Since John Elway became the general manager prior to the 2012 NFL season, he has been arguably the best executive in football in luring big name free agents to sign with the Broncos. Players like Peyton Manning, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, Emmanuel Sanders are just a few names.
The NFL Draft, however, has been a bit more of a learning curve as the Broncos have only had two drafted players since 2011 selected to the Pro Bowl (Von Miller and Julius Thomas). This is in part due to the aforementioned big name free agents that retain starting roles while the younger players continue their tutelage and special teams play. He has, however, had a few misses in the draft that he will continue to learn from.
Entering the 2017 season, Denver has some glaring needs to fill including offensive tackle, inside linebacker, and a return specialist to name a few. Was Elway able to fill these needs through the draft? Below are the players that were selected:
First Round, 20th Overall: OT Garett Bolles (Utah)
Second Round, 51st Overall: DE DeMarcus Walker (Florida State)
Third Round, 82nd Overall: WR Carlos Henderson (Louisiana Tech)
Third Round, 101st Overall: CB Brendan Langley (Lamar)
Fifth Round, 145th Overall: TE Jake Butt (Michigan)
Fifth Round, 172nd Overall: WR Isaiah McKenzie (Georgia)
Sixth Round, 203 Overall: RB De’Angelo Henderson (Coastal Carolina)
Seventh Round, 253 Overall: QB Chad Kelly (Ole Miss)
Broncos 2017 Draft Grade: 7.5/10
Denver Broncos 2017 NFL Draft Review
Best Player: DeMarcus Walker
Garett Bolles needs to become the best player in the Broncos draft as he will be required to fill the giant void on the left side of the offensive line. I have been very high on Bolles all offseason, and while I love the pick at 20, he is still raw as he only played one year of Division I football. Though his ceiling is extremely high, there is still unknown on how his game will translate to the NFL level. For that reason, I give the best player edge to DeMarcus Walker.
At 6’4”, 280 pounds, Walker was a beast at Florida State and compiled 25 sacks over his last two seasons. In the Orange Bowl, he had a sack and four tackles for a loss against Michigan. He will have the opportunity to excel within the Broncos defense because he will not be forced to start on day one. I envision him starting off as a third down specialist, where his fresh legs will make him a dominant force in getting after the quarterback. Opposing offensive linemen will have to choose between Walker, Von Miller, and Shane Ray, good luck.
The Head-Scratcher: Brendan Langley
My head-scratcher of the draft is Brendan Langley. Not for the type of player that he is, or the depth that he adds to an already stellar defensive back group, but for how high the Broncos took him. At 6’0, 201 pounds, with 4.43 40 speed, Langley was a tremendous corner at Lamar and an even more dynamic return specialist. He should have an impact immediately for the Broncos’ special teams and will have plenty of time to perfect his ball-hawking skills behind Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., and Bradley Roby. No gripe with the pick, but Elway probably could have gotten him in the fifth or sixth, so it was a big reach taking him at the end of the third.
The Suprise: Jake Butt
By far the biggest surprise was Michigan tight end Jake Butt falling into the Broncos’ laps in the fifth round. Butt was one of the top tight ends in the entire NCAA and was projected initially as a first or second round pick until he tore his ACL in the Orange Bowl against Florida State.
At 6’5”, 245 pounds, Butt is a true tight end with soft hands and is a mismatch nightmare for opposing linebackers. While athletic in body type like Greg Olsen, he lacks breakaway speed but is strong and bruising like Jason Witten. If his knee heals up 100%, Butt will be the tight end the Broncos have been missing since Julius Thomas, maybe even Shannon Sharpe.
The Steal: Carlos Henderson
I love the pick of Carlos Henderson in the third round. He was projected to go in the third so as far as value it wasn’t a huge steal, but his talent and ceiling project him to be a top slot receiver in the game, and one that the Broncos have been lacking. Last season at Louisiana Tech, Henderson caught 82 balls for 1,535 yards and 23 total touchdowns. You can’t knock that kind of production, even if it was at a smaller school. What may be the most exciting attribute of Henderson is his yards after the catch and ability to break tackles. He averaged 18.7 yards per catch during his entire tenure at Louisiana Tech. He should compete for a return job immediately, and will have an impact in the slot very quickly. Lynch and Siemian should be smiling widely.
Most Likely To Turn Heads In Training Camp: De’Angelo Henderson
Running back De’Angelo Henderson was a projected fifth round pick out of Coastal Carolina that the Broncos were able to select in the sixth round.
Have you watched tape on Henderson? He is a small, speedy running back that can blow defenders up. He has a knack for splitting through small creases and then exploding into the linebacker knocking him into the end zone. A lot of scouts are comparing him to Danny Woodhead, partially due to their comparable size, and partially due to Henderson’s 35 consecutive games with a touchdown (Woodhead had 38). I see more of a Maurice Jones-Drew. Henderson is 5’7”, 208 pounds. During Jones-Drew’s playing days he was around the same weight. For their size, they both run with a lot of power. I expect Henderson to surprise some people in camp.
The Rest
Garett Bolles has the potential to be the most impactful pick in this draft. If he hits he will sure up the left side of the offensive line for many years and will be a quarterback’s best friend.
A few other names that I haven’t mentioned yet are receiver Isaiah Mckenzie and quarterback Chad Kelly, who the Broncos took with the last pick in the draft and was this year’s Mr. Irrelevant. Mckenzie is a small speedy receiver out of the University of Georgia. He should compete for a spot on special teams immediately and can become a viable threat within the offense. Think Taylor Gabriel or Tyreek Hill.
With Chad Kelly still on the board he was a great pick at 253. He is extremely talented and had a very good career at Ole Miss before he was injured last season. His skill set could allow him to compete for a starting job in few years once he is fully healthy from his injuries. For now, he will be a great asset in the quarterback room and on the practice squad. Phenomenal value pick for Elway here.
Bottom Line
Overall, this was a strong draft for the Broncos and a lot of needs were addressed. They got their offensive tackle of the future and added some “juice” that coach Joseph keeps talking about in Carlos Henderson, Jake Butt, and Isaiah Mckenzie. They added back end depth while also adding to the running back and quarterback positions. My only critique is that they didn’t address the need for an inside linebacker. Todd Davis struggled in run defense last year when he was thrust into a full-time role. I was hoping they would add another piece to play alongside Brandon Marshall. Hopefully solidifying the defensive line will allow him to be more successful within his role.
