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Denver Broncos: 5 players team may have overlooked in the draft

By Travis Wakeman

Dec 19, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) with the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) with the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Broncos, 2021 NFL Draft, Micah Parsons
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 16: Micah Parsons #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions walks to the locker room after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium on November 16, 2019, in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

The 2021 NFL Draft has been completed for one week and now, all the deep, thorough analysis of how each team did with their selections is in full swing.

The Denver Broncos did a solid job in the eyes of most, earning high grades from many of the draft experts who had out such things.

The Broncos made many of their selections with eyes on the future, preparing for the eventual departure of some current starters while also trying to put their best foot forward for the coming season.

But hindsight is always 20/20 and being able to look back at these picks, we can see some players the Broncos may have missed on. This can be done after looking at drafts from the past, such as the 2015 draft where they traded up for Shane Ray or the following year where they traded up for Paxton Lynch and could have selected, well, anyone else.

Looking back at the most recent draft, there are no glaring blunders. At least not yet. But down the road, as we start to see the performances of the players they drafted as well as the performances of some of the players who were still on the board, we might start some what-if scenarios.

Here are some players that may have gone overlooked during the selection process.

Kylen Granson, TE, SMU

Oct 24, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs tight end Kylen Granson (83) makes a reception against Cincinnati Bearcats during the second half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Flores-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs tight end Kylen Granson (83) makes a reception against Cincinnati Bearcats during the second half at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Flores-USA TODAY Sports /

The Broncos have good young tight ends in Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegnbunam but with Okwuegbunam coming off of a major injury, and without much depth behind them, it’s a bit surprising the Broncos didn’t draft a tight end.

Kylen Granson was far from one of the top prospects on the board, but he could have been a sneaky day two prospect for the Broncos. He ended up being taken in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts.

Granson is an athletic receiving tight end who could have been a great No. 3 option in Denver. During his college career at two schools (Rice,  SMU), he caught 129 passes for 1,879 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The 14 career touchdowns he had at SMU is a school record for the tight end position.

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