Who should the Denver Broncos select in the 2021 NFL Draft? That topic has been discussed many times over the last couple of months.
The team signed two cornerbacks in Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller to help out the defensive secondary. That does not put them out of cornerback in the first round entirely. It does give them some flexibility.
Without all of the injuries the team suffered in 2020, the expectation was that they could potentially go far. They could be quite successful. Sadly, that just wasn’t meant to be.
The team’s struggles of last year might be misleading for that reason. We couldn’t see what this team could do at full strength.
They moved on from A.J. Bouye and Jurrell Casey after both missed significant time in their lone year with the team. They get Ja’Wuan James back for 2021 (pending a potential opt out or another season-ending injury).
The thing is, this team needs to look to the future. They can’t just focus on right now. That would not be a smart way to go about the draft.
Every team has its own draft boards and will view certain players differently than other franchises. Who’s a good fit for your team? What will they provide to your team that another prospect might not be able to?
Will your target be available when you are on the clock? If not, are you willing to do what it takes to move up and get him? Or would you be content to move down and accumulate more picks?
Teams will have a fairly good idea of who will be available when they are officially on the clock.
We at Predominantly Orange have our own “draft crushes” if you will. We each selected one player we feel strongly about and hope the Denver Broncos will take a strong look at in just a couple of weeks.
Graham Tiedke’s “guy”: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Let me ask you, Broncos Country: If there are three things that have been a consistent problem for the Denver Broncos over the last couple of years, is “lack of a coverage linebacker” on that list?
Absolutely.
NDSU transfer (to LSU) linebacker Jabril Cox is the player the Broncos need if they want to fix that Achilles’ Heel.
Cox grades exceptionally well in coverage. He has the size (6-foot-3 and 233 pounds) and the athleticism to stay with his man.
Speaking of athleticism, he is very good at jumping passes and making a play on the football. Cox finished his collegiate career with nine interceptions, including four in 2018.
Cox is a phenomenal athlete who not only has played at the linebacker position, but he also lined up as a quarterback, wide receiver, safety, and cornerback at some point or another. If that doesn’t spell “athletic”, I don’t know what does.
With this selection, the Denver Broncos get the best coverage linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft. This would be an absolutely huge win.
We will finally be able to stop talking about how the Broncos can’t cover tight ends or running backs.
Steven Kriz’s “guy”: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
The player I want the Broncos to select in the first round is Zaven Collins, however not at number 9.
The ideal situation is that one of the big four quarterbacks, likely Trey Lance or Justin Fields is sitting there at 9 which would increase the trade value of the Broncos pick. This would force a team such as the Bears to give up a far bigger haul to select a QB than if a less valuable position is on the board.
In this scenario, the Broncos would be walking away with at least a first-round pick and some to drop back and pick my favorite linebacker in the draft in Collins.
In Collins, Denver would be getting a huge-bodied linebacker, standing at 6-foot-4 and coming in at 260 pounds. For such a large linebacker you wouldn’t expect his movement to be as fast and fluid as it is, but when he attacks the ball, he looks as if he is shot out of a cannon.
Collins is a versatile player with the ability to play middle linebacker but also with the quickness to line up on the edge during some exotic looks. On top of fantastic tacking in the run game, he also possesses fantastic ball skills and the ability to really clog passing lanes with his height and length.
Collins should slide right into the starting lineup alongside Alexander Johnson and would make an already stout defense that much better. The Broncos couldn’t do much better than walking away with multiple future draft picks, including a first-rounder in 2022 and a game-changing linebacker to fill one of the small weaknesses this defense already has.
Also, watching Broncos Country collectively lose their minds on Twitter with a big 4 QB on the board at 9 and the Broncos passing would be worth a very entertaining side story to track.
Nicholas Manning’s “guy”: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Jabril Cox is a name you need to know before the NFL draft. The Denver Broncos have been searching for a young, athletic linebacker who can cover in space, and Cox is that guy.
Cox has been an unknown for most of his college career after being hurt his senior year of high school, causing him to take a college scholarship at FBS North Dakota State. Cox transferred to LSU in 2020 after the Bisons’ season was canceled in the wake of COVID-19.
Cox arrived in Baton Rouge and earned a starting spot right away. The team was reportedly not only impressed by his physical acumen but was in awe of his leadership.
With a 6-foot-3 and 230-pound frame, Cox covers ground like a safety and hits like a traditional linebacker. He makes plays in the hole often, showing an ability to dissect what the offense is doing and make plays behind the backfield, totaling 6.5 tackles for loss in 10 games during the 2020 season.
The same instincts that allow him to make plays in the run game are present when he is in coverage. Cox has shown an adept skill set to not only make a break on the ball but cause turnovers in the process. Cox intercepted 3 passes in 2020, one of them being a pick 6. All in all, Cox would be a tremendous addition in rounds 2 or 3 for the Broncos.
Noah Smith’s “guy”: Walker Little, OT, Stanford
If the Denver Broncos decide to pass on a tackle in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Walker Little is a player they should strongly consider.
Little was exceptional in his freshman season at Stanford and was considered to be a top tackle in all of College Football entering the 2019 season. A knee injury robbed him of his 2019 campaign, and Little opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Regardless, Little would be an excellent option outside of the 1st round. At 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, Walker Little has an excellent frame to be a long-term option at tackle for the Denver Broncos.
Little has great length for the position and has all the tools of a 1st round caliber tackle. His lack of playing time in college will likely push him down the draft, but in the 2nd round, he could be an excellent developmental tackle for Mike Munchak.
Ja’Wuan James’ return to the right tackle position fills a massive hole along the offensive line for the 2021 Season.
However, James’ history of injuries is extensive, and there is a strong chance that James will be unavailable during the season. This would serve as a perfect opportunity for Little to earn playing time as a rookie, and gain experience that will only help him in his development. Sitting behind Ja’Wuan James will help Little in his development, and could help him be ready to take over the right tackle position starting in 2022.
There’s nothing little about Walker Little. With development and coaching from renowned coach Mike Munchak, Walker Little could eventually be a stalwart at right tackle for the Denver Broncos and would be an excellent selection on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lou Scataglia’s “guy”: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
If the Broncos want to do nearly everything they can to ensure the long-term success of their QB, be it Drew Lock or someone else, Penei Sewell is the guy to draft. Naturally a left tackle, Sewell has been taking reps at right tackle in preparation for his NFL future.
Not only that, many have noted his ability to play on the inside as well. Now, Sewell as a guard may be wasting his talents a bit, but it just goes to show how valuable the Samoan will be at the next level.
Still just 20-years old, Sewell is a bit ‘raw’ for his position but presents All-Pro upside. The Broncos have struggled with finding a long-term answer at the right tackle position for years.
The team hoped that ex-Dolphin Ja’Wuan James would be the answer, but he has barely played in two years with the team.
Sitting Sewell behind James for a year, along with being coached by Mike Munchak would allow the Broncos to unleash the beast in his second year, or well into his rookie season.
Sitting a year would mean that Sewell starts his career in his age 21 season, which is still insanely young for an NFL player.
For the Denver Broncos, locking up your tackle positions for the foreseeable future will create one of the more desirable locations for a quarterback if the Broncos were to elect to chase one next offseason.
The presence of elite tackles, coupled with elite pass catchers and athletic tight ends fully completes the Denver Broncos offense.
Chandler Hyler’s “guy”: Richie Grant, S, UCF
Former University of Central Florida standout safety Richie Grant is my guy!
There is so much to love about Grant and his play on the field. Grant is not only a tackling machine but a turnover machine too. Vic Fangio’s defense is predicated on turnovers, and that is an area that has been lacking the previous years.
What is the cause for the lack of turnovers? Is it a lack of pressure, or a lack of ballhawks on the back end?
In my opinion, it is a little bit of both. Not that All-Pro Justin Simmons isn’t great, but current safety Kareem Jackson plays with a different style. He is a physical, in-the-box, smash-you-in-the-mouth type guy. Drafting Grant would provide the Broncos with a player on the back end who is physical and has a nose for the football.
In the last three years, Grant has amassed 70+ tackles every single year. That tells us that he is very willing to take that role over for Jackson as he is expected to playing his final year with the Broncos.
My favorite part about his game is his ability to create turnovers. During his career at UCF, he forced five fumbles, recovered two, along with ten interceptions. If I had a “comp” for Grant, it would be Charles “Peanut” Tillman. When he tackles you can see his effort in trying to jar the ball loose every time. Tillman did play corner, and Grant would be playing safety, but they’re built similarly.
The biggest concern I have heard with Grant is his age, as he will be turning 24 soon. This doesn’t concern me as much and the reason for that is he has already seen a lot of time on the field. This defense is ready now. This team is ready now. Grant could see the field sparingly in 2020, and when Jackson departs, he could fill in adamantly.
Grant’s versatility to play in multiple positions in the secondary should intrigue Fangio. In the third round of the draft last year, Fangio drafted a versatile defensive back in Michael Ojemudia. Having multiple chess pieces like this provides quality depth if injury occurs at an alarming rate like it did last year at cornerback.
Grant would be my top selection on day two, even if it had to be the 40th overall pick.
Richard Adkins’ “guy”: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
The player that I want the Denver Broncos to select in the 2021 NFL Draft is running back Javonte Williams out of the University of North Carolina.
Williams is a 5-foot-10, 220-pound running back who has the patience of Le’Veon Bell and the trucking power of Marshawn Lynch. If I had to compare Williams to any running back from the past, think of a modern-day Clinton Portis.
Williams easily could’ve been looked at as the best running back last season, rushing for 1,140 yards, 19 touchdowns in only 157 rushing attempts. Not only does Williams dominate in between the tackles, but once he gets going, he’s hard to take down, ranking first in broken tackles with 85, including 76 as a running back.
Still not sold? Williams rushed for over 150 yards four times last season, including a game against the Miami Hurricanes where he ran for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Keep in mind that Williams did all of this while splitting carries with Michael Carter, another solid running back in this year’s draft.
With the Broncos releasing Phillip Lindsay and 29-year-old Melvin Gordon in the final year of his contract, this could open the door to draft a running back early. Luckily, Willams is one of the underrated running backs in the draft and despite his amazing season, he could be the second or third running back drafted, resulting in a steal for the Broncos.
Running backs could often be scary to draft due to the average career span at the position being under five years and the number of running backs available. In this case, I believe Williams doesn’t fit that category due to less wear and tear from splitting carries and the explosiveness he’s shown.
I believe Williams could be the future of running backs, and he belongs in Broncos Country.
Shelby Manning’s “guy”: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Although the successful offseason produced by new general manager George Paton has given the Denver Broncos the flexibility to really do whatever they want with the ninth overall pick, they have an opportunity to upgrade any position. Realistically, the Broncos may be most likely to secure the depth they were missing at the cornerback position last season with Patrick Surtain II.
Last season, the Broncos were put in a bad position injury-wise, but the secondary unit suffered greatly. De’Vante Bausby, Duke Dawson Jr, Bryce Callahan, and Essang Bassey all missed time throughout the 2020 season.
The Broncos added key players Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller to the mix via free agency, but it would not hurt to add more depth, which makes Surtain a perfect pick for the Broncos.
Surtain is currently one of the highest-touted defensive prospects, already rated as a Pro Bowl talent by NFL.com. He has very few weaknesses, and his top strengths are his athleticism, ability to recognize routes, and has the ability to beat the receiver in a “jump ball” situation, securing the interception almost every time. NFL.com compares him to Nnamdi Asomugha, which is a pretty high compliment.
Although the Broncos have other young and developmental corners in guys like Michael Ojemudia and Parnell Motley, it would lock down the corner position to add a guy with the sure-fire talent that Surtain already possesses. He would be a perfect fit for Fangio’s defense, and if the Broncos were struck with the injury bug once again this season, they would have a lot of depth to explore if needed.
Realistically, if the Broncos do not trade up to secure a quarterback, they cannot go wrong with using this pick to bolster down the secondary.
Sayre Bedinger’s “guy”: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
It’s an annual struggle to hone in on just one guy that I would absolutely love for the Denver Broncos to draft, but Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah of Notre Dame is going to be that guy this year.
The 2021 NFL Draft class is pretty loaded at the linebacker position and the Broncos could find good value in probably the first four or five rounds, but Owusu-Koramoah is a rare type of athlete at the position and for whatever reason, he’s not being hyped as much as he should be.
Entering the 2020 NFL Draft, one player that many Denver Broncos fans lusted after was Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons. It was easy to see why, too. Simmons played all over the formation for Clemson’s defense and looked like one of the best defensive playmakers in the entire class with his ability to blitz, cover, play linebacker, play the slot, play safety, and do whatever was asked of him and do it well.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah could be this year’s version of Simmons or a Darius Leonard type of playmaker for your defense. Although there are some legitimate questions about Owusu-Koramoah’s playing weight (under 220 pounds), Leonard himself has been something of a pioneer for a lower weight class at the linebacker position.
Leonard checked into the 2018 Combine at 234 pounds but has since decided to drop his playing weight to under 220 pounds. Why?
Leonard has been ahead of the curve. While it’s imperative that linebackers are able to make plays at and around the line of scrimmage, he understands that the majority of the plays he needs to make to be considered elite at his position anymore are in space.
NFL offensive coordinators are salivating at the chance to get a slot receiver who runs a 4.3 matched up on a linebacker that is bulky and clunky. Leonard has proven that lighter is arguably better when it comes to making plays in space.
So it is with Owusu-Koramoah, who is still able to knife through the line of scrimmage and make plays, be physical, and be aggressive. With that said, the Denver Broncos need productivity from the linebacker position in terms of coverage abilities and Owusu-Koramoah is a star in that regard.
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He plays with instincts, he plays with tremendous technique, and he’s an explosive athlete with long arms and tremendous ball skills.