Coming off their Super Bowl Championship season of 2015, the Denver Broncos entered the 2016 draft looking to solidify the depth chart as well as add some key components to their already stellar squad. John Elway was once again in the huddle leading his team. Only this time it was in “The War Room”, where he and Coach Kubiak were hoping to land the players essential to the team’s success. Like in the past couple seasons, Elway once again showed his calm, cool character by confidently moving and picking his pieces like a master at chess. Though it will be three to four years before this year’s draft class can fairly be graded, the selections that Elway and company made this past weekend are sure to receive some outstanding reviews. Here’s who Denver selected:
1st round, 26th overall: QB Paxton Lynch (Memphis)
2nd round, 63rd overall: DT Adam Gotsis (Georgia Tech)
3rd round, 98th overall: S Justin Simmons (Boston College)
4th round, 136th overall: RB Devontae Booker (Utah)
5th round, 144th overall: G Connor McGovern (Missouri)
6th round, 176th overall: FB Andy Janovich (Nebraska)
6th round, 219th overall: S Will Parks (Arizona)
7th round, 228th overall: P Riley Dixon (Syracuse)
Denver Broncos 2016 NFL Draft Grade: 8/10
Denver Broncos 2016 NFL Draft Review
Best Player: The Broncos were in search of a quarterback in this year’s draft following the retirement of Peyton Manning and the departure of Brock Osweiler to Houston. Paxton Lynch will prove to be that guy. The 6’6″, 240 pound quarterback from Memphis has a strong arm and excellent mobility, which will make him a great fit in Kubiak’s offense. With the addition of Mark Sanchez in the off-season, there is no need to rush Lynch into a starting role, thus giving him plenty of time to learn the offense and perfect his craft. When Lynch does start he will have the confidence to take this team and lead them to the playoffs.
Head-Scratcher: One pick that has to be questioned is the Broncos final pick of the draft, which turned out to be punter Riley Dixon out of Syracuse. Finishing third in school history with a 46.6 yards per punt average, while also nailing 43% of his punts inside the 20, there is no doubt this kid has a leg. Still, who drafts a punter? John Elway does. The only logical conclusion to this is the fact that Britton Colquitt stands to hold nearly four million dollars against the salary cap. So if Dixon can impress, most likely the job is his.
Surprise: A pick that few, if any, saw coming was the sixth-round selection of Andy Janovich from Nebraska. This quick-footed, burly fullback can make defenders miss and he knows how to finish runs. Janovich is similar to former Bronco fullback Howard Griffith, who helped the team achieve victories in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII. The former Corn Husker is expected to contribute immediately on special teams, where last season he lead Nebraska with 13 tackles. “He was our #1 special teams guy,” Elways said.
Steal: By far the catch of this year’s draft has to be Devontae Booker. The talented running back out of Utah was originally projected to be a second-round pick, but a knee injury last November caused him to slide. The fact that he was available so late in the fourth-round made it a no-brainer for Elway. Booker is a downhill runner who makes his cuts quickly and decisively, which suits Gary Kubiak’s zone blocking scheme perfectly. The former Ute also has good hands and can be very effective catching passes out of the backfield. With Denver already having C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman on the roster, Booker will add to a solid running back corps, instantly improving the Broncos ground game.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Justin Simmons, a safety from Boston College, is going to be the talk of training camp come July. This kid has the skill set needed to be an All-Pro. His combine scores were off the chart, having the best times of any defensive back in the 20- and 60-yard shuttle runs. Simmons also added a 40-inch vertical leap to those runs and he can be a ball hawk in this league. Look for Simmons, who has an incredibly high football IQ, to turn heads not only in training camp but for years to come.
The Rest: The Broncos added a few more players that will strengthen the depth chart and increase competition among the team. Connor McGovern, a guard from Missouri, was one of the strongest linemen in this year’s draft. Will Parks, a safety from Arizona, will look to strengthen an already stellar secondary. Finally, Adam Gotsis, a defensive tackle from Georgia Tech, will attempt to fill the void left by Malik Jackson.
There were no weak picks for Denver in this draft. Expect to see these players on the 53-man roster come September, with perhaps a couple of them even starting. John Elway continues to do a masterful job running this team. Look for Denver to once again compete for the coveted Lombardi.
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