Does Denver need more edge rushers?
Q >> I don’t get why edge rushers are seen by many as this big need. We already have a young group that got better, and apparently Drew Sanders is joining them, which makes for an already crowded room. What might help them? More pressure inside. Super Bowl champions have good rosters overall, but still, the last three had the likes of Vita Vea, Aaron Donald and Chris Jones. This is the new NFL. Get a rushing mate to Zach Allen and get nasty inside. So, to you, what’s the more pressing need? Edge rusher or defensive lineman? — Yoann, Beine-nauroy, France
PARKER >> The edge conversation is an interesting one, but to me it’s a need. There are a couple of reasons. One is, to put it simply, you can never have enough pass-rushers. Plain and simple. The Broncos’ young group of Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and maybe Drew Sanders is promising, but at the end of the day Denver’s pass-rush group typically rated in the bottom third in the NFL in 2023. And Browning and Cooper are entering the final years of their rookie contracts.
Moreover, while they’re all useful players, the Broncos don’t have a game-tilter on the edge. And could you expect that with where the current group came from? Bonitto’s a late second-rounder, Sanders and Browning were third-rounders and Cooper a seventh-rounder. The hit rate on first-round passrushers isn’t perfect, but it’s the best place to find premium talent.
Your points about more interior rush are well-taken, though. Allen came on strong over the course of the year, but the DL struggled overall. So, what to do? It’s a deep defensive tackle class in free agency, but you’re going to have somewhat limited resources there. Texas’ Byron Murphy and Illinois’ Johnny Newton are probably first-round picks. There are other interesting players, too. I talked at the Senior Bowl with Florida State’s Brandon Fiske, Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus and Ohio State’s Michael Hall. All interesting guys and athletic interior defensive linemen. Certainly a mid-round possibility.
Q >> Who impressed you at the combine that could be a midto late-round pick for us? Also, any chance the Broncos pick up Luke Mccaffrey in the draft? — Mike, Denver
PARKER >> Let’s get to a couple of skill guys since so much of the first-round talk with Denver is about the quarterbacks. After that, it seems like the options are offensive tackle, edge and corner. Or at least that’s how the Draft Industrial Complex sees the top half of the first round currently.
I’m not sure the Broncos are going to see value in taking a running back in the midrounds, but USC’S Marshawn Lloyd and Kentucky’s Ray Davis both looked the part when I saw them on the field three straight days at the Senior Bowl. Then at the combine, Louisville’s Isaac Guerendo put on a show, running 4.33 seconds in the 40yard dash at 221 pounds.
There will likely be a ton of receivers taken in the first 75 picks, but here are four guys who stood out to me at the Senior Bowl but might not go super early: Florida’s Ricky Pearsall is a smooth operator. UCF’S Javon Baker is impressive, too, and can really run for his size. Similar with Georgia’s Marcus Rosemy-jack-saint. Arizona’s Jacob Cowing isn’t real big (5-11 and 175) but he was really good that week before an injury cut it short. Fortunate for him: He bounced back quickly enough to run 4.38 at the combine.
Mccaffrey would fit nicely with the Broncos, though Payton does like playing with big slot players rather than the more traditional smaller, quicker guys.
I covered Mccaffrey’s recruitment to Nebraska and his two years there, so it was fun to catch up with him this offseason. When you watch him, watch how quickly he goes from catching the ball to top speed. It’s like he never even considers slowing down.