2019 Broncos' Season—Options at Pick 10

The NFL Draft is finally upon us. The Broncos hold pick 10 in the first round, and there are a few likely options among the elite prospects in this draft. Below I break down the options and why they may or may not happen.

Draft a Quarterback

The Case: The Broncos need a quarterback of the future. Joe Flacco is in town now, but he’s 34 and coming off a few injuries. He’s got some time left, but the Broncos need a long-term plan. And Garrett Grayson and Kevin Hogan (the team’s only other QBs) aren’t likely it.

Possible Options: Kyler Murray, the Heisman winner out of Oklahoma, is viewed by many to be the best QB option, and is likely gone by pick 10. But the Broncos could see either Dwayne Haskins, the man who went for 50 TDs and nearly 5,000 yards at Ohio State, or the senior from Missouri, Drew Lock, at pick 10. The question is whether they believe in either, or whether they think Flacco can do his best work with a high-value draft pick coming in right away and breathing down his neck.

Chances it happens: I’m saying less than 10 percent. Conventional wisdom for months is that the Broncos would draft a QB. It’s been talked about a lot, and the Broncos have been linked to Lock for months. However, this is the same thing that happened last year. I don’t buy it. We didn’t take a QB in 2018, and I don’t think it happens at pick 10 this year. I don’t think they’re sold on Lock or Haskins, and John Elway noted the team would add a fourth quarterback before pre-season at “some point.” That could be playing coy, but I think it’s more likely the Broncos take an undrafted option, or a player on Day 2 or Day 3.

Draft at Linebacker

The Case: Brandon Marshall is in Oakland now, Todd Davis isn’t getting any younger and the team is thin behind Davis and Josey Jewell. With new defensive-minded head coach Vic Fangio, it would be great to strengthen the weak areas of the defense, and right up the middle is a glaring one. Plus, there are a couple great middle linebacker candidates in this draft.

Possible Options: It comes down to the two Devins, Devin White out of LSU and Devin Bush out of Michigan. The question is availability and fit. White could well be gone by Pick 10, as it’s been rumored and projected he might go to the Buccaneers at Pick 5. Another possibility is Bush, but making that selection at Pick 10 could be early. Fangio said he liked both, but that neither were Roquan Smith, the linebacker he snagged with the Bears in 2018. Still, this is a crucial position for any defense, and these are players the Broncos could build on.

Chances it Happens: I’m going with 50 percent here. If White is gone, it probably drops to 25 percent. Still, I like both players and could see them adding to this defense.

Draft a Defensive Tackle

The Case: The Broncos need to improve up the middle on defense, and that includes defensive tackle. The starter from the last few years is gone as the Broncos haven’t brought back Domata Peko. They did bring back Shelby Harris and Zach Kerr, which will help some. But this is a draft with some great playmakers in it, including some incredible defensive tackles.

Possible Options: Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver are the top two players, and if the Broncos pull the trigger, it would likely be for one of them. But both are likely to go high in the draft, barring some trades that see teams move up for quarterbacks. I think Williams will certainly be gone, but Oliver could slip down, and if he does the Broncos should pounce.

Chances it Happens: I’m going with 15 percent here. I think it will be hard for either of these two to slip that far, and I don’t know that the Broncos would take a player at 10 in this position that wasn’t these two.

Draft a Cornerback

The Case: This seemed improbable verging on impossible a few weeks ago. The Broncos signed Bryce Callahan and Kareem Jackson in free agency, still have Chris Harris, Jr., and signed AAF star De’Vante Busby. So they seemed set at corner. Then a report from the off-season workouts that Jackson exclusively played safety. Then came yesterday’s report that Harris wants a new contract or to be traded. And so now corner looks less secure.

Possible Options: There are a few good options at corner in this draft, but the top option is Greedy Williams. And there’s a good chance he is there at 10. If the Broncos have any concerns (and it seems like they don’t want to go to $15 million a year for Harris), then Williams gives them a great young player to mold in the secondary.

Chances it Happens: I’m going with 75 percent. Sadly, I think Harris will end up elsewhere this off-season. And I think pulling the trigger on Williams will be the first sign it happens. I hope I’m wrong, but it feels like all this is coming out now and pushing the Broncos in this direction. Especially since Quinnen Williams, Oliver, Devin White and Haskins are likely all going to be gone.

Wild Card Options

The Case: It’s the NFL Draft and you never know. The Broncos could trade up, or trade down. Or they could go off script. They have needs at offensive line, and they have found value in the past by going for a pass rusher. Or they could decide that Flacco is THE answer, and grab another offensive weapon among a loaded WR class and great set of tight ends.

Possible Options: In some mock drafts, including one I did, Rashan Gary, the edge rusher from Michigan, has gone to the Broncos at Pick 10. That could give them another weapon in getting to the quarterback, especially since Adam Gotsis and Derek Wolfe could use backup. I could also see them grabbing T.J. Hockenson, the excellent TE out of Iowa, in order to solidify their receiving corps. Some have suggested he could be the next Rob Gronkowski, so it makes some sense. Of all the options, I feel like offensive line is the least likely.

Chances it Happens: I’m going with 10 percent. I could see the Broncos trading back for value, or going for a premier player that falls. But it seems unlikely to me they’ll deviate from the four categories listed first.

We’ll find out who goes at Pick 10 tomorrow night as the NFL Draft begins from Nashville.