Self-proclaimed draft-freak and Denver Broncos fan, here. That may be showing my bias, but I’m still super excited for the draft haul the Broncos got this year. Let’s take a closer look at it.
Paxton Lynch
Well, here we have it: the heir to the Broncos QB throne, last occupied by the legendary Peyton Manning. Now, those are some big shoes to fill, but Manning easily had the worst year of his career last year. He threw nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 10 games. It was enough to bring home the Lombardi trophy, so Denver fans can calm down. Any quarterback just has to do a bit better than that stat line and the team should be set to at least make the postseason.
Lynch will look to come in and lead the team. But he may not be the starter to open the season. Mark Sanchez will presumably get that job and try to mentor the rookie QB until he is confident enough to take the reigns. Coming out of Memphis, Lynch looks like a good scheme fit in Gary Kubiak’s offense. He offers mobility from the pocket, something Manning didn’t have. With the offseason to prepare, the rookie may turn some heads his first season in the league.
Adam Gotsis
This may have been the reach of the draft for Denver, but it should work out in the long haul. Gotsis is coming into the championship team, so there is a sturdy foundation for him to mature. That’s very good for the Georgia Tech product, who is a raw prospect at this point in his career.
The Broncos lost Malik Jackson, and the team isn’t getting anywhere near the production he brought back in any of their offseason moves. However, Gotsis, is a good start to try and fill that void. With good coaching and the lack of expectations, he can be very good d-lineman in a couple years. That’s what Denver saw in the second round.
Justin Simmons
Simmons is in a similar situation to Gotsis. He’s not as raw, but he won't need to make an immediate impact, which will allow him to develop. Development is so important because rushing a player can be the end of his career. Simmons brings good instinct to the secondary position, something that can’t be coached. He will be coached by a very good staff to compliment that intuition, and that will help the team with their safety depth. Plus, Darian Stewart’s contract is up after this year. They could have an in-house replacement ready next year.
Devontae Booker
This may well be Denver’s steal in the draft. Kubiak likes to run the ball, then run the ball. And when that’s done run the ball again. Last year, that clearly didn't work with both CJ Anderson and Ronnie Hillman floundering at times. There wasn’t much depth behind these two last year.
Enter Booker, who had a very productive career at Utah. He will look to be a complimentary piece to the Anderson-Hillman pairing and steal carries from the two in time.
Connor McGovern
Here’s the team’s o-line help. It doesn’t seem like much, but he will provide competition to the guard spot immediately.The o-line struggled as a group, so any new face should be welcomed.
McGovern played tackle in college, but will likely switch to guard. For a team that shuffled a lot of players last season, versatility is also a nice tool to have.
Andy Janovich
Remember when I said Kubiak likes to run? A fullback can be a runner’s best friend. The Broncos operated without one last year, but with a year of the offense under the team’s belt, a fullback could help that stagnate run game.
Janovich could also be used as an offensive weapon in time. Immediately, he could look to help on special teams.
Will Parks
Versatility again. Parks is a playmaker that can be used throughout the secondary. He’ll look to have a year to develop and possibly pair with Simmons as the safety duo in the future (don’t get your hopes up, but it is a possibility).
Riley Dixon
Punters are people, too! Dixon may seem not seem like it, but he has a chance to become the team’s everyday punter once the regular season begins. Britton Colquitt is being paid like an elite punter, but his play is often regarded as the opposite of elite. Dixon provides a cheaper alternative for a team already up against the salary cap.
