Denver, CO
3 Broncos’ Wildcard Picks in Round 1 of the NFL Draft
The NFL draft is fast approaching, and the Denver Broncos will be on the clock, hoping to select a franchise-altering player. Several pundits have the Broncos selecting a tight end or running back with their first-round pick, and while those are both significant needs, the draft is vastly unpredictable.
Free agency will help cover up some of Denver’s roster blemishes and could change the team’s strategy dramatically, further prioritizing the ‘best player available’ approach. We’ve seen the mock drafts with Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty landing in Denver, but the Broncos should pay attention to a handful of ‘wildcard’ options to build their roster.
Let me break down three such ‘wildcard’ options for Denver.
Emmanwori put on a show at the NFL Combine, running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and placing first among safeties in vertical and long jump, 43 inches and 11-foot-6-inches, respectively, in addition to putting up the most reps on the bench press (20).
Emmanwori’s speed and versatility would make the Broncos’ secondary even more formidable, and he could step right into a starting role alongside Brandon Jones. P.J. Locke proved he isn’t starting material, whiffing on several tackles and blowing coverages in crucial moments.
Adding a young, athletically gifted safety may seem like a lesser need, but Emmawori’s talent is undeniable, and bringing that dynamic ability to an already strong secondary would only benefit the Denver defense overall.
Inside linebacker has been a weakness for the Broncos since Super Bowl 50. No matter the coach or GM, the Broncos have shied away from using premium draft picks for the middle of the defense.
Campbell could be the answer to Denver’s linebacker woes, though, as his sideline-to-sideline ability is precisely what the doctor ordered. He finished his college career with 184 total tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Denver’s linebacker corps has lacked speed, but Campbell is no slouch, posting the third-best 40 time at the Combine (4.52s). A first-round linebacker might not sit well with fans, but it’s undoubtedly a need for the Broncos, and Campbell would be an excellent choice.
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The ‘joker’ position has been highly discussed among fans with names like Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and the aforementioned Jeanty, but even as a receiver, Ayomanor could fit that bill. Ayomanor is a bigger receiver at 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, and ran an impressive 4.44-second 40 at the Combine, making him a great combination of size and speed.
Ayomanor’s physicality makes him a plus in the run game, and that’s something that Sean Payton likes in a receiver. Lil’Jordan Humphrey wasn’t dynamic last season enough to warrant seeing many touches.
Ayomanor’s skill set fits the mold of a big slot receiver who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the run game or on-screen passes, making him a valuable asset in a Payton offense. Selecting the Stanford wideout in the first round may seem a bit rich for some, but his fit is undeniable.
The Broncos will have several options in the upcoming draft, and they would be wise to keep an open mind when they’re on the clock. Any of these three prospects would raise the team’s talent level, even if they’re not the ‘sexy’ picks that a tight end or running back would be.
Being flexible in the draft is of the utmost importance, so keep an open mind, Broncos Country.
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The Denver Broncos are in the market for a running back.
Just two days after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver wants to have the running back position addressed before the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos are “poised to make a splash” at running back during NFL free agency.
“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn’t get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match,” Jones wrote for CBS Sports.
Jones said the Broncos would be an obvious potential landing spot for Kenneth Walker, and he noted that Travis Etienne could be a cheaper alternative. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider also reported this week that Denver is expected to “closely examine” the RB market, and he name-dropped Walker, Etienne and Rico Dowdle.
The Broncos also have an in-house free agent at RB in J.K. Dobbins, who has expressed his desire to remain in Denver. The Broncos can begin negotiating with pending free agents from other clubs on March 9, but no deals can become official until the new league year begins on March 11. In-house free agents can be re-signed at any time.
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Class 5A Sweet 16 has arrived, and both Grand Junction and Palisade are still standing with trips to the Great Eight in Denver on the line.
At The Jungle, the No. 2 seed Grand Junction Tigers set the tone early against No. 18 Golden. Defense carried the Tigers from the opening tip as they held the Demons to nine first quarter points while scoring 16 of their own.
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Grand Junction added eight points in the second quarter while Golden managed six, sending the Tigers into halftime with a nine point lead.
Golden responded in the third quarter, outscoring Grand Junction 16 to 11 to cut the deficit to five entering the fourth. The Tigers answered in the final period, attacking the rim and converting key shots to win the quarter 19 to 10. Grand Junction secured a 54 to 41 victory to protect its home court and advance to the Great Eight in Denver.
Top seeded Palisade also defended its home floor with a trip to Denver at stake. The Bulldogs opened with nine straight points to energize a packed gym, but Frederick settled in and closed the first quarter on a run to tie the game at nine.
Frederick continued to respond in the second quarter and took an eight point lead into halftime.
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Palisade shifted momentum after the break. The Bulldogs tightened defensively, holding Frederick to 21 points in the second half while scoring 39 of their own. Palisade completed the comeback to advance to the Great Eight.
Colorado Mesa University Women Deliver Historic RMAC Tournament Win
In collegiate action, the top seeded Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team defeated Colorado School of Mines 96 to 51 in the RMAC Tournament, marking the largest margin of victory in the tournament this century.
Olivia Reed-Thyne led the Mavericks with 34 points on 11 of 15 shooting, her third 30 point performance this season. Mason Rowland added 22 points and Hallie Clark contributed 10 as Colorado Mesa matched a program record with its 31st win. The Mavericks will host the semifinals Friday with a berth in the championship game at stake.
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Colorado Mesa University Men Survive Overtime Thriller
The Colorado Mesa University men’s basketball team faced New Mexico Highlands University for the third time this season. The Mavericks scored 36 first half points and led by four at the break.
New Mexico Highlands shot 50 percent in the second half, received 21 bench points and outscored Colorado Mesa 43 to 39 to force a late push. With the season in the balance, Ty Allred hit a game tying 3 pointer to make it 75 and send the game to overtime. Allred scored seven points in the extra period as Colorado Mesa earned a 91 to 90 victory to advance to the next round.
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