It’s crazy how one wild weekend can shape the future of a billion-dollar organization, for better or worse. But that’s what the NFL Draft does every year for 32 teams, including the Denver Broncos. This year, John Elway stuck to a recipe and cooked up something tasty. The recipe called for two simple ingredients: Beef and juice. Fitting that the guy who was behind it all has his name on one of the best restaurants in town.
The Broncos could’ve tried something fancy early, picking Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster or trading up to grab tight end O.J. Howard in the first round, but instead Elway stuck to the recipe, selecting hands down the biggest ingredient needed on the team: A big, bad offensive lineman, aka some beef. There was some immediate displeasure shown with the selection of Garett Bolles, but I’m curious to know why. Last time I checked, this team badly needed offensive line help. Remember the week-after-week narrative about this offensive line last year? The Bolles pick may not be sugary, but you don’t go to a steakhouse for dessert. It was the safest and correct selection, sticking to the most important ingredient of the meal.
After bidding farewell this offseason to one DeMarcus W., the Broncos welcomed a new DeMarcus W., DeMarcus Walker, with their second pick.
The Broncos selected Walker in the second round, adding another helping of beef to the plate. Walker was a consensus All-American defensive end and has explosiveness and pursuit that will remind you of DeMarcus Ware, the future Hall of Fame edge rusher beloved by the Denver faithful for the last three years. Walker was heavily coveted out of high school by Alabama head coach Nick Saban, but slipped from his grasp to play closer to home at Florida State. There, his eye-popping numbers, nasty swim move and strong production clearly put the proof in the pudding. But like Bolles, he’s an ingredient that’s more savory than sweet.
“I just love dominating,” Walker said in his introductory press conference.
If that attitude doesn’t perk up your ears, I don’t know what would. He wants to get to the quarterback, and learning the ways of an NFL pass rusher from a potential Hall of Fame talent in Von Miller only increases his chances of dominating in the NFL. The Broncos added beef in the trenches with their first two picks, just as the recipe called for, and they stuck to the previously mentioned goal of maintaining an elite defense by adding a solid pass rusher.
With plenty of protein on the plate, Elway was able to target the “juice” that was noticeably absent from their roster last season.
From round three on, Denver added wide receiver Carlos Henderson, cornerback Brendan Langley, tight end Jake Butt, wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, running back De’Angelo Henderson and quarterback Chad Kelly. That’s five of Denver’s six final picks added to offensive coordinator Mike McCoy‘s pantry. Four of them run sub-4.5 40-yard dash times, making them speedy, quick and agile scoring threats. What’s the phrase heard all the time? Speed kills. Denver suddenly has a potentially lethal dose of it.
Now, if McCoy wasn’t the man pulling the trigger on this offense, I might have questioned some of these selections. However, McCoy’s history of utilizing the strengths of individual players and getting the best out of them pumps some excitement into these selections, knowing they are deadly tools that will be used correctly. While Michigan tight end Jake Butt fell into the Broncos lap late due to a bowl-game injury, if he fully recovers as expected, he could be a huge value for Denver out of the fifth round. He has the skills to be a potential franchise tight end.
Carlos Henderson, McKenzie and De’Angelo Henderson (no relation) all bring kick and punt return value for first-year special teams coach Brock Olivo and are certainly sweet weapons on offense. Their triple-threat skills of running, receiving and returning add extra value to each pick, and Denver clearly saw that. If any one of these three can put fear into the minds of an opponent every single time they put their foot to the pigskin, it would be a tremendous win for the Broncos. They’ve seen firsthand how a good returner can damage an opponent. (Trindon Holliday was a dangerous returner for Denver, while Dante Hall, Devin Hester and Tyreek Hill, just to name a few, have burned them through the years.)
Adding beef to the offensive and defensive lines, and juice to the offense was what the Broncos looked to achieve in the NFL draft. They hit on all three points.
By following the recipe, the Broncos appear to be cooking up something good for the upcoming season.
