PHOENIX — These NFL owners meetings couldn’t have been more productive for the Broncos’ college scouting department.
The league awarded the Broncos with a whopping four compensatory draft picks Monday — one in the fourth round (No. 133 overall), one in the sixth (208 overall) and two in the seventh round (No. 250, 251).
“We’ve got a good group, we’ve got to make them count,” said Broncos general manager John Elway as he walked out of a ballroom at the Arizona Biltmore resort where the NFL meetings are taking place. “Once we get back, we’ll start our draft meetings and hopefully make them all count at the end of the month.”
Compensatory picks are awarded based on a formula used to determine how a team fared in the previous year’s free agency. The Broncos lost seven free agents in 2014: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eric Decker, Zane Beadles, Wesley Woodyard, Shaun Phillips, Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers.
They signed three free agents: Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Emmanuel Sanders. DeMarcus Ware didn’t count in the formula because he was released by Dallas before the Broncos signed him.
Talib’s signing helped rival New England nab the highest compensatory pick in the third round.
The Broncos will now have 10 picks in the 2015 draft that will be conducted from April 30-May 2. Denver already had existing draft picks in the first round (No. 28 overall), second (No. 59), third (No. 92), two in the fifth (143 and 164) and one in the sixth (202).
Compensatory picks can’t be traded, but knowing they have the four added picks in hand, the Broncos could package their picks in the first, second or third rounds and move up from their No. 28 overall draft slot. It’s unlikely the Broncos would move down to gain extra picks because they already have plenty.
Some possible positions of need: right tackle, guard or center, defensive line, receiver, fullback, running back — and yes, quarterback with and Brock Osweiler in the final year of his contract.
Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis
Broncos’ 2015 draft picks
The Broncos have 10 draft picks this year, four of which are compensatory. All the picks, by round:
1. 28
2. 59
3. 92
4. 133*
5. 143
5. 164
6. 202
6. 208*
7. 250*
7. 251*
*compensatory pick
