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

The Denver Broncos’ situation with right tackle Ja’Wuan James is worth monitoring for the future.

James is under contract for 2021, and the team is planning on having him back and hopefully playing at a high level.

There are a couple of things the Broncos need to keep in mind, however.

First of all, even knowing that he has opted in for the 2021 season, James has not consistently been dependable to play a full slate of games as an NFL player. He has missed plenty of time due to injury including most of the 2019 season, his first with the Broncos.

Second, the Broncos can pretty easily get out of his contract after the 2021 season, and given his cap hits, they might do just that if he can’t stay healthy or doesn’t play well.

Although the team likes Calvin Anderson, who started a pair of games in 2020, I think they will draft a hedge and a talented player like Spencer Brown at some point in the 2021 NFL Draft with one eye on the future at the position.

Spencer Brown, as has become a common thread in this mock draft, is a freak of an athlete for his position.

Although Brown didn’t get the chance to play in 2020, what he’s put on tape was already on the NFL’s radar and he shined at the week of practices at the Senior Bowl in Mobile.

As a future starter at right tackle, he would be well worth the investment here with a third-round selection.