Max Garcia’s voice cracked. His eyes began to mist.
Such reactions define draft day. This emotion, though, came after an anonymous teammate’s best day. Garcia, a Florida center, struggled to maintain his composure last November as he praised former walk-on receiver Michael McNeely’s fake field-goal gallop for a touchdown.
“He’s a hard worker. He cares,” Garcia said. “I love him.”
Garcia made a similar impression on the Broncos over the past three months before they selected him Saturday in the fourth round of the NFL draft. They liked him as a zone blocker, and coveted him after his interview at the NFL combine, considered one of the most impressive any in the room had witnessed.
For a team that finished last season with an uninspired performance, the Broncos’ draft featured a dose of toughness, leadership, and, if general manager John Elway’s scouts nailed it, immediate contributors. Talent always matters. But the Broncos addressed style of play as they attempted to create an identity of effort and accountability.
“One thing we talked about, John and I and (director of player personnel) Matt (Russell), you want guys who love to play,” said Denver coach Gary Kubiak. “There are so many guys in the draft, when you’re studying, well, this guy does it some of the time. He’s a good player some of the time. We’re looking for guys who are consistent, guys that have played a lot of college football. If you look at the guys we’ve drafted, they’ve played at big schools, been in a lot of big games, a lot of starts. I think that’s important with what we are trying to do.”
The draft picks among offensive linemen perhaps best reflect this philosophy. Second-rounder Ty Sambrailo (right tackle) and Garcia (right guard, center) will compete for playing time as starters and swingmen. They started a combined 76 college games.
“These are smart guys. Guys who should pick up things quickly,” Elway said.
They join a group that is attempting to find stability at center (Gino Gradowski tops the depth chart), left guard (Shelley Smith, Ben Garland) and right tackle (Chris Clark, Sambrailo). Last year’s third-rounder, Michael Schofield, is working at left tackle. The loser at right tackle could serve as a game-day utilityman.
The Broncos finally got defensive with four of their final five picks. They added Tulane cornerbacks Lorenzo Doss (fifth round) and Taurean Nixon (seventh), looking to create depth and competition. Nixon can return kicks.
In the sixth round, the Broncos plucked Darius Kilgo, the top-rated nose tackle remaining on their draft board. He joins Vance Walker and Antonio Smith as newcomers looking to compensate for the loss of Terrance Knighton and Mitch Unrein. A member of Maryland’s team leadership council, Kilgo has shown the ability to stop the run.
“I definitely feel like I will transition to the next level,” Kilgo said.
Those positions not drafted also provide revelations. The Broncos didn’t take an inside linebacker or a running back. And their lone quarterback selection — Northwestern seventh-rounder Trevor Siemian — is rehabbing from a knee injury. He is more of a project than a threat to anyone’s playing time. It reflects confidence in injured and existing players. Kubiak expects linebackers Brandon Marshall (foot) and Danny Trevathan (knee) to heal. Trevathan began light jogging last week.
“We’re very confident that they’ll be back,” Kubiak said. “It’ll give us an opportunity to look at some of the guys behind them. We feel good about the competition.”
And backup quarterback Brock Osweiler has gained supporters and trust. He welcomed any competition, but didn’t receive it as the Broncos passed on taking Baylor’s Bryce Petty and UCLA’s Brett Hundley. The Broncos weren’t looking in that direction. Osweiler profiles better for this offense than the previous one, and showed up this spring with a “fire like I have never had before,” he said.
“I have a lot of confidence in Brock,” Kubiak said. “He’s very driven and hungry.”
That there were no running backs was no surprise. They went off the board more quickly than expected, and the Broncos have a decent stable, beginning with starter C.J. Anderson and Montee Ball, who’s vowed to push Anderson for the job.
Drafts make for great debate, but hard to evaluate until at least three years. But for the Broncos, there is a curve. They are trying to win championships, not major in player development. A year ago, only first-round cornerback Bradley Roby made an impact. He was so good that they will look to use him in big nickel packages, though he’s not working at safety just yet.
If this draft class lacks similar depth, it would be a disappointment, if not a surprise given the nature of the picks.
“These guys bring competitiveness, toughness, love of the game,” Elway said. “That was something we definitely concentrated on.”
On the third day …
C Max Garcia, Florida
6-foot-4, 309 pounds, fourth round, 133rd
Skilled run blocker.
CB Lorenzo Doss, Tulane
5-10, 182, fifth round, 164th
Projects as possible backup.
NT Darius Kilgo, Maryland
6-3, 319, sixth round, 203rd
Has shown flashes as run-stopper but a nonfactor in passing game.
QB Trevor Siemian, Northwestern
6-3, 215, seventh round, 250th
Coming off ACL surgery.
CB Taurean Nixon, Tulane
6-0, 183, seventh round, 251st
A burner who also ran on college track team.
S Josh Furman, Oklahoma State
6-2, 202 pounds, seventh round, 252nd
A thumping linebacker who will switch to safety.
