Five Dream Picks for Denver Broncos at No. 64 in NFL Draft

Once more, the Broncos have each an instantly urgent and long-term want on the edge rusher place. After signing Randy Gregory this offseason to a five-year deal to pair with Bradley Chubb, the Broncos are putting a number of pass-rushing stress on a duo that has not confirmed to be essentially the most sturdy throughout their NFL careers thus far. 

Moreover, whereas it might be dandy for Chubb to be wholesome and so good that Denver re-signs him, he is a free agent after 2022, which complicates issues, given how little cap the staff is projected to have subsequent offseason at this present cut-off date.

Ebiketie is a twitchy edge rusher with extraordinarily lengthy arms (34-⅛ inches measured on the Mix) regardless of his extra compact body at 6-foot-2.5 and 250 kilos. He transferred from Temple to play for Penn State this previous season. 

Ebiketie has a scorching motor and by no means offers up on his move rush or a play, working a number of strikes in a row to battle his approach into the backfield. His shorter peak and lengthy arms are used to his benefit to out-leverage offensive linemen he’s in fight with whereas speeding the passer.

Ebiketie may by no means be a dominating edge-setter within the run recreation, given his body seems to be near maxed out. Nevertheless, he can use his motor, smarts, and wingspan to assist negate that some however energy will possible by no means be his recreation. 

Seemingly one of many gamers being chosen within the first fifteen picks on Day 2, given the depth of this edge class, maybe, his age, as he will likely be a 23-year-old rookie, and lack of measurement may make him fall inside hanging distance for the Broncos.

You possibly can learn the complete Discovering Broncos scouting report on Ebiketie right here. 

Denver want’s to discover a long-term resolution on the proper sort out place. The one subject is that the Broncos appear to be getting ready themselves for the fact of a fifth draft in a row with out a premium choose made on an offensive sort out as a result of Paton’s latest feedback on the staff likes a number of tackles which are anticipated to go Spherical 1 or early Spherical. Nevertheless, that is about dream situations for the Broncos at choose 64 so let’s dream a contact.

Seemingly falling down draft boards these days, Raimann is likely to be a risk for the Broncos in Spherical 2 as a result of at 6-foot-6, 305-pounds, and with 32-7/8-inch arm size, he may not be for each staff within the league given his lack of size and sure finest slot in a scheme that emphasizes exterior zone.

The Broncos, nevertheless, are anticipated to embrace the skin zone. Whereas the arm size is a priority, given just one sort out performed significant beginning snaps final 12 months with sub-33-inch arms in Indianapolis’ Brendan Smith, that’s the very cause he is likely to be accessible for Denver after they choose at 64.

Raimann might also fall as a result of he’s considerably new to the place, having transitioned over from the tight finish spot, and will likely be 25 years outdated as a rookie. Nevertheless, it’s fairly obvious to see his former tight-end expertise on tape as he’s a easy mover and a great athlete for the sort out place. 

Whether or not it’s on the transfer concentrating on defensive gamers in area within the run recreation or match-and-mirror skill as a move protector, Raimann could be a wonderful get for Denver at 64.

You possibly can learn the complete Discovering Broncos scouting report on Raimann right here.

With the 2022  Broncos possible taking part in much more sub-package as a result of the offense ought to be placing up extra factors and pressuring opponents into extra apparent passing conditions, Paton may look to proceed so as to add versatile items to the defensive again seven. Positive, the Broncos have choices at each extensive nook, slot, field, and deep security on the roster, however within the AFC West, the extra high quality choices at defensive again, the higher.

Enter Pitre, who performed final season as legitimately one of the crucial distinctive slot protection choices in school soccer. Whereas he doesn’t possess a hulking body or size from the place at 5-foot-11, 205 kilos, and 31-inch arm size, he has a nostril for the soccer and was a continuing playmaker in area for the Bears’ protection. 

With ample manufacturing on the ball and tackling in area and the backfield, Pitre is a great and bodily participant for the modern-day protection. He’s legitimately nearly as good and bodily in tackling that he is likely to be a greater linebacker than many on this class on prime of his skill and luxury taking part in within the slot and in area.

Groups will not need Pitre taking part in single-high security or exterior the numbers in opposition to elite pass-catchers or athletes, but when a staff needs to stay in additional nickel and dime defensive packages going ahead, he’s the perfect aggressive, and clever playmaker defensive play-callers will covet.

You possibly can learn the complete Discovering Broncos scouting report on Pitre right here. 

If Paton can discover a long-term reply at proper sort out within the 2022 draft, even one which isn’t a key contributor on the place in 2022, that may be a win for the staff.

A flexible upside possibility on the place is 21-year-old Smith. The 6-foot-4.5, 325-pound unit with 34-inch arm size is a bodily specimen that possesses among the most pure energy and explosiveness of any participant within the 2022 draft. Taking part in in opposition to Tulsa’s C-USA stage competitors, a few of his reps on tape are unfair in opposition to his opponents, given the completely different caliber of athlete and energy in comparison with his foes. 

Smith was so bodily dominating that he was by no means pressured to develop strong and correct methods to win throughout his school profession. This has led to the event of some poor habits on tape. Smith has an extended strategy to go for his method to match his uncooked skill from lunging and getting off-balance, bending his waist, not carrying his palms excessive, and inconsistent hanging when partaking with move rushers. 

Because of his technical points, Smith was additionally a penalty machine at Tulsa, committing 16 final 12 months. Luckily for Denver, he wouldn’t must be pressured into motion given the staff’s present choices alongside the offensive line, and his total mixture of athleticism, size, and energy could be price taking a swing on and ready to see how he develops.

If Smith have been accessible at 64, the query for Paton could be “is he price this draft slot?” however relatively “do I belief first-time offensive line coach Butch Barry sufficient to develop this uncooked and attractive expertise?” 

You possibly can learn the complete Discovering Broncos scouting report on Smith right here. 

Final and most actually not least is Ojabo. After popping out of nowhere this previous season for Michigan after solely logging one sort out earlier than 2021, he exploded this season reverse Aiden Hutchinson for the Large Ten-Champion Wolverines. 

At 6-foot-4 and 252 kilos, with 33-1/2-inch arm size, Ojabo seems to be quite a bit like Randy Gregory given his linear body and lengthy arms. Ojabo additionally regarded like Gregory along with his skill to knock the ball out this previous season, creating 5 pressured fumbles final 12 months.

Regardless of being new to the scene final 12 months for Michigan’s protection, Ojabo isn’t younger and will likely be 22 years outdated subsequent season. He’s additionally very a lot a piece in progress as a run defender. 

Michigan actively took him off the sphere in apparent speeding conditions, corresponding to in opposition to Georgia within the Faculty Soccer Playoffs. Nonetheless, the bundle of size, fluidity, and burst displayed on Ojabo’s tape makes him worthy of a top-20 choice till he tore his Achilles at Michigan’s professional day this previous month.

As a result of torn achilles, Ojabo might miss the whole lot of the 2022 season, which is why he may plausibly fall to Denver at choose 64 — regardless of his expertise. So given Denver’s long-term wants on the edge, no first-round choose in 2022 or 2023, maybe it’s good to suppose long-term and choose somebody like him at 64 even when he doesn’t play subsequent season.

Given how the Broncos’ 2022 roster is all however set and appears actually strong prime to backside, choosing and stashing Ojabo is likely to be a savvy transfer by Paton and the forward-thinking entrance workplace in Dove Valley.

You possibly can learn the complete Discovering Broncos scouting report on Ojabo right here.