Denver Broncos: Three draft prospects to watch at positions of need

The Denver Broncos may not just be a ‘quarterback’ away from contending again. Here are some draft prospects to watch at positions of need going forward…

The closer we move to the end of the 2018 season, the closer the Denver Broncos are moving towards having a top five draft pick.

Because the Broncos might be picking high in the draft, it’s going to be important to be well-prepared in terms of knowledge of college football’s best players, and today we’re going to look at three players at positions of need in Denver that could be of interest to John Elway and company.

This won’t be a list of my top ranked prospects in this year’s class at these respective positions, but mainly just players that are worth keeping an eye on.

This piece will focus primarily on the offensive side of the ball, starting with offensive tackles…

1. Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State (Senior)

Like Garett Bolles was for the Utah Utes, Martinas Rankin was a JUCO gem for the Mississippi State football program. He has steadily become one of the best offensive tackles in college football, and seems to get better every single week.

For the Broncos, Rankin would likely be the team’s right tackle while Bolles continues at his post on the left side. Rankin is known for his pass blocking abilities, and like Garett Bolles, he is an athletic player that may need to add some weight to his frame upon arriving in the NFL.

2. Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan (Senior)

As wide receiver Corey Davis drew NFL scouts to Western Michigan the past couple of seasons, the big offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor started to gain some momentum as a potential NFL prospect.

Born in Nigeria, Okorafor became an All-American high school lineman in the state of Michigan and has been a starter at tackle for the Broncos for the past three seasons. In 2015, Okorafor started at right tackle, and starting in 2016, he moved to the left tackle position.

Okorafor at 6-6, 330 pounds, already has the size to play tackle in the NFL, and is certainly physical enough to play the part.

3. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon (Senior)

Crosby right now is a very underrated player to me that can play both left or right tackle at the next level, and I think he will excel very early on. Oregon obviously has long had a very balanced offensive attack, and Crosby has exemplified that with his strong play as both a run blocker and pass protector.

Already the requisite size to play tackle in the NFL (6-5, 310) and I think he’s the best kept secret right now in college football along the offensive line.