Denver Broncos mock draft: What if Kirk Cousins signs?

1st Round: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

If you’ve read any of my previous mock drafts, this will be new to everyone — a defensive player in the first round.

Roquan Smith is an ascending prospect and a definite top 10 candidate with his speed, range, and playmaking ability as an off-ball linebacker.

If you are going to draft an off-ball linebacker in the first round, he needs to be an instant-impact player. For the Denver Broncos, he definitely would be that.

The Broncos are looking at the very real possibility this offseason of losing all of their inside linebackers save for Brandon Marshall, so adding a player at this position would be a no-brainer at some point in the top three rounds.

If it’s Smith in the first round? Even better.

The biggest question about Smith right now is size. Is he going to check in at the Scouting Combine/offseason workouts at 225 pounds, or closer to 240?

With Georgia playing in the college football playoff, he might have a little delay in his prep work to impress NFL scouts, but if he can check in at 230-235 pounds and prove that he can add some weight to his frame without losing speed or quickness, that could be huge for him in this process.

This is a guy who won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. He can make plays behind the line of scrimmage and plays bigger than his listed size, and could help the Broncos with their woes in pass coverage against tight ends and running backs.