And, with the 28th pick in the 2015 NFL draft, if the Broncos select an offensive lineman, it will be an epic fail.
Oh, snatching up Florida tackle D.J. Humphries or Florida State center Cameron Erving would be a safe choice. And it might even be a smart pick, because the Broncos limped into the playoffs last season with aching quarterback Peyton Manning looking as if he was on a more desperate quest for a rocking chair than a championship ring.
But if the Broncos play it safe, then it goes against everything that made John Elway great. As a Hall of Fame quarterback, Elway made big plays. As an NFL executive unafraid to gamble, Elway instinctively understands that playmakers win championships.
So, with that in mind, here are three suggestions for Denver’s consideration, if any of these prospects remain on the board when the Broncos’ turn on the clock begins Thursday night:
WATCH:
Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown: To put it bluntly, the Broncos are bonkers if they think replacing Terrance Knighton as a run-stopper in the middle of their defensive line will be be easy. Brown led the Longhorns in sacks and tackles for losses. He is 319 pounds of trouble for blockers, and if Brown somehow slips to No. 28, this is a no-brainer.
Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson: He scored six touchdowns for the Huskies, four on defense and two as a running back, where his athleticism destroyed Colorado with a 174-yard rushing game. Unimaginative scouts have trouble projecting a position for Thompson, who struggles to keep 225 pounds on his 6-foot frame. I see one of the best athletes in this class and exactly the type of player who has made the Seattle defense so fearsome.
Oregon defensive end Arik Armstead: Teaching has become more essential for NFL coaching staffs, and one major reason Gary Kubiak replaced John Fox as coach was Elway’s dissatisfaction with the slow development of his draft choices. Armstead is a physical beast at 6-foot-7 and 292 pounds. Teach him better technique and the Broncos could create a Pro Bowl monster.
With the 28th pick in the first round, a team already stocked with the talent to make it a Super Bowl contender should ask one primary question in the Dove Valley war room: Which prospect on the board has the best chance to be a Pro Bowl player? That’s the reward for a successful general manager who doesn’t have to worry about his job security.
Elway, however, explained the philosophy far better than I can.
“We are really trying to find football players that are going to make our football team and make us better regardless of what position it is. … We’d rather be real strong at a position and not as strong at another one, but be able to make sure we know we’ve got a good football player,” Elway said.
So here’s my other free advice how Elway should follow that philosophy in the draft, which is input I’m sure he appreciates.
Second round: We figured out long ago our old friend Wade Phillips, back in town at age 67 to serve as defensive coordinator, is less interested in running a scheme with strict rules than he is in finding creative ways to let defenders make a big impact.
With speedy Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan both recovering from injury, the Broncos need an interior linebacker who can provide some thump. Benardrick McKinney of Mississippi State can hit. Denver would probably have to move up in Round 2 to land him.
Third round: One thing you can take to the bank is the zone-blocking scheme of Kubiak making a 1,500-yard star of a Denver running back. It could be C.J. Anderson. But there’s always room for one more thoroughbred in the Broncos stable.
The runner who should get more love in this draft class is Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford. Review the video of the 137 yards Langford gained on 18 carries against national champion Ohio State for proof of his worth.
Quarterback: Yes, the Broncos need a QB, because there is no telling whether 2015 is Manning’s farewell tour, and backup Brock Osweiler has yet to prove a thing on the pro level. The problem? The depth of this quarterback draft class stinks. While Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson could earn a living in the league for a decade, it’s hard to imagine him ever leading a team to the Super Bowl.
So Denver should wait until the draft’s later rounds to take a flier on a quarterback. At the prestigious summer passing camp that carries his famous family name, Manning walked away last summer impressed with Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion. That’s as good a recommendation as any NFL scout could make.
Mark Kiszla: mkiszla@denverpost.com or
