It’s nearly here! The 2017 NFL Draft will begin this Thursday night, at 6 p.m. MT in Philadelphia, for the first time in NFL history. The first round will be held on Thursday, with rounds two and three scheduled for Friday, and the final four rounds on Saturday. The Denver Broncos currently hold 10 selections, barring any sort of a trade, and they need those picks to pay off some serious dividends.
On Thursday, the Broncos are scheduled to have the 20th pick of the night. Which direction will they go with their first selection? Will the Broncos look to build up an offense that struggled to generate points in 2016? Or will they find more value grabbing a player to strengthen a still dangerous defensive unit?
Here are five of the more popular predictions for the Broncos’ first-round selection. Which one has the most appeal?
Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
He seems to be the most popular pick for the Broncos by most experts, as they desperately need a tackle that is athletic enough to play the left side. Ramczyk seems to have the tools.
At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, he has proven to be athletic enough to stay in front of some very good pass rushers. While at Wisconsin, he squared off against Michigan’s Taco Charlton, LSU’s Arden Key, and Ohio State’s Sam Hubbard, and held his own against each of them. He underwent arthroscopic hip surgery following Wisconsin’s bowl game, and missed the combine, so the Broncos will have to depend on game film from just a single season of high level collegiate games.
Final verdict: He might be the safest offensive tackle on the board, as he is an intelligent player that should be capable of eventually taking over at left tackle. Is this too high for a player that isn’t a sure thing?
David Njoku, TE, Miami
Miami has a history of sending top-notch tight ends to the NFL, including Jeremy Shockey, Jimmy Graham and Greg Olsen. Njoku is the next athletic pass catcher in that line, and he could help the Broncos’ struggling offense.
He is capable of stretching the field with his speed, and his jumping ability allows him to go up in traffic and make difficult catches. His blocking will have to improve, but he is just learning to play the position, so that should come in time. A capable tight end like Njoku, could really help the Broncos young quarterback situation, as he should be able to provide either Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch with a much-needed safety net.
Final verdict: There is no question that Njoku looks like a first-round talent. However, this draft is rich with capable tight ends that could be available with a mid-round pick. Do they use the 20th overall pick on Njoku, when they may be able to get a good one later?
Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
Bolles is a little undersized at just 297 pounds, but he should be able to add that weight easy enough in an NFL program. He is an extremely athletic tackle, that can slide his feet to stay in front of the most athletic of pass rushers.
In his only season at Utah, he was named to the first-team All-Pac 12 team. It may take him some time to build his strength, so that he is able to hold up against the more powerful bull rushers, but Bolles is still developing. He would take some patience, but it could pay off in a big way.
Final verdict: Bolles might have the highest ceiling of all of the available offensive tackles in this draft. Unfortunately, it may take some time for him to reach his full potential. Are the Broncos willing to wait?
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Most Broncos fans are already very familiar with the son of former hometown favorite wide receiver, and former Broncos radio announcer, Ed McCaffrey. Christian grew up and attended high school in the Denver metro area.
McCaffrey is a shifty explosive runner, that is capable of taking the ball to the end zone every time he touches the ball. The big question about McCaffrey will be his size. At 5-foot-11 and just over 200 pounds, can he be durable enough to be an every down back? Time will tell, but he did log over 300 touches in his past two seasons at Stanford, and proved to be up to the task.
There is no question that the Broncos could use a playmaker like McCaffrey, who racked up 3,864 all-purpose yards in 2015. Not only is he an elusive runner that is capable of gaining tough yards, but he is also a quality receiver, and could help the special teams with his returning abilities.
Final verdict: This looks like wishful thinking. While the Broncos would love to get their hands on McCaffrey, he probably won’t get past Philadelphia at No. 14, or Tennessee at No. 18.
Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky
He was a starter all four of his seasons at Western Kentucky, and he proved to be very versatile. Lamp played center, guard, and tackle for the Hilltoppers, and he excelled in each role.
Lamp doesn’t have the size that NFL scouts would prefer. He is listed at 6-foot-4 and 309 pounds, and he may not have the body to add much more weight. Still, you have to like the way that Lamp handled himself in college. Western Kentucky faced Alabama in Lamp’s final season, and he proved that he is capable of blocking some of the top pass rushers in the country.
Final verdict: He may not have all the measurables, but there is no doubt that Lamp can play. He would give the Broncos offensive line some immediate depth, with his versatility, but the Broncos do specifically need a tackle. Can Lamp fill that role? That might be a stretch.