2. Defensive Line
Why change what’s been working? John Elway has drafted a defensive player with his first pick in each of his five drafts, and as evidenced by their Super Bowl rings, it’s been working fairly well.
And it hasn’t been out of necessity, either. When Elway drafted both Bradley Roby and Shane Ray, it was to create depth in an already stacked secondary and pass rushing corps. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to do the same in 2016, especially if Malik Jackson ends up walking in free agency.
This is the year to do it, too. There are upwards of eight defensive tackles and seven defensive ends with first-round talent. Someone is falling further than they should, and that leaves the Broncos in a perfect position to grab a steal.
The guy I’m keeping my eye out for is Robert Nkemdiche. Talent wise, he’s probably a top-10 pick, but teams could be scared off by his off-field concerns. Denver already showed they weren’t afraid of a “project” when they moved up to grab Shane Ray last season; I wouldn’t be surprised if they did the same this year.
