The NFL Draft is anything but a game of precision. We’ll see it all play out this weekend, with the First Round starting Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
In 2011 and 2012, the Denver Broncos found many starters as well as some valuable backups, but their 2013 class is still trying to find its way onto the field consistently. Of the seven young men selected, three still have an opportunity at proving themselves solid selections in this, their third year.
It’s make it or break it time for the first three men on this list, the others have already been broken.
1st Round, No. 28 pick, DT Sylvester Williams (North Carolina)
Williams was supposed to be a massive man in the middle, a run stopper who could also attack the quarterback. But Broncos fans have only seen glimpses of great play two years into his career. Williams started 13 games at tackle for Denver in 2014, racking up 24 tackles and one pass defended but rarely busted through to pressure opposing QBs. At 6’2” and 313 pounds, he’s got the size to play nose tackle, but can he play with consistent ferocity as Terrance Knighton did before him?
Grade: C-
2nd Round, No. 58, RB Montee Ball (Wisconsin)
Ball, who hoped to start out of college, had to wait patiently in 2013. That was Knowshon Moreno’s magical season, though Ball did get 120 carries which he turned into 559 yards and four scores. He also caught 20 balls for 145 yards that season and fumbled three times. Following Moreno’s departure to Miami, Ball looked to start in 2014 and did for three games before injuring his groin and shutting down his season mid-year. In all, he only rushed for 172 yards and one touchdown with 62 more yards through the air. He’s been doing yoga and pilates to build flexibility and strength and will compete for carries in Gary Kubiak’s more run-heavy offense.
Grade: C
3rd Round, No. 90, DB Kayvon Webster (South Florida)
Webster has mainly been a backup defensive back and special teams player in his first two seasons, though he did start two games in 2013 at cornerback. He’s totaled 64 tackles and one interception so far, and will find it tough to make it on the field with Aqib Talib, Chris Harris and Bradley Roby all ahead of him on the depth chart.
Grade: C-
5th Round, No. 146, LB/DE Quanterus Smith (Western Kentucky)
Smith’s NFL career started sadly as he had to sit on injured reserve in his rookie season due to a knee injury sustained in college. Last year he saw the field much more, playing in 15 games behind DeMarcus Ware, with 11 tackles total. He showed some explosive ability to get around the edge, at least in preseason games, but couldn’t put it together during the regular season. Yesterday, he was cut.
Grade: D-
5th Round, No. 151, WR Tavarres King (Georgia)
King never saw the field for the Broncos and has bounced around to Carolina, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
Grade: F
6th Round, No. 173, OL Vinston Painter (Virginia Tech)
Painter didn’t play for Denver either, leaving post-2013 to play for the Cleveland Browns.
Grade: F
7th Round, No. 274, Zach Dysert (Miami, OH)
Dysert was a seventh-round pick, so the expectations weren’t incredible, but it would be nice if he could at least push Brock Osweiler at the backup quarterback position.
Grade: D-
