Denver Broncos 7-round mock draft: Sifting through latest rumors

After trading down with both the New England Patriots (15) and Chicago Bears (20) while accumulating a bounty of day two picks in 2021 and a couple in 2022, we finally settled on a player at pick number 20 overall.

That player is Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis, who has been routinely going on day two or later of many mock draft simulations.

I wrote on NFLMocks.com a while back that Davis could be a sneaky first-round option for the Denver Broncos or any other team, and the buzz on him has him firmly in that top 32 discussion.

Depending on how much you buy into George Paton’s pro day circuit, it’s clear that the Denver Broncos are seriously considering taking linebackers early on in the 2021 NFL Draft. In fact, they have been ever since Vic Fangio became the team’s head coach in 2019.

The Broncos nearly selected Devin Bush with the 10th overall pick in 2019 before trading down so the Steelers could take him. They also nearly traded up in 2020 to take LSU linebacker Patrick Queen.

Even though the team has Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell under contract for 2021, this is a position I think the Denver Broncos could pursue upgrades (yes, plural).

Although Paton himself did not attend Kentucky’s pro day, there is no question he’s seen the tape on Jamin Davis and heard about the performance he put forth.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1377308308768428041

For a linebacker (or any position group) these are absolutely freakish numbers. The Denver Broncos know they need to have better overall team speed defensively to keep up with other teams in the AFC West, and selecting Jamin Davis helps them accomplish that.

Fans have been clamoring for a linebacker that can cover for years down, and Davis also represents an upgrade over anyone on Denver’s roster right now in that regard. Coverage is not just about being fast or quick, but route recognition from the linebacker position and combining that route recognition with being able to play fast.

A linebacker with this type of size, range, and three-down ability in Vic Fangio’s defense could be absolutely lethal.