Denver Broncos: Day 3 draft picks provide depth, huge upside

After a really strong day two of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos came out on day three and had to wait a little bit. In fact, they had to wait just shy of 50 picks before they had any selections on day three of the NFL Draft, but their wait seems to have been worth it.

After wheeling and dealing in the third round, Denver Broncos general manager George Paton stayed put with all six of his selections in rounds 5-7.

The later portion of day three of the NFL Draft is not exactly a hotbed for big-time prospects, but you never know what kinds of gems you’re going to unearth on day three.

The 5th-7th rounds of the NFL Draft are all about upside and building your team culture the right way, as well as finding guys who will contribute to your special teams unit right away.

That’s exactly what Paton and the Broncos prioritized.

"[Special Teams Coordinator] Tom McMahon evaluated just about every player in the draft, so we targeted players that he liked. Not only those that were good offensive or defensive players, but players who could be core teamers for us. We realize we lacked in special teams last year. We need guys who can cover and block and take pride in special teams. All of these players that we drafted will hopefully take special teams seriously. It’s a big part of our game, obviously.” George Paton (via Broncos PR)"

Getting instant special teams contributions from your day three picks? That’s a huge success. Finding players who can potentially develop into starters down the line? That’s a huge bonus.

The Denver Broncos did a good job of both of those things, finding players who should be expected to contribute immediately on special teams as well as guys who could possibly start on a full-time basis as soon as 2022, perhaps in the event of injury as soon as 2021.

Denver Broncos Day 3 selections

5 (152): Caden Sterns, S, Texas
5 (164): Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana
6 (219): Seth Williams, WR, Auburn
7 (237): Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU
7 (239): Jonathon Cooper, DE/EDGE, Ohio State
7 (253): Marquiss Spencer, DL, Mississippi State

Let’s look through the day three picks and what each guy brings to the table.

5 (152): Caden Sterns, S, Texas

I mentioned it when the Denver Broncos drafted him, but Caden Sterns is a huge nod to the team’s analytics department, at least in my opinion and from what I can see.

While Sterns is not exactly the only player in this class by the Denver Broncos to be taken with less production at the college level than is typically ideal, he certainly was selected at an ideal spot in the Draft where George Paton might lean a little more heavily on the analytics model to tell him what pick is the best investment.

Why do I say that?

The Denver Broncos obviously believe in their coaching staff. Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell have a long history of developing players defensively and Fangio’s scheme is one where you bank on talent in the secondary, not necessarily just production at the college level.

Not that every safety prospect drafted by a Fangio-coached team will turn out to be Eddie Jackson, but Jackson is a guy who had really one big year with the Alabama Crimson Tide in college surrounded by a few underwhelming or injury-ruined seasons.

Fangio helped develop Jackson into a Pro Bowl safety with the Bears. We’ve also seen him help extract the best out of Justin Simmons.

Belief in the coaching staff’s ability to develop this kid is critical.

What are you believing in them developing? Tremendous talent.

In 2018, Sterns was the number one recruit in the entire state of Texas, a class that included Alabama commit and fellow 2021 classmate Jaylen Waddle.

Sterns made a huge impression as a true freshman with four interceptions and eight pass breakups along with three tackles for loss. His production took a nosedive in the following two seasons, but he showed out in a big way at the Texas pro day.

Sterns ran a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 42-inch vertical.

So far, the analytics model is looking at Sterns this way:

• Position group with proven track record of development in the Fangio defense
• Former no. 1 recruit in a huge football state
• Off the charts athletic testing

It’s not like Sterns had no production at Texas after his freshman year, it just wasn’t the trajectory many expected.

In addition to it all, Sterns was a team captain and he’s going to play special teams immediately.

You bank on your coaching staff developing this kind of player.

5 (164): Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana

If the Caden Sterns selection didn’t excite you, the Jamar Johnson pick by the Denver Broncos probably got your blood flowing a bit.

Although there wasn’t a ton of pre-draft hype for Caden Sterns, steam had been picking up in recent months for Jamar Johnson out of Indiana.

Tackling is a “non-negotiable” for the Vic Fangio defense, which means that tackling is something that Johnson is going to have to work on. He did not put his best effort forth in that category at all times, at least this past season, but the potential is there.

Unlike Sterns, Johnson had a modest first couple of seasons with the Hoosiers before exploding onto the scene in 2020.

He had four interceptions, eight pass breakups, and 3.5 tackles for loss in just eight games this past season, earning 2nd-team All-Big Ten accolades and really putting himself on the NFL map.

While Sterns really excelled at making plays on the ball when the path was clear, Johnson was a guy who really showed he can read plays and get a jump on the ball. He pitched a shutout in limited snaps for the Hoosiers’ defense.

Although he was a free safety for the Hoosiers, Johnson also played some slot and will be counted on to play a significant role on special teams.

In Vic Fangio’s two-high shell looks, this kid has a shot to be a real star if he keeps on the trajectory we saw of seven picks on 44 passes thrown into his coverage. That kind of rate is insane.

Johnson’s coming out party this past season against Ohio State and Justin Fields may have thrown a wet blanket on Fields’ number one pick campaign. He has big-time potential.

6 (219): Seth Williams, WR, Auburn

With a little more consistency, Seth Williams may have snuck into day two of the NFL Draft.

The Denver Broncos didn’t “need” a wide receiver according to many of the fans but they actually did need to, and for a couple of reasons.

First of all, the depth of this receiver class was too good to pass on the value of players that might be drafted a round or two later than they should.

Second, the Broncos have four receivers from last year’s group who will be free agents after the 2021 season: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, DaeSean Hamilton, and Diontae Spencer. There’s no guarantee of Sutton leaving, of course, but it wouldn’t be a shock for three of those four guys to be on different teams beyond this season.

The Broncos are still deep at receiver regardless, but Seth Williams was a guy they couldn’t pass on because he can play special teams and make plays like this:

The player in that video that Williams absolutely embarrasses is Kelvin Joseph, a second-round draft choice in 2021 by the Dallas Cowboys. Joseph is a heck of a prospect, and he’s not the only one that Williams made an example of in his time at Auburn.

Issues with drops plagued Williams in 2020, not the most welcome news for Denver Broncos fans, but the Broncos have one of the best wide receiver coaches in the game in Zach Azzanni, and he’ll do great work with Williams to get him ready as a possible Tim Patrick heir down the line.

According to Pro Football Focus, just over 50 percent of the passes thrown in Williams’ direction were considered “accurate” with 30 percent of those passes considered “uncatchable”.

This guy is a big-time athlete with a huge catch radius and tons of tape from his days at Auburn that really pops.

As Williams continues to hone his route-running skills and improves between the 20s, his red zone skills and jump-ball skills will shine.

7th-round picks

7 (237): Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU

With their first of three seventh-round draft picks, the Denver Broncos took (checks notes) another defensive back?

That’s right. Another defensive back.

Kary Vincent Jr. last played in 2019 with the National Champion LSU Tigers where he was second behind Derek Stingley on the team with four interceptions. He plays a nickel cornerback role and while he can play some safety, Vincent will get his shot in the slot for the Broncos.

One of the things you love when you watch this guy play is his aggressiveness and ability to read and react to plays. He has quickness and speed, can jump routes, and is tough as nails despite being one of the smallest guys on the field.

7 (239): Jonathon Cooper, EDGE, Ohio State

After taking Baron Browning on day two of the draft, the Broncos follow up by taking his teammate Jonathon Cooper in the seventh round.

As everyone who comes to Ohio State is, Cooper is another former big-time high school recruit who became a leader at Ohio State and — here’s a bold prediction — I believe will become a Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate in the very near future for the Denver Broncos.

This guy is outstanding off the field, and on the field, he’s no hack, either.

Cooper has strong hands, a nice array of powerful pass rush moves, and some good quickness off the ball. Buried on the depth chart behind Chase Young and Nick Bosa, Cooper finally got his shot to shine in 2019 but suffered an injury and was limited to four games.

In 2020, he came out and played well in the shortened season, racking up 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He put some of his best work on tape in the Ohio State win over Clemson.

7 (253): Marquiss Spencer, DL, Mississippi State

Another highly recruited high school player who dealt with some injuries at the collegiate level, Spencer is a dart throw on the defensive line who could end up being a nice steal for the Denver Broncos down the line.

At 6-foot-4, 300-plus pounds, Spencer ran a 4.85 in the 40-yard dash at the Mississippi State pro day.

In all of the speed and agility drills, Spencer shined. The Broncos will need to get him in Loren Landow’s weight program and develop his full arsenal of moves on the interior.

He added so much weight (60 pounds) in such a short amount of time between high school and college and he will fit right in with what the Broncos like in terms of versatility on the defensive line.

Denver Broncos were big winners on day two of the 2021 NFL Draft

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It will serve Spencer well to redshirt behind the veterans on this unit and he can make an impact down the line.