Vanderbilt linebacker Stephen Weatherly (45) runs 11 yards for a touchdown after blocking a punt against Massachusetts in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 34-31. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Broncos draft coverage took a little longer to kick into full gear than the rest of the NFL because they were busy winning a Super Bowl, but now that the draft draws closer they’ve started to bring in possible selections.
LSU cornerback Rashard Robinson and Vanderbilt outside linebacker Stephen Weatherly were the first two draft prospects to be welcomed to Dove Valley for pre-draft visits Monday.
Robinson is a 6-foot-1, 171 pound speedy corner that opened some eyes at the NFL Combine. He has shown elite skills, but hasn’t played organized football in two years after being kicked off of the Tigers’ team in 2014 for multiple violations of team rules.
He’s spent the time since working out in hopes of making his NFL dreams come true. He ran a 4.49 in the combine and then a 4.43 at LSU’s Pro Day. His size, length and man coverage skills are desirable for teams looking for a hidden gem in the mid-to-later rounds of the draft. The character issues have to check out though.
Robinson played in 18 games with eight starts during his freshman and sophomore seasons at LSU showing a lot of promise before being kicked off the team.
LSU defensive back Rashard Robinson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Weatherly is another big-potential product who heads to the NFL a year early. He started his career at defensive end, but moved to outside linebacker when the Commodores switched to a 3-4 defense. At 6-4, 267 pounds, Weatherly would likely fit as an outside linebacker in the Broncos’ scheme.
Long arms, prototypical size and speed (he ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine) show that Weatherly’s measurements check all the boxes. He had 10.5 sacks last season at Vanderbilt, but will likely need more seasoning before becoming an immediate force in the NFL. Weatherly started 21 of 37 games in three seasons with the Commodores.
Both prospects are at positions of strength on the Broncos roster, but general manager John Elway typically implores a best player available approach when it comes to the draft and will leave no stone unturned when it comes to talent.
All teams are allowed 30 pre-draft visits to their facilities.
