Post-Combine 3-round Mock Draft: Broncos go all-in on offense early

What should be an exciting offseason for the Broncos was kicked off earlier this week when the team traded for A.J. Bouye from the Jaguars, immediately upgrading their secondary.

That tremendous move, coupled with last week’s combine has shaken the draft situation up quite a bit for Denver. Who could they select and how will the board fall?

Round 1. Pick 15

The pick: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma.

Denver gets lucky with CeeDee Lamb dropping down the board due to a run on offensive tackles and quarterbacks.

While the Broncos would prefer a receiver like Henry Ruggs or Jerry Jeudy to pair with Courtland Sutton, drafting Lamb will give them two basketball players on the outside that can go up-and-over anyone and come down with the ball.

Lamb is also the best receiver in this draft after the catch, as was highlighted in the Red River Rivalry game this year against Texas where he scored three of his 14 touchdowns of the season, also recording 171 yards on 10 receptions.

Top speed and ability to get separation were the biggest questions left with Lamb entering the combine, and he helped answer them by running a 4.5 flat.

Round 2. Pick 46

The pick: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU.

Lucas Niang is a bit of a gamble, but his upside makes the pick worth it at 46.

Niang suffered a hip injury in 2019 that required season-ending surgery, which is sure to scare some teams off. He’s also pretty raw in his footwork and will need some development at the NFL before he can be a reliable starter.

That being said, he has a great NFL body with ideal size and length for the position. He doesn’t always play to that strength, but the flashes of a good NFL left tackle are there. Whether or not Niang could start from day one is up for debate, but the Broncos have the best offensive line coach in the league when it comes to player development in Mike Munchak.

Also, the Broncos would be wise to take a tackle now rather than later, because, after this crop of tackles at the top of the second round, the drop off in talent is steep.

Round 3. Pick 77

The pick: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado

It might sound crazy now, but Laviska Shenault is going to fall out of the top two rounds of this draft.

He was already a fringe first-round pick due to concerns about his route-running, how teams could/should use him at the next level and nagging injuries. Then he had an immensely disappointing combine and suffered a core injury that requires surgery and will sideline him for the next four-to-six weeks. That’s a big problem when there are eight or more receivers talented enough to go in the first round of most other drafts.

That makes Denver’s first pick of the third round the perfect spot to scoop up the local superstar.

Few players in this class, let alone wide receivers, have the potential and upside Shenault does. Only Lamb is better with the ball in his hands, and no one else in this year’s bunch of wideouts has the mix of strength and agility Shenault does.

Similarly to how the Chiefs have built their skill positions on speed, Denver could build it on size and vertical ability. How many defenses in the NFL would have an answer for Sutton and Lamb on the outside, Noah Fant at tight end, and Shenault as a big slot?

Round 3. Pick 83

The pick: Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA

Darnay Holmes is a little raw and a little undersized, but he would be perfect for the Denver Broncos and Vic Fangio.

Despite his size, Holmes plays tough and isn’t afraid to come up and make a tackle in the run game, which is key for Fangio. Holmes is an amazing athlete and is incredibly quick and nimble, which we saw at the combine when he had one of the best performances of any defensive back there. He’s also great in man coverage whether asked to press or play off the ball.

Holmes needs help with his footwork, and opening his hips, as sometimes as a receiver will be able to lose him too easily, but Holmes has the recovery speed to make up for it. The one thing Holmes won’t be able to develop is his less-than-ideal length for the position, which is a concern, but he’s well worth a third-round pick. Especially considering his pre-draft showings.

Round 3. Pick 95

The pick: Matt Hennessy, IOL, Temple

The Broncos reportedly feel good about Elijah Wilkinson taking over for Ronald Leary at guard, but that still leaves the center position in flux with Connor McGovern appearing likely to depart.

Even if the Broncos hold on to McGovern, they’ll be looking to upgrade the interior of their offensive line sooner rather than later and Matt Hennessy would be a perfect candidate to do just that.

He’s not the most incredible physical specimen and he lacks power in his game that he’ll likely never have but he is a ready-to-go NFL prospect.

He’s incredible with his hands and has excellent technique, which is so hard to find at the college level nowadays. He’s also incredibly tough, earning the honor of wearing a single digit at Temple for all three years he started, which is a privilege reserved for the nine toughest players on the team. He could add to that gritty identity in the trenches the Broncos started to cultivate last year when they drafted Dalton Risner.