebacker if they are unable to re-sign Todd Davis at an acceptable price. That, and the Broncos also need some better insurance behind Davis and Brandon Marshall, with Corey Nelson in the final year of his contract.
I could see the Broncos looking at linebackers earlier than this in the draft as well, but typically you can find starter caliber players at this position in the third-fourth round because of how that spot is valued in the NFL.
Just look at Tampa Bay’s selection of Kendell Beckwith in the third round this past year. He’s already starting for them, and performing at a very high level. Those types of players seem to come around almost every year.
It would be nice if the Broncos could land one in this up-coming draft.