Denver Broncos have formal interview with Henry Ruggs at Combine

The Denver Broncos reportedly had a formal interview with Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III at the 2020 Scouting Combine. Who else are they meeting with?

The Denver Broncos have been busy meeting with 2020 NFL Draft prospects early in the week at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

One notable prospect to get a formal meeting with the Broncos is Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, perhaps the most commonly picked player for the Broncos in mock draft scenarios so far this offseason.

Ruggs, who may wind up being the fastest player in the history of the combine when all is said and done, finished his career at Alabama with 98 receptions for 1,716 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown this past season, giving him 25 total touchdowns on just 100 touches in three seasons as a member of the Crimson Tide.

It’s hard to believe a receiver prospect with only 100 touches in three seasons could be as productive as Ruggs was, but that’s what makes him special.

Averaging about 18 yards per touch in college, scoring one out of every four times he got the ball, Ruggs became one of the most dynamic playmakers in all of college football on an offense that features four future starters at receiver.

For him to shine as much as he did given the ‘market share’ going on at Alabama is remarkable.

As you can see from Klis’ report, the Broncos have been getting busy meeting with some of the top playmakers at wide receiver in this draft, not being shy about telegraphing their interest in adding to the position through this year’s incredible class.

There are three guys right now — Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, Ruggs, and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb — widely considered to be the top three players at the receiver position in this class.

The Broncos have to hope that of the 14 teams ahead of them, at least 12 teams take positions other than receiver. Considering LSU QB Joe Burrow, Ohio State DE Chase Young, Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah, and Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa are pretty much guaranteed to be off the board, that means the Broncos have to hope that 10 other teams in front of them choose not to select three receivers among them.

The possibility exists that teams will try to jump the Broncos in the draft order for a receiver. Wide receiver-needy teams like the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, and a host of others could try to leapfrog Denver for a player of Ruggs’ caliber if he’s the lone receiver left on the board of the top three.

Thankfully for the Broncos, the talent pool is deep and rich. There are guys outside of those top three who have WR1 capabilities, they just may not have such outstanding traits as Ruggs’ speed, Jeudy’s route running, or Lamb’s outstanding ball skills and run after the catch abilities.

Even if the Broncos miss out on one of these top three receivers, they’re going to get an impact player at the position.