Top 10 (or so) Draft Prospects By Position

With several celebrity draftniks updating their rankings recently, I thought some readers might be interested in taking a peek at what my composite rankings currently look like. For this particular exercise, I’ll be including only positions that would fill needs I’ve identified for the Broncos.

To lighten things up, I’ll be sticking with the theme established in today’s Orange Overview with Bob’s Beastie Boys joke.  So let’s get it together.

Here are the needs, as I see them:

Primary Needs: T, Slot WR, KR/PR

Upgrade: TE, ILB, DL

Depth: CB, RB, Edge, QB*

None: C, G, S, K, P, LS

*QB is a depth need that is almost certain to be addressed via free agency, so QB prospects will not be featured here.

Primary Needs:

Offensive Tackles

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected Round
1 Ryan Ramczyk* 606 314 Wisconsin 1
2 Garrett Bolles* 605 300 Utah 1
3 Cam Robinson 606 310 Alabama 1-2
4 Jermaine Eluemunor 604 325 Texas A&M 2-3
5 Taylor Moton 605 328 Western Michigan 2-3
6 Antonio Garcia 606 302 Troy 2-3
7 Roderick Johnson 607 311 Florida State 2-3
8 Zach Banner* 609 360 USC 3-5
9 David Sharpe 606 357 Florida 3-5
10 Will Holden 607 313 Vanderbilt 4-6
11 Adam Bisnowaty 606 305 Pittsburgh 4-6

*Players who’ve met with the team

The need here is huge, and while there is reasonable concern that none of these guys are a sure shot worthy of the 20th pick, I think both Ramczyk and Bolles are solid first round selections. Moving back to take one would help to maximize value, but it would not be without risk. This is a premium position, and the Broncos aren’t the only team looking to fill a need here. Ramczyk could slide due to medical concerns.

Robinson would be considered a good value in round 2, but it’s unlikely he’ll drop to #51, and he likely projects as a RT or G. The other Day 2 options are Eluemunor, Moton, Garcia and probably Johnson. Eluemunor is a wild card, with only a few years experience playing football. Like Robinson, Moton projects strictly as a RT or G. Garcia is probably the best bet outside of round 1 to develop into a starting LT in the NFL, but it won’t happen overnight. Johnson is more of a long shot. He’s got some physical ability, but he’s sloppy.

Wide Receivers

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected
Round
1 Corey Davis 603 205 Western Michigan Top 20
2 Mike Williams 603 220 Clemson Top 20
3 John Ross III* 511 190 Washington 1
4 Zay Jones 602 202 East Carolina 2-3
5 Curtis Samuel 511 200 Ohio State 2-3
6 Cooper Kupp 601 195 Eastern Washington 2-3
7 Chris Godwin 601 201 Penn State 3-5
8 JuJu Smith-Schuster 602 215 USC 3-5
9 ArDarius Stewart 601 204 Alabama 4-6
10 Amara Darboh 602 215 Michigan 4-6
11 Carlos Henderson 511 191 Louisiana Tech 4-6
12 Taywan Taylor 511 198 Western Kentucky 4-6

I’ve included all WRs here, but in reality I think the Broncos are most likely to target a prospect suited to play in the slot. The names in bold best fit that mold. This is a much deeper group than T, as some of these guys can really put that left leg down and right leg up.

We all know John Ross by now and his fastest ever 40-time. That kind of speed coupled with his KR experience make him a very nice fit for Denver. Curtis Samuel is a very exciting option in round 2 as a guy who can be used in a number of ways offensively. For all the talk of the Broncos adding an offensive weapon in the draft, I’m surprised his name doesn’t come up more often. Chris Godwin has gained a lot of momentum during the offseason evaluation process, and he’d be a nice add in round 3. There are options available throughout the draft, so if the Broncos miss out on Ross on Day 1 and Samuel on Day 2 there are still plenty of options. Many of these guys project as KR/PR, too, so there’s a chance to knock out two major needs with one player here.

Upgrade Needs:

Tight Ends

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected 
Round
1 O.J. Howard 606 251 Alabama 1
2 David Njoku* 604 245 Miami 1
3 Evan Engram* 603 227 Mississippi 1-2
4 Adam Shaheen 605 277 Ashland 2-3
5 Gerald Everett* 604 240 South Alabama 2-3
6 Bucky Hodges* 607 245 Virginia Tech 2-3
7 Jake Butt 606 250 Michigan 3-5
8 Jordan Leggett* 605 260 Clemson 3-5
9 Jeremy Sprinkle 606 256 Arkansas 4-6
10 Jonnu Smith 603 245 Florida International 4-6
11 Eric Saubert 605 253 Drake 5-7
12 Michael Roberts 604 270 Toledo 5-7
13 George Kittle 604 247 Iowa 5-7
14 Cole Hikutini 605 248 Louisville 5-7

It doesn’t get much more exciting than this group. There are prospects here who will be drafted late on Day 2 and even into Day 3 who have the ability to come in and make an immediate impact.  It’s unheard of for three TEs to be in the first round conversation, but that’s the case this year. By the end of Day 2 we should see about eight of these names called. If I’m the Broncos, I’m thinking “if this is gonna be that kind of party…

If OJ Howard falls to 20, I think he’s a no-brainer. If he doesn’t, which is probably the case, Njoku has to be in consideration, as is Engram, especially following a move back. These guys are all going to catch balls immediately at the next level. Howard is the best blocker of the bunch, but Njoku is willing to bang heads, too. Engram is more of an move TE who probably won’t move the pile in the run game.

Outside of the top 3, I still see tremendous talent on the board. Shaheen is freak at that size; Everett is a playmaker; and Hodges might be the best athlete of the second tier. He’ll need some refinement, but he offers some delightful mismatch possibilities. Jake Butt was injured in his bowl game, which has slid him down the board, but he could be a very low risk/high reward selection. There’s all kind of talent in this TE buffet, so whatcha want?

Linebackers

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected
Round
1 Reuben Foster 6002 246 Alabama Top 15
2 Haason Reddick 601 230 Temple 1-2
3 Zach Cunningham 604 230 Vanderbilt 2-3
4 Jarrad Davis 6013 236 Florida 2-3
5 Raekwon McMillan 602 240 Ohio State 2-3
6 Duke Riley 600 227 LSU 3-5
7 Alex Anzalone 602 241 Florida 3-5
8 Kendell Beckwith 6024 255 LSU 3-5
9 Anthony Walker, Jr. 601 235 Northwestern 3-5

Reuben Foster is a baller, and while rumors of a slide persist due to his being sent home from the Scouting Combine, I don’t buy it. He’s just too good. Like OJ Howard, in the unlikely event Reuben Foster falls to 20, he’ll probably be a Bronco.

After Foster, though, are three legitimate targets for Denver in Reddick, Cunningham and Davis. All three can run and hit, and I think they all represent an upgrade over Todd Davis in pass coverage. Reddick is likely in the first round discussion, with the other two representing better value in round 2. If the Broncos don’t come out of the draft with a LB, though, they’ll likely be just fine. That means if a great value falls to them, they’ll make some noise, but if it doesn’t work out that way they’ll just stand pat.

Defensive Line

Base Ends

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected 
Round
1 Jonathan Allen 6025 295 Alabama Top 5
2 Malik McDowell 604 276 Michigan State 1-2
3 Caleb Brantley* 6021 300 Florida 1-2
4 Taco Charlton 605 272 Michigan 1
5 Chris Wormley 6034 296 Michigan 2-3
6 Carlos Watkins 6035 313 Clemson 2-3
7 Larry Ogunjobi 603 304 Charlotte 2-3
8 DeMarcus Walker 603 273 Florida State 3-5
9 Davon Godchaux 604 293 LSU 3-5
10 Tanoh Kpassagnon 606 285 Villanova 4-6

Nose Tackles

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected 
Round
1 Caleb Brantley* 6021 300 Florida 1-2
2 Chris Wormley 6034 296 Michigan 2-3
3 Dalvin Tomlinson 602 305 Alabama 2-3
4 Carlos Watkins 6035 313 Clemson 2-3
5 Elijah Qualls 601 321 Washington 3-5
6 Larry Ogunjobi 602 304 Charlotte 3-5
7 Montravious Adams 603 309 Auburn 3-5
8 Vincent Taylor 602 310 Oklahoma State 3-5
9 Jaleel Johnson 6027 311 Iowa 3-5
10 Eddie Vanderdoes 603 320 UCLA 4-6

You’ll notice there are several names on both lists, which indicates that these guys can likely play anywhere on the interior for the Broncos. After adding Domata Peko and Zach Kerr during free agency, the Broncos have flexibility here, in that they could target either a DE, a NT or someone to play both in the draft.

Brantley is probably better-suited as a 3-, 4- or 5-tech than a true nose, but I think when it comes to NT he can hold it down. He’d be a nice target following a move back in the first round, or up in the second if he lasts to day 2. McDowell is rumored to have interviewed very poorly, and there are questions about his character, but man, he’s got it all from a physical standpoint. I’ve got Taco Charlton on this list because I think he could play 3-4 end in the base D, but his ability to rush the passer from the edge likely dictates that he’ll be selected to do just that by another team in the first round.

There are several interesting day 2 options on the board, including Wormley, Watkins, Tomlinson and Ogunjobi. There’s potential dyn-o-mite in this group.

Depth Needs:

Cornerbacks

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected 
Round
1 Marshon Lattimore 600 192 Ohio State Top 10
2 Tre’Davious White 5112 195 LSU 1
3 Marlon Humphrey 601 196 Alabama 1
4 Jourdan Lewis 511 186 Michigan 1-2
5 Quincy Wilson 601 213 Florida 1-2
6 Teez Tabor 600 201 Florida 1-2
7 Gareon Conley 601 195 Ohio State 1-2
8 Fabian Moreau 600 206 UCLA 2-3
9 Adoree’ Jackson 511 185 USC 2-3
10 Kevin King 603 200 Washington 2-3
11 Chidobe Awuzie 511 205 Colorado 2-3
12 Cordrea Tankersley 600 200 Clemson 2-3
13 Sidney Jones 600 180 Washington 3-5
14 Cameron Sutton 511 186 Tennessee 3-5
15 Rasul Douglas 602 209 West Virginia 3-5
16 Ahkello Witherspoon* 603 190 Colorado 4-6

This group is silly deep and equally hard to rank. Honestly, you could draw names out of a hat from 2-13 after Lattimore, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if one of these other guys goes first. There’s too many to highlight in this piece, but I’ll tell you this: These guys will be on WRs’ tails like a sheriff’s posse.

Running Backs

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected 
Round
1 Leonard Fournette 601 230 LSU Top 15
2 Dalvin Cook 511 206 Florida State 1
3 Christian McCaffrey* 600 202 Stanford 1
4 Alvin Kamara* 510 215 Tennessee 2-3
5 Joe Mixon 601 226 Oklahoma 2-3
6 Samaje Perine 510 234 Oklahoma 3-5
7 Marlon Mack* 600 210 South Florida 3-5
8 Kareem Hunt* 510 208 Toledo 3-5
9 Wayne Gallman 601 215 Clemson 4-6
10 D’Onta Foreman 601 249 Texas 4-6
11 Jeremy McNichols 509 207 Boise State 5-7
12 Corey Clement 511 219 Wisconsin 5-7
13 Brian Hill* 600 209 Wyoming 5-7
14 Matthew Dayes 509 203 NC State 5-7

The love for Christian McCaffrey is strong here at Thin Air, so there isn’t much I can tell you about him you don’t already know. His versatility is key as it makes him a potential first round for Denver. Not only would he likely be the best RB on the team, he also can line up in the slot and return kicks and punts, effectively checking three boxes for the Broncos.

After McCaffrey there are several other talented options. Some might say these guys are electric, like Dick Hyman.  Both Kamara and Mixon look like great prospects, but Mixon of course carries substantial baggage.

Edge Rushers

Rank Name Height Weight School Projected 
Round
1 Myles Garrett 6051 261 Texas A&M Top 5
2 Solomon Thomas 603 273 Stanford Top 10
3 Takkarist Mckinley 602 245 UCLA 1
4 Derek Barnett 603 265 Tennessee 1
5 Taco Charlton 6054 277 Michigan 1
6 Charles Harris 6027 255 Missouri 2-3
7 Tim Williams 604 252 Alabama 2-3
8 T.J. Watt 605 243 Wisconsin 2-3
9 Carl Lawson 6022 258 Auburn 3-5
10 Jordan Willis 604 255 Kansas State 3-5
11 Tyus Bowser 603 247 Houston 3-5
12 Ryan Anderson 6024 258 Alabama 4-6
13 Demarcus Walker 602 273 Florida State 4-6
14 Tarell Basham 604 259 Ohio 4-6
15 Derek Rivers 604 250 Youngstown State 4-6

Another crazy deep group here, which means there’s no “rush” (see what I did there?) to snag one of these guys. With D Ware moving on, though, the Broncos would be wise to target someone in this group on Day 3. Most of the top guys will be gone, so I dove a little deeper in the well for this table. With Miller, Ray and Barrett already in tow the need here might not be obvious, but you can never have too many pass rushers – it’s the new style.

So there you go, Bronco fans. These lists are fluid, but it’s pretty likely several of the Broncos picks in this year’s draft are listed above. Who’d I miss?