4. Nelson Spruce
Experience: Senior School: Colorado
Height/Weight: 6-1/206 Projected Round: 7th—Undrafted
Career Stats: 294 receptions; 3,347 yards; 23 touchdowns
The Broncos have not shied away from bringing in local Colorado talent and giving them a chance in the NFL, so picking up Nelson Spruce would come as no surprise. Spruce, a standout receiver from CU, is the only player in CU history to have multiple 1,000 yard seasons, with 106 receptions for 1,998 yards and 12 touchdowns his junior season.
Excelling at CU was even more impressive given the lack of talent that surrounded him. Spruce is an experienced player that is very dependable, precise route-runner and polished. If there were an all-star team for fundamentals, Spruce would top the list.
Spruce uses his quickness, footwork and awareness to find soft spots in the defense, which leaves him open consistently. Because of his ability to work the middle of the field, he will be best fit as a possession receiver.
What makes Spruce fall to the end of the draft, or even undrafted, is his lack of athletic ability and physical traits. A concern is that Spruce has become so good purely off of his fundamentals that his athletic ability will be drastically lower than that of the NFL talent. Since physical stature cannot really be coached, Spruce will be looked at as someone with a low ceiling in the league.
The Broncos picked up former CSU Rams Kapri Bibbs and Shaquil Barrett as undrafted free agents the past few years and could very well do the same with Spruce. However, the Broncos could also use one of their three 7th round picks on him. He could become a good slot receiver option for the Broncos if given an opportunity.
