Denver Broncos: Interesting factor with OL draft visits
The Denver Broncos have had two reported pre-draft visits with offensive linemen, and both share something interesting in common…
The Denver Broncos have only had two reported pre-draft visits with offensive linemen. They have certainly talked to a lot more throughout the draft process, but their two visits might indicate something interesting about their plans for the future along the offensive line.
The two players who have been brought in for pre-draft visits are Iowa Hawkeyes center James Daniels and Mississippi State tackle Martinas Rankin, players who would be considered day two picks and in Daniels’ case, possibly a first round pick.
The interesting thing about these two players is the position they play, or are projected to play.
Daniels is already established as a center, but Rankin is a little bit tougher to project. Though he played and excelled at left tackle at Mississippi State, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein, who has long had an expertise in evaluating offensive linemen (son of an offensive line coach), thinks Rankin may have a good chance at becoming an NFL starter if he moves to the center position.
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Now, Zierlein is only one guy, but if he thinks this, there’s a chance some NFL teams do as well.
Rankin may need a year to get used to playing a new position, and Daniels could probably play some guard in the meantime if needed, but he’s a natural at the center position.
What am I getting at?
These two visits could be to bring in players who may potentially take over for Matt Paradis a year down the line. The Broncos, despite not necessarily having everything figured out at every offensive line position, have not brought in any of the big names from this year’s class for official visits.
Most notably, we have not heard of them bringing in Quenton Nelson for a visit, and they did not send their heavy hitting executives and coaches to Nelson’s pro day at Notre Dame.
Maybe the tape says enough for them there, but it’s interesting to me, nonetheless.
The Broncos might be preparing for the future at center with a couple of very interesting possible day two selections.