Nobody knows if Vance Joseph can coach a lick, but there’s no doubt he can read minds. When Joseph declared “We want to score points,” it was as if he had peered into the screaming soul of apountry.
If Denver doesn’t score points with the 20th pick in the NFL draft, general manager John Elway won’t only have some explaining to do, he might have to permanently disable his Twitter notifications.
But can we stop with the projections that the Broncos will take an offensive lineman in the first round, please? I love the big uglies. There’s a shortage of stud tackles and guards in this draft, though. What’s more, big uglies don’t make big plays, and a play-maker would be the new bestie of young quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. It’s an epic fail if Denver reaches for an offensive lineman. Draft in the first round for impact, not need.
So what should Elway do with his first-round pick? Here are three suggestions, offered free of charge (take ’em for what they’re worth):
Christian McCaffrey
Stanford running back
There will be huge public pressure for the Broncos to draft the Son of Ed and the Pride of Valor if Christian McCaffrey is on the board. The homegrown hero should be there for the taking, barring an early run on running backs Leonard Fournette of LSU and Dalvin Cook of Florida State that causes a team such as Indianapolis to reach for McCaffrey at No. 15.
Elway, however, is not a sentimental fool. He sent Tim Tebow packing, so you can bet Elway won’t take McCaffrey just because the city would stand up and cheer. So here’s the deal: It will take all the ingenuity of new offensive coordinator Mike McCoy to make sense of drafting McCaffrey. Why?
McCaffrey has bona fide NFL skills. As a receiver out of the backfield or in the slot, he could take any given 6-yard pass from Siemian or Lynch to the house. McCaffrey also could become the most dangerous punt returner to wear a Denver uniform since Rick Upchurch. But, as a running back, he needs to be put in space rather than burdened with 20 carries per game.
Used creatively, McCaffrey could join C.J. Anderson to give the Broncos their version of Atlanta’s Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. But McCaffrey is a thoroughbred, not a bell cow, and an offensive coordinator who doesn’t know the difference will know the frustration five NFL teams have experienced with Reggie Bush.
O.J. Howard
Alabama tight end
There’s a hole in the middle of the Denver offense, and I’m not talking about the overhaul Elway needs to once again do between the tackles. The Broncos stunk in the red-zone efficiency, ranking 28th in the league. Worse, Siemian often seemed afraid to throw a pass across the middle. Maybe a tight end would help. Maybe itap time to admit Virgil Green and Jeff Heuerman can’t play.
Howard is a mismatch waiting to happen in the secondary. He’s big (6-foot-5, 249 pounds), fast and bit raw as a route runner. But anybody with a television witnessed during the national championship game between Clemson and Bama how unstoppable Howard can be. His stock is rising. Fast. Elway might have to trade up a handful of slots to get Howard.
Adoree’ Jackson
USC cornerback
OK, I know what you’re thinking: Cornerback? The last thing Denver needs is a cornerback. Well, here’s my thought: Aqib Talib turns 31 next week, and he’s due $11 million in 2017, plus $19 million more through 2019. If Elway is as much like New England mastermind Bill Belichick as I think, the Broncos will part ways with big-time players before they become big-time liabilities on the salary cap. Talib should be a shutdown corner for Denver next season. But will Talib be in town 12 months from now? Don’t so be certain.
Jackson might not be the best cornerback coming out of college, but as a return man and ballhawk, he’s the playmaker that Michigan’s more celebrated defensive back, Jabrill Peppers, only wishes he could be. Jackson isn’t taking the job of Chris Harris or Talib, but he could win Denver a game as a rookie while returning punts and kickoffs.
This draft is loaded with quality defensive backs. The Broncos could trade back and possibly grab Jackson or another future Pro Bowler. Please remember: The new defensive coordinator in Denver is Joe Woods, creator of the feared No Fly Zone.
