Denver Broncos: Dre’Mont Jones depth chart impact in 2019

The Denver Broncos drafted Ohio State’s Dre’Mont Jones in the third round to be a difference maker. How quickly can he climb their depth chart?

The Denver Broncos have had two really good draft classes in a row, and the 2019 NFL Draft class is going to have to make an instant impact if this team is going to compete. One of the team’s more underrated picks given the hype around top pick Noah Fant and the quarterback Drew Lock is third-rounder Dre’Mont Jones, a defensive tackle out of Ohio State.

How can Jones come in and affect the Broncos’ depth chart?

Interestingly enough, this could be the second-straight year where a Broncos third-round pick opens the season as either a starter or significant contributor on gameday.

Jones is going to have to earn his way, obviously, but the Broncos’ defensive line depth may be tested this year.

Let’s take a look at the pre-draft depth chart of defensive linemen in general, not separated by position.

1. Derek Wolfe
2. Adam Gotsis
3. Shelby Harris
4. Zach Kerr
5. DeMarcus Walker
6. Billy Winn

The Broncos obviously let Domata Peko walk in free agency, and at this point, there are no clear signs of bringing him back.

This line has three players on the final year of their respective contracts, and it just so happens to be the top three guys.

The Broncos will have to address that at some point, and will undoubtedly bring back at least one of Wolfe, Gotsis, or Harris (we would hope) but they needed to draft someone in this deep defensive line class who could come in and make an impact now and into the future.

Jones is going to have to earn his place, but would it surprise anyone to see him competing to be the fourth defensive lineman on this list by the end of the 2019 season?

Here’s a projected depth chart with the former Buckeyes star in the fold.

1. Derek Wolfe
2. Adam Gotsis
3. Shelby Harris
4. Dre’Mont Jones
5. Zach Kerr
6. DeMarcus Walker

Vic Fangio has talked about wanting his guys on the defensive line to be able to play multiple positions. The positions Jones plays best are 3T in a base look and the 1T or 0T in obvious passing downs.

There will be a clear place for him in those roles this season. I would not be surprised to see Jones splitting reps with Harris who didn’t even play 40 percent of the defensive snaps last season.

Domata Peko played 48.47 percent of the defensive snaps last season, second-most on the defensive line behind only Derek Wolfe.

The Broncos have some interesting ways they can get their best pass rushers on the field and still be stout up front.

For example, on passing downs they could have a four-man front of Wolfe, Jones, Harris, and Chubb with Von Miller playing behind Wolfe, and really any six guys on the back end of the defense.

Vic Fangio doesn’t utilize a traditional 3-4 front with an every-down, 330-pound nose tackle. He uses a 3-4/4-3 hybrid known as the 4-3 under, but really Fangio is going to use the type of defense he knows will beat an offense, regardless of the alignment of the defensive linemen.

Jones is the type of player he can move around and effectively use as a pass rusher from a variety of positions. He should make a significant impact as a rookie and could end up playing a bigger role than a lot of people assume.