Down, dirty and deep at position of Denver’s need
The value of NFL defensive linemen never has been higher. Just look at the contracts Jacksonville and the New York Giants gave to defensive ends Malik Jackson and Olivier Vernon this offseason.
The NFL is a copycat league, and after the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 behind a ferocious front seven on defense, it’s inevitable that teams will try to duplicate that blueprint. Well, it just so happens that the 2016 draft has the best defensive line class in years, with lots of depth.
Besides quarterback, defensive end probably is the Broncos’ biggest need because of the loss of Jackson. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Denver add multiple defensive linemen in this weekend’s draft.
The beauty of having so many talented defensive linemen in this draft is that teams are likely to seek more positions where the talent is scarce, leaving several first-round talents who could be available for the Broncos to pick No. 31.
For instance, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mississippi’s Robert Nkemdiche, Alabama’s Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson, Clemson’s Kevin Dodd and Shaq Lawson, Baylor’s Andrew Billings, Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins or Mississippi State’s Chris Jones fall to the Broncos.
The Broncos will probably have their preference of style, too, be it an interior linemen or a rush end. The interior defensive lineman class is deep. Dominant run stuffers such as Reed and Robinson, speedy edge rushers such as Dodd and Lawson, a mixture of both such as Nkemdiche and Jones, and stout pass-rushing nose tackles such as Billings and Rankins could be available at the end of the first round.
Nkemdiche is a particularly interesting case. With his play against Alabama last season, he looked like he could be the No. 1 overall pick, but inconsistency on the field and off-the-field issues have given teams pause. The Broncos had him in for a predraft visit. Will they pick him if he is there at No. 31?
Jones is another polarizing prospect because of his lackluster drive. But he has great potential, as does Nkemdiche.
For the Broncos, Derek Wolfe and Sylvester Williams have two of the three starting defensive line spots locked up, and recently signed Jared Crick, veteran Vance Walker and the oftinjured Kenny Anunike will compete for the open defensive end spot. There’s room for one rookie to start and another to provide depth.
If the Broncos wait until Friday’s second day of the draft, they still will find some intriguing linemen to fit their scheme such as Illinois’ Jihad Ward, Brigham Young’s Bronson Kaufusi and Ohio State’s Adolphus Washington.
Ward has been referred to by some draft analysts as the next Malik Jackson. Kaufusi is a high-energy player with a long frame. He visited the Broncos during the predraft process. Washington is an athletic 300pounder with a bevy of pass-rush moves. Each could be on the Broncos’ radar in the second and third rounds.