Many draft prospects lift their draft stock significantly with their bowl performances, and this year is no different.
Aside from stud performances from BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (against Central Florida), Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (against Clemson), and Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (against Notre Dame and Ohio State), there were lots of other players who should catch the eye of Denver Broncos talent evaluators as 2021 NFL Draft season begins to heat up.
I have no doubt new General Manager George Paton and the Denver Broncos paid close attention to the 2021 CFB bowl season, as these five players fraised their draft stock with impressive performances.
Paton’s philosophy is to focus on the draft and develop talented players. So, I looked at the CFB Bowl Season and found five prospects who could entice the Broncos to pull the trigger on them at some point in the upcoming 2021 draft.
Broncos 2021 prospects on the rise: Christian Barmore – DL – Alabama
Christian Barmore has all the tools to be an impactful defensive lineman in the NFL. Barmore checks in at 6-foot-5 and 310 lbs. The Number 75 overall recruit in 2017, Baremore seemed destined to be a force for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
He started out slowly. In 2019, Barmore had 2.0 sacks and had yet to scratch the surface of what he could become. In 2020, he raised his game and produced 8.0 sacks while causing havoc throughout the bowl season.
Barmore terrorized one of the best offensive lines in the country (Notre Dame, Ohio State). He racked up pressure after pressure, causing both Ian Book (Notre Dame Quarterback) and Justin Fields (Ohio State Quarterback) to rush throws and leave the pocket early. Barmore’s performance in the CFB National Championship Game earned him the Defensive MVP.
The Broncos may be in the market for a defensive lineman early in the NFL draft if they are unable to bring back Shelby Harris, and Barmore might be a nice addition to a young defensive front.