Here’s some good news: Not only did the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl, but they get to pick a spot higher in the upcoming NFL draft, too!
What a year, huh?
Yes, thanks to the New England Patriots’ propensity to play with their balls, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has snatched Bill Belichick’s first-round pick away from the Patriots, pushing the Broncos forward from the No. 32 pick to No. 31.
Will it make a significant difference? Maybe not. But it’s as good a segue into draft talk as I could come up with. And yes, two weeks removed from Super Bowl 50, it is time for draft talk. With players arriving in Indianapolis for the combine as early as Tuesday, draft season is in full effect.
But what should Broncos fans be on the lookout for?
Well, that’s what we’re about to dive into. But before we get into the nitty gritty of player breakdowns and predictions, let’s look at the draft in a more general sense.
Here are five positions the Denver Broncos should be targeting with their first pick:
5. Playmaker
I’m kind of fudging the line here, but whether it be a wide receiver or running back, the Broncos could, in theory, always use another playmaker.
Now, to be fair, there’s also a reason why it’s fifth on the list.
I am of the belief that no franchise should ever draft a running back in the first round, and my stance isn’t changing now. For every Todd Gurley or Adrian Peterson, there are a dozen Thomas Rawls, C.J. Andersons and Alfred Morris in the late to undrafted rounds. Any organization would be much better served drafting the guard that will block for their late-round back than the other way around.
So with that said, I would advise heavily against John Elway using his first selection on a running back, even if Ezekiel Elliott were to somehow fall to the Broncos’ pick.
And really, there aren’t many wideouts who jump of the page, either — not like the last few years, at least.
Michael Thomas or Josh Doctson might be imposing forces, but are they really going to make much of an impact on the Broncos next season? I understand everybody is down on Demaryius Thomas, but no rookie is putting up half the numbers he did last year.
If there was one playmaker I’d consider, it’s Braxton Miller. This is a guy who may only just be coming into himself as a wideout, having played quarterback for the majority of his career at Ohio State, but he is one heck of a talent. He’s the type of guy you build game plans around. Whether it’s as a rusher, a receiver, a passer or a returner, Miller can impact the game at every level.
More importantly, he’s unique enough that he could have an immediate impact, even with Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders still on the field.
