Denver Broncos: How Bringing Webster and Decker back impacts the draft
By Ian Walsh
Could the return of Kayvon Webster and Eric Decker help alter the Denver Broncos draft plans for the better this month? There is a good chance it would.
Current Denver Broncos have been campaigning for the team to bring back former teammates Kayvon Webster and Eric Decker. If the Broncos bring one or both back, there would be some impact to how they view this year’s draft.
Bringing back Kayvon Webster would be a key addition to the Denver Broncos special teams unit. The unit thrived on during his original stint in Denver. Webster would also help on defense where he would compete with Tramaine Brock for the nickel cornerback spot.
Webster is coming off a major injury when he ruptured his achilles tendon in December. Though this injury will force Webster out of most of the off season work, he should be ready for the season.
As for Eric Decker, he would slot in nicely as Denver’s third receiver. Decker is not the player he was when he left the Denver Broncos. But he still is a red zone threat and solid slot receiver.
While the Denver Broncos do have second year receiver Carlos Henderson on the roster, Henderson missed his whole rookie year due to injury and is unproven at the NFL level. Adding Decker could force Henderson down the depth chart but it is more likely they would split time as the teams three wide receiver.
How this would impact the draft for Denver is that the Broncos can focus on other needs or best player available on their board. The Denver Broncos are not selecting a wide receiver in the first round but some mock drafts had Denver taking Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward in the first round.
If the Denver Broncos make these signings and take a quarterback with the fifth pick, they can fill out the roster and target a few specific needs.
Guard
Ronald Leary and Connor McGovern are slated to start at guard for the Broncos. An upgrade could be found in round two if Will Hernandez is still on the board. If Hernandez is gone another player I like is Austin Corbett out of Nevada who could be available in round three or four.
Linebacker
As I discussed in a previous post, the Broncos could target Fred Warner on the second day of the draft. Warner would be a nice replacement for what the Broncos lost in Corey Nelson. Another option is Josey Jewell. The Broncos have had both Jewell and Warner in for pre-draft visits.
Tight End depth
Virgil Green left in free agency. The Broncos will look to Jake Butt to fill the starting tight end role. With the depth at tight end in the middle rounds of the draft, the Broncos could look to someone like Stanford’s Dalton Shultz to provide depth at the position.
Shultz is already a strong run blocker and reminds me of C.J. Fiedorowicz early on in his career. Having a third tight end who is a skilled run blocker will be useful both on the goal line and short yardage situations.
Running Back
The Broncos have drafted 4 running backs since John Elway took over in 2011. They could look to add another in this year’s draft.
Next: Broncos Mock Draft with Sam Darnold
The front office still seems to have faith in Devontae Booker and the other backs on the roster. However, adding a pass catching or change of pace back could bring some versatility to the offense. A few players the Broncos could target include Nyheim Hines, Kalen Ballage or Phillip Lindsay.
The Broncos roster will already look a lot different going into next year. Reunions with Webster and Decker would both provide depth and flexibility in the draft at the end of this month.