Mark Knudson’s Three Strikes Blog: Strike Two
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Denver Broncos Feeling a Draft?
STRIKE TWO: It’s a total crapshoot, the NFL Draft. Just ask the Denver Broncos, who’ve come up snake eyes more often than not in recent years.
In April of 2018, John Elway and company (which included Gary Kubiak for the first and last time) selected what is arguably the best rookie class in franchise history. No less than five rookies made a major impact on the field in their first seasons, including undrafted running back Phillip Lindsey, who was chosen for the Pro Bowl.
An aberration…or a trend? We will find out in a few weeks when the Broncos are on the clock for 2019.
Some trends are already apparent. For example, since Elway has been in charge, Denver has done a lot better at picking defensive players than offensive guys. Could that be because John spent his playing days watching defensive game film? His eyes ID standout defensive players much better than a offensive guys? Elway hit the jackpot with Von Miller, and did well with picks like Derek Wolfe. Bradley Roby has had his moments, and Bradley Chubb had a wonderful rookie year, even if he wasn’t the best selection they could have made with that pick (All-Pro Offensive Guard Quentin Nelson was selected by Indianapolis with pick that immediately followed Chubb. He could have filled a position of great need.)
Elway’s offensive selections have been, well…not so good. Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch and others haven’t been hits.
Only Miller and Wolfe will remain on the roster from draft classes that happened prior to 2013, and it’s possible that if Roby, Matt Paradis, Shane Ray, Jeff Heuerman and Max Garcia all leave as free agents as expected that no drafted players from 2013-2015 will be wearing predominantly orange next season.
That’s not a very good draft history.
Of course the talking point of this draft and several others will be the quarterback position. Denver’s drafting history at the position is abysmal. They best signal caller ever drafted by the Broncos in terms of contribution to the team is probably…Kubiak.
Denver has landed two of the best ever via a trade and the greatest free agency acquisition of all time, but the draft? Not so much. Does that change this year? Should Denver draft a QB in April?
There are some who feel like the Broncos should simply keep drafting quarterbacks until they get it right. Sooner or later, the law of averages will land them a true “franchise” QB, right? But is it worth the wait?
This year’s draft class isn’t as highly touted as last year’s, but there are a few possibilities. Missouri’s Drew Lock is the one most often mentioned as a guy Elway is interested in. Duke’s Daniel Jones is another. Are these guys franchise changers?
Or should Denver concentrate on repairing a bad offensive line? Cornerback is a position of need. Any team that wins 11 games in two years needs help across the big board.
The Broncos will – and should – look a lot different on the field next season. How they shape it with the draft will be more important than any free agents they bring in. Will Kubiak’s absence be felt more in the draft room than anywhere else?
So many questions. Still two months until we can get any real answers.
Wanna argue? Hit me up on Twitter @MarkKnudson41. Coming Friday: The Replacements
