2019 Broncos' Season—The Draft Class is In
The NFL Draft is always a big time for teams, as they grab the players they hope will help define the team’s success for years to come. The Broncos had an interesting three days, making a handful of trades and coming aways with six picks. Let’s take a look at what we got.
Pick 20: Noah Fant, TE Iowa
About: After trading back from Pick 10, the Broncos landed a great tight end prospect with their first round pick. Fant put up solid numbers as a two-year starter for Iowa, going for 30 receptions, 494 yards and 11 TDs in 2017 and adding 39 receptions for 519 yards and seven TDs in 2018. The new Broncos QB, Joe Flacco, likes using tight ends, and the Broncos had a hole there. I feel like Fant is more of a luxury pick than a need, but he could really add another dimension to the Broncos’ offense. Jeff Heuerman and Jake Butt are still on the roster, but neither has really taken the role and run with it. Fant could easily be a starter Week 1, and joining young receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton and young RBs Royce Freeman and Philip Lindsay, the Broncos have a lot of young weapons on offense.
About: After trading back from Pick 10, the Broncos landed a great tight end prospect with their first round pick. Fant put up solid numbers as a two-year starter for Iowa, going for 30 receptions, 494 yards and 11 TDs in 2017 and adding 39 receptions for 519 yards and seven TDs in 2018. The new Broncos QB, Joe Flacco, likes using tight ends, and the Broncos had a hole there. I feel like Fant is more of a luxury pick than a need, but he could really add another dimension to the Broncos’ offense. Jeff Heuerman and Jake Butt are still on the roster, but neither has really taken the role and run with it. Fant could easily be a starter Week 1, and joining young receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton and young RBs Royce Freeman and Philip Lindsay, the Broncos have a lot of young weapons on offense.
Pick 41: Dalton Risner, OL Kansas State
About: Risner fills a huge need for the Broncos on the offensive line. The team has a great new OL Coach in Mike Munchak, and they have some solid pieces in tackles Garrett Bolles and Ju’Wan James, guard Ronald Leary and likely new center Conner McGovern. But you need five to play on the line, and Risner figures to slot in at right guard. That could be a great fit for the Broncos and their offense. And the fact he’s a local kid who gets to come home helps!
About: Risner fills a huge need for the Broncos on the offensive line. The team has a great new OL Coach in Mike Munchak, and they have some solid pieces in tackles Garrett Bolles and Ju’Wan James, guard Ronald Leary and likely new center Conner McGovern. But you need five to play on the line, and Risner figures to slot in at right guard. That could be a great fit for the Broncos and their offense. And the fact he’s a local kid who gets to come home helps!
Pick 42: Drew Lock, QB Missouri
About: Some thought the Broncos would take Lock with the 10th pick in the draft, so when he slipped to the second round, John Elway jumped back up and grabbed the young QB. With Flacco likely locked in as the starter in 2019, the pressure is off Lock to shine right away. The Broncos have to hope that he can be the long-term answer, though. At Missouri he was a three year starter facing some fierce SEC competition. As a junior, he threw for 3,964 yards and 44 TDs. As a senior, he added 3,498 yards and 28 TDs, but improved his completion percentage to 62.8 percent. The hope is under the leadership of Rich Scangarello, who worked with Nick Mullens in San Francisco, Lock can develop behind Flacco.
About: Some thought the Broncos would take Lock with the 10th pick in the draft, so when he slipped to the second round, John Elway jumped back up and grabbed the young QB. With Flacco likely locked in as the starter in 2019, the pressure is off Lock to shine right away. The Broncos have to hope that he can be the long-term answer, though. At Missouri he was a three year starter facing some fierce SEC competition. As a junior, he threw for 3,964 yards and 44 TDs. As a senior, he added 3,498 yards and 28 TDs, but improved his completion percentage to 62.8 percent. The hope is under the leadership of Rich Scangarello, who worked with Nick Mullens in San Francisco, Lock can develop behind Flacco.
Pick 71: Dre’Mont Jones, DT Ohio State
About: The Broncos’ biggest needs heading into the draft were arguably offensive line, defensive line and inside linebacker. While Risner helped the first, Jones adds a block in the middle on defense. As a junior on a talented Ohio State Team, Jones recorded 26 tackles, including 13 for a loss, 8.5 sacks and an interception. The Broncos have been looking for an answer in the middle of the defensive line, and with Domata Peko gone, Jones should add to a group that includes Zach Kerr and Shelby Harris to give the team some solid options.
About: The Broncos’ biggest needs heading into the draft were arguably offensive line, defensive line and inside linebacker. While Risner helped the first, Jones adds a block in the middle on defense. As a junior on a talented Ohio State Team, Jones recorded 26 tackles, including 13 for a loss, 8.5 sacks and an interception. The Broncos have been looking for an answer in the middle of the defensive line, and with Domata Peko gone, Jones should add to a group that includes Zach Kerr and Shelby Harris to give the team some solid options.
Pick 156: Justin Hollins, LB Oregon
About: The Broncos didn’t have a fourth round pick thanks to the Lock trade, but they went back to the defensive well with Hollins in the fifth round. As a senior, Hollins had 64 tackles, including 14.5 for a loss, 6.5 sacks and an interception. The hope is he can play all over the field, giving depth in the middle and adding to the Broncos’ pool of pass rush options. This addresses a key need for the Broncos in the linebacker group.
About: The Broncos didn’t have a fourth round pick thanks to the Lock trade, but they went back to the defensive well with Hollins in the fifth round. As a senior, Hollins had 64 tackles, including 14.5 for a loss, 6.5 sacks and an interception. The hope is he can play all over the field, giving depth in the middle and adding to the Broncos’ pool of pass rush options. This addresses a key need for the Broncos in the linebacker group.
Pick 187: Juwann Winfree, WR Colorado
About: With their final pick, the Broncos traded up to grab the local receiver Winfree, who played at the University of Colorado. The Broncos have the veteran Emmanuel Sanders, second year guys Hamilton and Sutton, and young prospects Tim Patrick and River Cracraft, so there is depth in the WR group already. Limited by injuries, he had just 28 receptions for 324 yards and two TDs as a senior. So Winfree is a bit of a project, but it will be interesting to see what he adds to the Broncos.
About: With their final pick, the Broncos traded up to grab the local receiver Winfree, who played at the University of Colorado. The Broncos have the veteran Emmanuel Sanders, second year guys Hamilton and Sutton, and young prospects Tim Patrick and River Cracraft, so there is depth in the WR group already. Limited by injuries, he had just 28 receptions for 324 yards and two TDs as a senior. So Winfree is a bit of a project, but it will be interesting to see what he adds to the Broncos.
That’s it for draft picks, but the Broncos are still working on undrafted free agents. They have already added an interesting name in Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien, who adds to the team’s quarterback room. They also traded for Dekota Watson from the 49ers, adding another person to that position group.
Overall it was an interesting and unpredictable three days, but I’m excited to see how this all plays out for the Broncos.
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