Why can’t the rich get richer?
The Denver Broncos already have Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. They’ve already got Shane Ray and Derek Wolfe. Oh, and then that Shaquil Barrett guy is pretty darn good, too. But why stop there?
Last season, the Broncos basically won the Super Bowl with their pass rush alone. Can you imagine what would happen if they made it even better?
With the 31st pick in the NFL draft, the Broncos could go any which direction, but it all seems to hinge on what happens at the quarterback position. If Colin Kaepernick, Tyrod Taylor or mystery passer X is brought into Denver to start, then maybe defense ends up being the answer at the backend of the first round.
In that scenario, here are five pass rushers who would make the most sense for the Broncos, at 31 and later in the draft:
5. Carl Nassib (Senior)
PROJECTED ROUND: 2nd/3rd HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-7/277 LBS
CAREER NUMBERS: 64 total tackles; 24 tackles for a loss; 17.5 sacks; 1 interception; 7 forced fumbles
There’s no denying the numbers Carl Nassib put up at Penn State during his senior season — his 15.5 sacks led the nation and earned him Consensus All-American honors. But he’s far from a sure thing.
Not only did Nassib not start until his senior season, but he never started in high school, either. Maybe he’s just a late bloomer, but it’s also fair to question whether he’s a one-hit wonder.
If he were to slip down to the latter half of the third, though, he’d be well worth the risk, especially when he’ll be able to develop alongside some of the game’s best.
4. Kevin Dodd (Junior)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvJM8WonpMA
PROJECTED ROUND: 1st/2nd HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-5/277 LBS
CAREER NUMBERS: 82 total tackles; 26.5 tackles for a loss; 12.5 sacks; 1 forced fumble
Like Nassib, there’s a case to be made that Dodd is a one-hit wonder: All 12.5 of his career sacks, and 24 of his 26.5 tackles for loss, came during his final season.
Still, he looked awfully good in that final season, especially during Clemson’s run to the National Championship. He’s quick, strong, agile and flexible; he has just about everything you’d want from your top edge rusher.
Really, aside from the questions about his one season of production, Dodd’s largest issue is simply that he’s raw; he’s succeeding on natural ability for the most part. Again, like with Nassib, if he can get into a meeting room surrounded by Miller, Ware, Wolfe and more, there’s a good chance he’ll develop quickly.
3. Shawn Oakman (Senior)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pd2FpUR93Q
PROJECTED ROUND: 3rd HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-8/287 LBS
CAREER NUMBERS: 128 total tackles; 46.5 tackles for a loss; 17.5 sacks; 8 forced fumbles
One look at Shawn Oakman and it’s clear that this guy is of a different breed — his abs have abs, and he’s not afraid to show them off.
Unfortunately, a down year and sexual assault allegations have severely impacted his draft stock. Whereas he would have likely been a Day 1 selection had he come out after his junior season, there’s now a chance that he could slip into Day 3.
As for the sexual assault allegations, I can’t speak on those — if they do end up being true, the Broncos would be wise to stay far, far away from him. As far as on-the-field play, though, he’s well worth the pick.
Oakman may have dropped off from 11 sacks in 2014 to just 4.5 in 2015, but he has a much larger track record than either of the guys we’ve already talked about, having topped 30 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss in each of the last three years.
If he can put together his size and athleticism in the NFL, he could be absolutely dominant.
2. Noah Spence (Junior)
PROJECTED ROUND: 1st/2nd HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-2/251 LBS
CAREER NUMBERS: 125 total tackles; 15 tackles for a loss; 19.5 sacks; 1 forced fumble
Skill? Check. Upside? Check. Character concerns? Double check.
Noah Spence has just about everything you’d want in a pass rusher, but there’s no denying he’s a risk. As CBS Sports details, “Spence’s documented history with an addiction to Ecstacy led to his being banned by the Big Ten permanently and a stint in a drug rehabilitation program.”
That’s not exactly a good thing.
Spence did transfer to Eastern Kentucky, though, and he dominated. But, then again, it’s not as if he’s playing against elite talent in the Ohio Valley Conference.
This is a guy who has top-15 talent, and if the Broncos were able to get him on the right track, much like they have with Von Miller and Shane Ray, he could provide an immediate spark in Denver.
1. Robert Nkemdiche (Junior)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPhgQhazzqQ
PROJECTED ROUND: 1st/2nd HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-4/296 LBS
CAREER NUMBERS: 81 total tackles; 16 tackles for a loss; 6 sacks
If Noah Spence is a top-15 talent getting pushed down in the draft because of character concerns, then Robert Nkemdiche is top-five.
And no, he’s not your prototypical pass rusher, spending the majority of his time at defensive tackle for Ole Miss, but in Denver, Nkemdiche would slide perfectly into Malik Jackson‘s role at defensive end, where his pass-rush presence wouldn’t necessarily be measured in sacks.
Nkemdiche is fantastic talent. If he didn’t have any off-the-field issues, he’d likely be vying for a top-five pick, if not higher. If the Broncos could somehow manage to snag him at 31, though, it could end up being the steal of the draft.