Denver Broncos post-free agency Mock Draft
The Denver Broncos have hit the majority of their needs in free agency, and have a chance to really solidify the foundation of the roster in the 2019 Draft.
The biggest waves of free agency are now in the rearview mirror and the Denver Broncos are looking forward to the 2019 NFL Draft with new players in the fold.
The team’s trade for quarterback Joe Flacco has finally been completed, and Flacco blew me away with his introductory press conference.
Along with the trade for Flacco, the Broncos brought in Ja’Wuan James to solidify the right tackle position. They also signed Kareem Jackson on the first day of the free agent negotiating period to help solidify the cornerback position and really the whole secondary moving forward.
The move to get Jackson was apparently just the tip of the iceberg for the Broncos at the cornerback position as the team also brought in slot cornerback Bryce Callahan from the Chicago Bears.
In addition to those four major additions from outside of Denver, the Broncos brought back tight end Jeff Heuerman and defensive lineman Zach Kerr on two-year deals.
These moves really hit on the Broncos’ major needs, although the team lost Matt Paradis to the Carolina Panthers leaving a weakness on the interior offensive line.
Depending on who you ask, the Broncos’ offseason positional priority list might look something like this at this point:
1. New coach2.
New Quarterback3.
Cornerback4.
Right Tackle5. Interior OL
6. In-Line Tight End7. Interior DL
8. Speedy WR
9. Speedy LB
There could be a discrepancy about what order these positions should be listed in, but these are the general positional needs the Broncos have had all offseason.
If you log on to Broncos Twitter, the prevailing opinion right now seems to be the team has to take one of Devin Bush, Devin White, or Drew Lock, or the fan base is going to be irate.
Some could get on board for the idea of Ed Oliver, though, because once upon a time the media really hyped him up as a top five prospect.
Okay, the idea of adding Ed Oliver would be pretty insane, I won’t lie about that.
But what should the Broncos really be focusing on in the 2019 NFL Draft? This is a team that has ranked near the bottom of the NFL for the past four seasons in scoring. The offense has been a major weakness, even in the team’s Super Bowl season.
At this point, it doesn’t matter what you or I think of Joe Flacco and his ability (or potential lack of ability) to elevate the offense where it needs to be. What matters is what the Broncos think of him and how that thinking impacts the NFL Draft.
The fact is (or seems to be) that John Elway and his new coaching staff have come to the agreement that Flacco is the guy who will lead this team for at least a year, and I would venture to guess the Broncos are out on quarterbacks in round one of this draft unless they can’t live without Drew Lock.
I think Elway would have preferred Justin Herbert just reading some tea leaves this offseason, but I could be wrong about that. Herbert will be available in 2020, along with potential franchise types like Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) and Jake Fromm (Georgia).
Those guys are going to be picked apart all year long by scouts and draft analysts, but so has Drew Lock.
I put together a top nine scenario for the purposes of this mock draft, so people don’t argue with this scenario in regards to the guys who may or may not be left on the board.
1. Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
2. 49ers: Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
3. Jets: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
4. Raiders: Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
5. Buccaneers: Devin White, LB, LSU
6. Giants: Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama
7. Jaguars: Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama
8. Lions: Rashan Gary, EDGE, Michigan
9. Bills: Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
This may not be how the top nine picks turn out, but if they do, I want to explore the scenario for the Broncos.