Denver Broncos 2016 NFL Draft: Possible first round steals

The 2016 NFL Draft begins Thursday night and since the 2016 season end Feb. 7 teams have been searching the nation for the next pieces to add to their roster. The college ranks undoubtedly hold a talent-rich group year in and year out. The defending champion Denver Broncos have 10 selections in the draft but none more important or more scrutinized than their lone pick, currently at 31, tomorrow night.

With so many selections and such little cap space to pay them, the Broncos may trade at some point in the draft to ultimately move up while sacrificing a pick to do so. Last season the Broncos surprised the league trading with the Detroit Lions for the 23rd overall pick for their 28th overall and a 2015 and 2016 fifth round pick along with interior offensive lineman Manny Ramirez. if the Broncos were to do so again and move up to the early 20s for a combination of picks they possess this year and next or simply stay put at 31, there are a three players that would be magnificent additions to the Broncos roster and steals in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Karl Joseph, strong safety from West Virginia University, may not be on many Broncos’ fans’ radars but he comes in as one of, if not the top-ranked strong safety on most experts’ boards. He is projected to go anywhere from the early 20s to the late first round putting him in prime position to get drafted by Denver. He is bruising safety who does not shy away from contact but seeks it out and also has great ball skills. He plays with intensity similar to the Broncos current starter there, T.J. Ward, who’s contract is through 2017 but has little in the way of dead cap money in the last year of his deal. Regardless, the Broncos need more depth there and Joseph would be a wonderful addition and could learn from two of the best in the NFL.

Despite not having an immediate need at safety, General Manager John Elway noted in his pre-draft press conference that they don’t see any need to use their top pick on a particular position.

“We try to go in not having to have some place that we really have to have somebody. I think we feel pretty good about where we are and where our football team is,” Elway said last Thursday. “I think the most important thing is to hit on your draft picks.”

Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker from the University of Alabama, is the top-ranked player at his position in this year’s draft and represents a high area of need for the Broncos. He is a seasoned player out of the NFL-player factory that is the Crimson Tide program and while showing off his great physicality and strong tackling he earned 2015 SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He is being mocked anywhere from the 14th overall pick to the high-20s by experts and the Broncos would likely have to move up at least five spots to ensure they have a chance at his services. According to Elway, it is not out of the question and anything can happen, as they moved up to draft the 2014 SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, Shane Ray.

“You never know how it’s going to fall, especially being [at pick No.] 31. We love being there. It’s a good place to be. We’ll have to wait and see. There are going to be a lot of different options there, so we’ll see how it all takes shape.”

Lastly, another big area of need is the offensive tackle position of the Broncos. They did sign two free agents in the offseason, Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung, but neither of them is a long-term solution. They also are more comfortable moving last year’s pick, Ty Sambrailo to guard, while tackle Michael Schofield remains the swing tackle backup. Taylor Decker, an offensive tackle from Ohio State University is an NFL-ready player that could press both new Broncos for a starting job in 2016 or learn as a backup in his rookie year. According to the OSU team site, he played in over 54 games, starting the team’s last 42 while going 50-4 over his four years in Columbus, Ohio. That experience is highly valued among coaches and scouts.

Taylor is mocked in the middle-teens to mid-20s of the first round and is likely to be the third offensive tackle taken Thursday. The Broncos would certainly have to make a trade to move up and grab draft him but Elway knows it is about the long-term players in the draft, not quick fixes saying, “Our thought process is to make sure that we’re drafting people that are going to have good careers in the NFL.”

Elway has settled in nicely at the helm in recent drafts and certainly Broncos’ fans should applaud and applaud loudly if he were to steal Joseph, Ragland or Taylor Tuesday evening in Chicago.