The 2021 NFL Draft is merely days away, and the Denver Broncos have big decisions to make. At this point, the biggest question is undoubtedly this — what will the team do at the quarterback position?
At the very least, there seems to be a decent chance the team will move forward with Drew Lock as the starting quarterback in the 2021 season with potentially a rookie like Trey Lance or Justin Fields coming in via the first round of the draft, or a veteran hedge like Teddy Bridgewater coming in after the draft to compete with Lock.
No matter what the scenario at this point, the Denver Broncos are in prime position to further boost a roster that looks vastly improved both with players coming back from injury and the additions George Paton has made.
Heading into the draft, what are the Broncos’ primary needs or areas to upgrade? In no particular order:
- Quarterback – Paton may not love Drew Lock but he also may prefer him to unknowns/alternatives
- Linebacker – Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell are in contract years, Jewell could be upgraded on
- Safety – Kareem Jackson will be a free agent again in 2022, the depth behind him is thin
- Running back – Melvin Gordon will be a free agent in 2022, Phillip Lindsay walked in free agency
- Tight end – Albert Okwuegbunam coming off of a major injury, Nick Vannett released
- Offensive tackle – Does the team like Calvin Anderson enough to pass on the top guys in this OT class?
Beyond these areas of need, you can also look at spots like edge defender behind Von Miller who will be a free agent in 2022 as well as wide receiver where DaeSean Hamilton is apparently on the trade block and a number of players are in the final year of their contracts (Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Diontae Spencer).
A general manager’s work is never finished, right?
Still, if the Denver Broncos had to strap up this coming Sunday, they would be fielding a very talented starting lineup. The future will have to be considered with this draft class as well as the present.
With that being said, we know that George Paton’s philosophy is to get as many darts to throw at the board as possible. The Broncos currently own nine selections in this draft class including the 9th overall selection.
Using the TDN mock draft simulator, I want to look at a scenario where the Broncos trade down from the 9th overall pick (sorry to the QB-only fans) and then move into the first round for a second time.
Regardless of where they are slotted, let’s get to the picks in this mock draft scenario.
For the last couple of years, the Denver Broncos have been jonesing for a linebacker near the top of their draft class.
In 2019, the team nearly used the 10th overall selection on Michigan’s Devin Bush. They ended up trading that pick (and the rights to draft Bush) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for three picks that turned into Noah Fant, Drew Lock, and Lloyd Cushenberry.
In 2020, the team nearly traded into the first round for a second selection after picking Jerry Jeudy to pick LSU linebacker Patrick Queen. He went to the Baltimore Ravens instead after a deal couldn’t be struck.
In 2021, will the third time be the charm?
Especially in a trade-down scenario, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah makes a ton of sense for the Denver Broncos. Taking an off-ball linebacker with a first-round pick is not the best use of your assets when other maybe more valuable positions are available, but Owusu-Koramoah is a three-down player with tremendous playmaking abilities both in coverage and against the run.
His play speed is absolutely outstanding, and he was able to be utilized all over the Notre Dame defensive formation the past couple of seasons with reps on the line as a pass rusher and lined up in the slot against receivers.
He’s truly a unique player at the position, and as much as has been made of George Paton’s presence at the pro days of quarterbacks in this draft class, not enough has been made about Paton’s presence at Owusu-Koramoah’s pro day.
His change of direction skills are tremendous, and his ability to match up in coverage is something the Denver Broncos have coveted for a long time.
Sure, this pick is not a quarterback. There are those who don’t believe in Drew Lock as the long-term answer, but the Denver Broncos still might. Even though there is a chance the Broncos could take a Justin Fields or Trey Lance if they are available in round one, Owusu-Koramoah is one of a short list of players that should be on the team should be targeting in a trade-down scenario.
I said this mock draft scenario was going to explore the idea of trading into the first round for a second first-round pick after trading down and acquiring Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with the top pick.
Here we are.
Although many will argue that you simply do not use a first-round pick on a running back on principle, not all cases and players are created equal. If a running back is one-dimensional or requires 30 carries per game in order to be effective, then no — it’s not a good idea.
If the player can split out wide and run routes like a wide receiver and keep your quarterback clean in pass protection?
That might be a different story.
Najee Harris is the rare type of playmaker at the running back position that I would say is worth a first-round investment. With additional picks in this trade-down scenario, the Broncos move up to fortify the running back position after letting Phillip Lindsay walk as a free agent.
Melvin Gordon has just one year left on his deal, and even though the Denver Broncos brought in Mike Boone from the Vikings to be a possible RB2 or RB3, the possibility of having Najee Harris in the offense for the next five years is too good to pass up on.
Harris is physical and savvy as a runner. He’s capable of breaking tackles and running through people but he’s less of a Derrick Henry bruiser type of back and more in the mold of a Matt Forte.
Where Harris really excels is as a receiver and on third downs. He is dynamic in this regard. He’s not just going to catch passes on swings or screens, but he can also line up out wide, in the slot, and make plays at the catch point like a receiver.
Factor in his ability to pass protect and you have the ideal three-down back in today’s NFL.
The Denver Broncos managed to bring back Kareem Jackson on a one-year deal, but how much longer beyond that will he be with the team?
The Broncos could go year-to-year there, but they could also put a plan in place to ultimately replace Jackson.
There are plenty of guys in this draft class that would make sense as eventual Jackson replacements, but one player in particular that would be a fun addition to the Vic Fangio defense is Washington’s Elijah Molden.
Over the course of his final 17 games at Washington (13 in 2019, 4 in 2020), Molden racked up 105 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, five interceptions, and 19 passes broken up. He played in the nickel, he played deep, and he proved he could do all of those things at a high level.
I have long thought this guy to be potentially the next Tyrann Mathieu and then I came across this video on his YouTube channel:
Many Denver Broncos fans are clamoring for Richie Grant, and rightly so. Grant is perhaps a better immediate fit to play the two-deep shell safety role with Justin Simmons in Denver, but I think Molden could help out as a dime linebacker and nickel defensive back in the meantime while excelling in that role down the road. Molden is also going to be 22 this season while Grant will already be 24 as a rookie.
Molden is violent as a tackler and he’s aggressive in making plays on the football. With his play speed and instincts, he could be a replacement for either Bryce Callahan or Kareem Jackson depending on what this team decides to do after the 2021 season.
If you’re asking me, the Denver Broncos have a bit bigger of a need at the tight end position than anyone has cared to notice or admit lately.
Noah Fant battled through injuries in 2020. Albert Okwuegbunam is coming off of a serious knee injury.
Nick Vannett was cut. Jake Butt and Troy Fumagalli remain free agents.
Where is the Broncos’ depth here? Andrew Beck, the fullback?
I think the Broncos have to go out and find a tight end in this draft, whether that’s someone like Notre Dame’s Tommy Tremble or even potentially someone like Hunter Long here in the fourth round.
Long is known for being a reliable target for the quarterback as well as a solid blocker. He burst onto the scene in 2020 to lead all tight ends in the FBS with 57 receptions en route to being named a 2nd-team All-American.
One of the things this guy does best is make tough catches in traffic.
With his well-rounded game as a blocker and receiver, Long could be the ideal TE3 for the Denver Broncos and someone who could provide a nice contrast to the games of Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam.
Another wide receiver for the Denver Broncos? After drafting three last year?
That’s right.
As previously mentioned, the Denver Broncos have some interesting situations going on at receiver right now.
DaeSean Hamilton is reportedly on the trade block. Even if he doesn’t end up getting traded, Hamilton is in the final year of his rookie contract. Tim Patrick is in the final year of his contract.
Courtland Sutton is in the final year of his contract. Diontae Spencer is in the final year of his contract.
Are you picking up what I’m putting down?
The Broncos have decisions to make at the receiver position for the immediate and long-term. Sutton will be with the team in 2022 barring maybe another bad injury whether by contract extension or franchise tag.
It feels more likely than not that Tim Patrick is in his final year with the Broncos before cashing in elsewhere as a free agent.
I love the potential of Ihmir Smith-Marsette at the next level as someone who can return kicks and punts as well as give you a speedy weapon offensively. He might need some time to develop and get stronger, but the Broncos could kill two birds with one stone here and have a contingency in place for both Hamilton and Spencer if neither are on the roster in 2022.
Remaining day three picks
7a. Racey McMath, WR/ST, LSU
Another wide receiver? Are you insane?
Racey McMath might be the best special teams player in this entire draft class, and this selection is much more about that than addressing the wide receiver position.
If you can get a guy in the seventh round that could realistically play 400 or more special teams snaps as a rookie, why would you not take it? The Broncos drafted another SEC special teams ace in Tyrie Cleveland last year in the seventh round. He has better potential as a receiver, but McMath is probably a superior special teams player at this point in time.
He would come in and fight for a job but his inclusion in the group would give the Broncos a tremendous group to choose from at receiver assuming Hamilton is ultimately traded:
- Courtland Sutton
- Jerry Jeudy
- Tim Patrick
- KJ Hamler
- Tyrie Cleveland
- Diontae Spencer
- Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- Racey McMath
7b. Alaric Jackson, OL, Iowa
The Denver Broncos let Elijah Wilkinson walk in free agency (Chicago) and he could be replaced by Alaric Jackson.
Jackson is projected as a guard/tackle at the next level and Wilkinson had started at both positions for the Broncos. Calvin Anderson will be taking Wilkinson’s spot as the top swing tackle on the roster with Ja’Wuan James penciled in as the starting right tackle right now.
7c. Tay Gowan, DB, UCF
To cap off this mock draft scenario, the Denver Broncos get an ultra-confident defensive back who has picked off a ton of passes whether he was playing at UCF or the JUCO level.
He’s worth a shot here in the seventh-round despite his lack of experience against top competition.
The Aftermath
If this kind of scenario were to play out for the Denver Broncos, I would think the team would be focused on bringing in a veteran hedge like Teddy Bridgewater, who has familiarity with GM George Paton as well as offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
The Broncos have done extensive work on quarterbacks in this draft, so while there is a chance the team could prioritize one at the top of this class (and it would make sense for them to do so) there also exists a possibility the team will opt to roll with Drew Lock and a veteran like Bridgewater, let them compete, and make a playoff push in 2021.
Let’s say the Panthers let Bridgewater go and the Broncos do sign him. Here’s a quick overview of what the team could look like with this kind of draft class:
Offense
QB: Drew Lock/Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon/Najee Harris
WR: Courtland Sutton/Tim Patrick
WR: Jerry Jeudy/Tyrie Cleveland
SLOT: KJ Hamler/Ihmir Smith-Marsette
TE: Noah Fant/Albert Okwuegbunam/Hunter Long
LT: Garett Bolles/Calvin Anderson
LG: Dalton Risner/Netane Muti
C: Lloyd Cushenberry
RG: Graham Glasgow/Muti/Alaric Jackson
RT: Ja’Wuan James/Anderson
Defense
DE: Shelby Harris/DeShawn Williams
NT: Mike Purcell/Shamar Stephen
DE: Dre’Mont Jones/McTelvin Agim
EDGE: Von Miller/Malik Reed
EDGE: Bradley Chubb/Derrek Tuszka
LB: Alexander Johnson/Justin Strnad
LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah/Josey Jewell
CB: Kyle Fuller/Michael Ojemudia
CB: Ronald Darby/Nate Hairston
NCB: Bryce Callahan/Elijah Molden/Essang Bassey
S: Justin Simmons/Trey Marshall
S: Kareem Jackson/Molden
Denver Broncos: Making the case for Trey Lance in round one
The Denver Broncos could be interested in a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft. We make the case for NDSU star Trey Lance at pick 9.
No NFL roster is perfect, but this would be a really good one and the Denver Broncos have left themselves plenty of flexibility on the salary cap to be able to make additional moves as needed for the remainder of the offseason.