Denver Broncos: Carlos Basham Jr. a fit in 2021 NFL Draft

The Denver Broncos have needs on both sides of the ball heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, but the defensive front seven is almost always an area of focus.

With the contract situation of Von Miller up in the air along with players like Shelby Harris and DeMarcus Walker hitting free agency, the defensive front seven will almost unquestionably be an emphasis for the Denver Broncos and new GM George Paton in free agency or through the draft.

One player who might make a ton of sense for the team is Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham Jr.

Basham was an absolute star for the Demon Deacons defense, racking up 173 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, and seven forced fumbles in four seasons. Not only is Basham able to hold up as an edge defender against the run and as a pass rusher, but he can slide all over the defensive front and be effective as an inside player.

There wasn’t a single game Basham played at Wake Forest without a pressure on the quarterback.

Just like another former ACC star on the Denver Broncos’ roster Bradley Chubb, Basham’s game is not as much edge bend as it is power, hand usage, and a variety of ways to win depending on where he lines up.

With that being said, there is a level of productivity for Basham at each position he plays that goes beyond the stat sheet. Adding this kind of player to a defensive front that already includes (for the time being) Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Dre’Mont Jones, Jurrell Casey, and Mike Purcell would be outstanding for Vic Fangio and the defensive staff.

Basham could play standing up as an outside linebacker and kick inside in the nickel formation.

Another interesting factor at play here is how heavily emphasized Wake Forest players were in the Denver Broncos’ 2020 rookie class. The team drafted linebacker Justin Strnad in the fifth round in 2020 and then signed Essang Bassey and Kendall Hinton after the draft’s conclusion.

Bassey ended up as the Broncos’ starting nickel cornerback before a season-ending injury and Strnad was in line to play a role in the nickel defense before a wrist injury he suffered in training camp.

The Broncos obviously saw translatability from the Wake Forest defense in last year’s top Demon Deacon prospects, and there’s no doubt if they studied players like Strnad and Bassey at length that Basham would show up on tape frequently.

Basham’s advanced ability to win as a pass rusher in a variety of ways could be exactly what the Denver Broncos need regardless if they are able to retain Von Miller or not. If Miller is in the fold, Basham could play primarily defensive line. If Miller is let go for contractual or off-field reasons, Basham could contend for a starting EDGE position as a rookie.

Broncos: 3 offensive positions team could target with top 2021 pick

The Denver Broncos have widely been expected to be going with defense atop the 2021 NFL Draft, but there's a decent chance they could go offense.

No matter what, he would factor into the rotation on the defensive front with aims of being a long-term starter.