Denver Broncos were big winners on day two of the 2021 NFL Draft
Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
We’ve been talking about the Denver Broncos needing to invest a high draft choice in the running back position for quite some time here on Predominantly Orange.
Melvin Gordon is in a contract year. It’s a 17-game season. Phillip Lindsay is gone. The Denver Broncos needed another back who could “carry the load” and Williams is exactly that.
The former North Carolina star is an absolute bruiser who delivers punishing blows to any defender that dares get in his path. A high-school linebacker, Williams’ aggressive style of play has led to him being one of the best tackle-breakers in all of college football.
#Broncos #GM George Paton had 4-5 players on board with first-round grades. That inspired him to trade up for Javonte Williams. From @ESPNStatsInfo: Williams recorded 723 yards after first contact last season, the 2nd-most among FBS rushers. His 51 broken tackles led the nation
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) April 30, 2021
Because of his ability to break tackles, Williams has drawn some comparisons to Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, who is one of the NFL’s best at doing just that and maybe the best back in the league right now overall.
Williams gives the Denver Broncos’ young offensive core yet another weapon with star power. How exciting is that?
The Broncos’ offense needed a boost in the backfield, and while Williams is not a burner in terms of speed, he’s elusive and very difficult to bring down on first contact. He’s explosive with burst to the second level and he is an absolute load in the open field.
The Denver Broncos now have two guys who can close out games in Williams and Gordon who can also contribute on all three downs. These two will keep each other fresh, give the Broncos options, and they should rack up a lot of touchdowns.