Broncos glad to evaluate “fallers”

The excitement and unpredictability of the NFL draft usually come at the quarterback position. That is because how a quarterback plays can shape the trajectory of a franchise unlike any other position in professional sports.

The draft “fallers” — those players whose draft stock plummets, often because of character issues — are less of an exact science.

Broncos general manager John Elway has a reputation of being more forgiving to draft “fallers” with minor off-field concerns. He selected Shane Ray (marijuana possession) and Bradley Roby (physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol) in the past three drafts. Elway said making such a call is a case-by-case scenario with multiple people in the team’s front office involved.

There are several potential “fallers” in this year’s draft, including running back Joe Mixon, linebacker Reuben Foster, safety Jabrill Peppers, receiver Dede Westbrook and defensive linemen Caleb Brantley and Malik McDowell, among others.

“It starts opening discussions. They’re falling for a reason,” Elway said. “If he falls to us, No. 1, is it somebody we want? And No. 2, why is he falling? If it’s something we can put up with, then we’ll discuss that. That always happens with some people.”

Drug arrests or positive drug tests are troublesome but are given more leeway to forgiveness than other off-field issues. Foster and Peppers had diluted drug tests at the NFL combine, which will automatically place them in the NFL drug program. Both have been regarded as potential firstround picks and now may fall, but neither is expected to drop more than a round.

“We try to dig in and find out exactly what it is. If there’s more of a history there, we find out,” Elway said. “I’m not the authority on drug tests, so I go to (director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos) ‘Greek.’ Greek and the doctors let us know if there’s an issue there. Usually, if it shows up there, it’s showing up somewhere else.”

Foster, in particular, is intriguing because he’s regarded as a top-10 talent who would fit well as a Broncos 3-4 linebacker if he’s available when the Broncos pick at No. 20. Peppers, a first- or secondround prospect, is a versatile player who could fill a role as a playmaker at returner, safety or offensive weapon.

Mixon, Brantley and Westbrook are among those who have had serious domestic violence incidents that make it more likely they will fall further than Foster or Peppers. The Broncos brought in Mixon for a predraft visit last month.

Elway wouldn’t comment Monday whether he is considering drafting the former Oklahoma running back.

“We’re still evaluating that,” Elway said of Mixon, who could go as high as the second round. “Obviously, that’s an issue and something that we’re continuing to look at while getting as much background as we can on Joe to see where he may fall for us. We had a good meeting with him. We didn’t get a chance to spend a lot of time with him, but we had a good meeting.”