4. 2014
Number Of Picks: 6
Players In The League As Of 2015: 6
Players Set To Be Starters For Broncos In 2016: 1-3
High Value Picks (Round Drafted In): Bradley Roby (1), Matt Paradis (6)
Quality Picks (Round Drafted In): Corey Nelson (7)
Busts (Round Drafted In): Cody Latimer (2), Michael Schofield (3), Lamin Barrow (5)
While the 2014 draft was considerably better than the 2013 draft, it still had major flaws. The Broncos hit in the first round, choosing Bradley Roby with the 31st overall pick after watching him slide all the way to the end of the first round. Even though Roby technically is not a starter, he has the impact of one. With names like Talib, Chris Harris Jr. and T.J. Ward, Roby’s name is sometimes forgotten as a member of the “No Fly Zone,” but he is a major factor.
Another great pick was Matt Paradis in the sixth round. After not contributing his rookie season, Paradis was the only offensive player to play every snap in 2015. Paradis showed how smart and versatile he was by having to adjust to two different quarterbacks during the season. Paradis could be the long-term option at center for the Broncos moving forward.
This coming season will be very telling for Corey Nelson. With Danny Trevathan going to the Bears, Nelson will have an opportunity to compete for the starting linebacker position. Even if Nelson doesn’t win the starting job, he is a solid backup; and getting a solid backup in the seventh round is a good pick.
The major disappointments in this draft were the second- and third-round picks, Cody Latimer and Michael Schofield. Second- and third-round picks should be very good players, especially a few years after the draft. Both of these guys have been given plenty of opportunities and both have come up very short.
Latimer is knows for being an all star in practice and training camp, but doing very little in game action. Schofield is remembered for giving up four sacks to Khalil Mack in the Raiders’ victory over the Broncos in December.
It is very hard to miss on your second- and third-round picks and still have a good draft. Elway missed on both of these and was not able to overcome it in the later rounds.
