Log in
My Account
Subscribe 99¢ for 3 months
Newsletter

Today's Digital Newspaper

The Gazette

Weather Block Here

Login
My Account
Subscribe
Newsletter

Archive Information

Carrier Portal

Search

Buy Our Photos

Denver Broncos 2021 NFL draft: 5 positions of need other than quarterback

By George Stoia April 25, 2021 | updated 4 years ago

Senior Bowl Football Carter

National Team running back Michael Carter of North Carolina (7) runs the ball during the first half of the NCAA football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)

The Broncos certainly need to address their quarterback situation this offseason and might do so come Thursday night at the NFL draft. 

Ohio State’s Justin Fields, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance and Alabama’s Mac Jones have all been speculated as possibilities at quarterback for the Broncos next week. But what about Denver’s other needs? 

It’s a very real possibility the Broncos pass on a quarterback in the draft, if they feel that confident in Drew Lock. Instead, they might want to fill positions like linebacker, safety, cornerback, offensive line and running back, which all lack serious depth right now. 

Broncos GM George Paton says ‘we want to bring in competition’ at quarterback ahead of NFL Draft

Here’s five positions other than quarterback the Broncos should look at in the draft other than quarterback and five players they could select at each of those positions:  

Linebacker

The Broncos return both Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell at inside linebacker, and have Bradley Chubb, Von Miller and Malik Reed returning on the outside. But after that, there isn’t much depth in the linebacker room. Look for the Broncos to take a linebacker early in the draft and one who is versatile — able to play outside or inside and can cover. 

Five players to watch: Penn State’s Micah Parsons, Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Kentucky’s Jamin Davis, Ohio State’s Baron Browning, Ohio State’s Pete Werner 

Safety

Broncos’ 7-round mock draft 3.0: Denver trades back, selects Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

With Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson both coming back, the Broncos have two veteran starters, but considering Jackson is 32 years old and only on a one-year deal, Denver needs to add a young guy to that group. In coach Vic Fangio’s scheme, they don’t need to take a strong or free safety, but instead the best available. They could take one early or wait until Day 3 and still find a reliable player. 

Sign Up For Free: Mile High 5

Your daily report on everything sports in Colorado – covering the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and columns from Woody Paige and Paul Klee.

View all of our newsletters.

Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.

View all of our newsletters.

function subscribeSuccess() {
var nsltrform = document.querySelector(“#nsltr”);
var nsltrSuccess = document.querySelector(“#successnsltr”);

nsltrform.classList.add(“hideblock”);
nsltrSuccess.classList.remove(“hideblock”);
}

function validateEmail(email) {
return String(email)
.toLowerCase()
.match(
/^(([^()[]\.,;:s@”]+(.[^()[]\.,;:s@”]+)*)|(“.+”))@(([[0-9]{1,3}.[0-9]{1,3}.[0-9]{1,3}.[0-9]{1,3}])|(([a-zA-Z-0-9]+.)+[a-zA-Z]{2,}))$/
);
}

function validateEmailAddress() {
const result = document.querySelector(“#result”);
const email = document.querySelector(“#email”).value;

result.innerText = “”;

if(validateEmail(email)) {
newsletterSubscribe(email);
} else {
result.innerText = ‘The email entered: ‘ + email + ‘ is not valid :(‘;
result.style.color = “red”;
}
return false;
}

function newsletterSubscribe(email) {
fetch(“https://services.gazette.com/mg2-newsletters.php?action=subscribe&site=denvergazette.com&emailPreferenceId=59&email=” + email, {
method: “POST”
}).then(res => {
console.log(“SUCCESSFUL POST”);
subscribeSuccess();
});

}

#nsltr {
min-width: 100%;
margin: 10px 0;
padding: 10px 20px;
background-color: #2076b3;

background-image: url(https://static.gazette.com/emails/circ/Audience%20Images/pp5%20signup%203.png);
background-size: cover;

}

#nsltr-header {
color: #fff4f4;
}
#nsltr-body {
text-align: center;
color: #ffffff;
}
#nsltr-button {
margin-top: 5px;
}
#successnsltr {
min-width: 100%;
margin: 10px 0;
padding: 10px 20px;
background-color: green;
text-align: center;
color: white;
}

#successnsltr a {
color: white;
}

.hideblock {
display:none;
}

h6 a {
color: black;
text-decoration: none;
padding: 5px;
background-color: #bbccdd;
font-weight: 600;
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
#nsltr {
background-image: url(https://static.gazette.com/emails/circ/Audience%20Images/pp5%20signup%203.png);
background-size: cover;
}
}

Five players to watch: TCU’s Trevon Moehrig, UCF’s Richie Grant, Oregon’s Jevon Holland, Syracuse’s Andre Cisco, TCU’s Ar’Darius Washington

Cornerback

The Broncos largely took care of their cornerback depth this offseason with the signings of Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby, but as last year proved, you can never have enough corners. GM George Paton said Thursday they don’t feel like they have to take a corner early, but if one of the top three corners in this class fall in their lap in the first round, it’d make sense to take one. If not, expect them to take a couple late to add depth. 

Five players to watch: Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley, South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn, Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr., Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph 

Offensive line

Like corner, Paton said they don’t necessarily need to take one early, but want to add depth at the position — especially at right tackle and guard. The Broncos will likely target an offensive lineman who can play several positions and is comfortable playing right tackle, backing up Ja’Wuan James who opted out last season. 

Five players to watch: Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater, Oregon’s Penei Sewell, Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood, North Dakota State’s Dillon Radunz, BYU’s Brady Christensen 

Running back

Letting Phillip Lindsay walk means the Broncos almost have to take a running back at some point in the draft, assuming Mike Boone will be more of a special teams and third-string player. Running backs will be plentiful in this draft and the Broncos can probably pick up a reliable one Day 3, or take one of the top ones on Day 2. 

Five players to watch: North Carolina’s Michael Carter, Oklahoma’s Rhamondre Stevenson, Ohio State’s Trey Sermon, Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard, Virginia Tech’s Khalil Herbert 

7f119af6-b79e-5431-bc85-9cb8d42bca3c

View Original Article | Split View
George Stoia

Reporter

PREV

PREVIOUS

Broncos' 7-round mock draft 3.0: Denver trades back, selects Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Trade up, trade back, stand pat.  Come Thursday night at the NFL draft, the Broncos could take any of those three options and few would be surprised. The Gazette’s George Stoia has already made a mock for if Denver trades up for a quarterback and […]

NEXT

NEXT UP

Broncos promote Brittany Bowlen, hire China Jude as VP of diversity, equity and inclusion

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The Broncos have promoted Brittany Bowlen to senior vice president of strategy and hired China Jude as vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, the organization announced Monday.  Bowlen, a daughter of late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, has served in the organization’s front office as […]