Denver Broncos: 2021 NFL Draft 7-round mock draft
By Noah Smith
Pick 44. Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama, 6’5″ 310 lbs
Christian Barmore started off the 2020 season with as much hype as any player but struggled to meet those immense expectations. Barmore dealt with injury and Alabama’s own success, as the starters rarely played deep into the 2nd half throughout the 2020 college football season.
Although Barmore started off the season slow, he has turned up the production in recent weeks and has become a true disruptive player many thought he could be. Barmore’s strong finish to what will likely be another championship for Alabama could push him up draft boards, but this is a player the Denver Broncos could fall in love with in the 2nd round.
Barmore has excellent size for the position and has good athleticism to dominate the lineman in front of him. Barmore is still developing moves as a pass rusher, but the coaching from defensive line coach Bill Kolar and Fangio will help Barmore in his development.
With the potential departures of Shelby Harris, Jurrell Casey, and DeMarcus Walker, the Denver Broncos will certainly want to invest in depth along the defensive line. Adding a high-upside player like Barmore could certainly help the long term upside of the group, and could add a new element to the Broncos’ front seven.
Overall, the Denver Broncos may have more pressing needs, but the value with Barmore was too much to pass up. Adding a ready-to-play player that also has ridiculous upside is a no brainer for John Elway and Vic Fangio.
2021 Role Prediction: 3rd-Down Specialist