Denver Broncos Draft Picks
Bradley Roby: 1st Round, 31st overall, CB, Ohio State
Cody Latimer: 2nd Round, 56th overall, WR, Indiana
Michael Schofield: 3rd Round, 95th overall, OT, Michigan
Lamin Barrow: 5th Round, 156th overall, OLB, LSU
Matt Paradis: 6th Round, 207th overall, C, Boise State
Corey Nelson: 7th Round, 242 overall, OLB, Oklahoma
Broncos Draft Grade: 8/10
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Denver Broncos Draft Report
It goes without saying that the Denver Broncos are a football team that is built to win right now. After coming up short in a demoralizing Super Bowl defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks, the Broncos stocked up in the off-season, opening up their pocket books and acquiring big-time free agents like Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware, and T.J. Ward.
With a future Hall of Famer in Peyton Manning leading a record-setting offense, and a defensive unit that is expected to be greatly improved, any immediate contributions the team gets from this draft will be icing on the cake. With only six selections in the 2014 Draft, John Elway and company picked up a couple of likely immediate contributors and several depth players.
In the first round, the Broncos selected talented Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby. Roby’s character concerns likely caused him to slide down draft boards a bit, and as such this is a value selection. It’s difficult to project what his immediate role will entail, but with the aforementioned Talib the new top corner in town, Chris Harris on the mend, and Champ Bailey now a Saint, the addition of Roby enables the Broncos to rest a bit easier about their situation in the secondary.
In round two, the Broncos selected Indiana wideout Cody Latimer. Latimer is another player who probably could have gone higher than he did, and the prospect of adding another quality pass-catcher to the league’s premier offense is downright scary. The Broncos will likely boast the league’s most talented collection of weapons once again.
In the third round the Broncos addressed the offensive line, adding Michigan tackle Michael Schofield. In the eyes of some this pick was a bit of a reach, but if nothing else the Broncos have added a quality substitute and a possible swing tackle that can contribute when called upon. For a team that experienced a serious injury to superstar left tackle Ryan Clady last season, offensive line depth is a must.
The Broncos got back to work in round five, selecting LSU linebacker Lamin Barrow. Many pundits believe that the club has a need at inside linebacker and in Barrow, the team acquires a player who can play inside or outside. Barrow may not see the starting lineup anytime soon, but his athleticism and versatility will earn him some sort of a role on this team.
Elway added more offensive line depth in the sixth round by selecting Boise State C Matt Paradis. The Broncos already have two centers on the roster in Manny Ramirez and Will Montgomery, but Paradis has to be seen as a quality developmental piece for the team to work with. He’s highly unlikely to see the field as a rookie, but quality centers can often be acquired in the later rounds. It’s entirely possible that Paradis makes starts for the Broncos some day soon.
The Broncos wrapped up their draft by selecting Oklahoma linebacker Corey Nelson in the seventh round. Linebacker depth was of the utmost importance to the team this year and as such, Nelson is another player to add to the mix. He comes from a big program in Oklahoma, has plus speed, and can make plays when called upon. It’s tough for seventh rounders to crack talented rosters like the Broncos’ but Nelson has the ability to compete.
All in all, it’s difficult to have the perfect draft when you have only six selections and pick at the end of each round, but John Elway handled the situation as well as possible. He addressed the Broncos needs at cornerback, linebacker, and offensive line depth, and added quality pro-ready and developmental pieces to a roster that was already rich with talent. Roby and Latimer will make waves from day one, and if the club can get some production from a couple of the later picks this will be seen as a highly successful draft.
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