Breaking down the Broncos' interior defensive line options in the 2019 NFL Draft

As is tradition before the draft, we’ll be unveiling our position previews for the biggest need areas on the Denver Broncos’ roster, with a focus on prospects who should be available with the franchise’s eight selections in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Ever since Malik Jackson’s departure and the failed signing of Calais Campbell, John Elway has been searching for another disruptive force on the defensive line to pair with Derek Wolfe and up-and-comer Adam Gotsis. 2019 seems like the perfect year to address that need in a loaded class that’s the strength of this year’s draft.
With that in mind, here are a lucky 13 prospects to keep an eye on.

The dream scenario

Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama

The Broncos are looking for a nose tackle but also versatility on the line in the form of interior penetrators who can dominate the one-on-one matchups that Von Miller and Bradley Chubb can help provide. Williams fits the profile perfectly, with a strong base, violent hands and an impressive first step.

Alabama center Ross Pierschbacher told BSN back at the Senior Bowl that Williams was the best player he’d ever faced.

“Just his get off” recalled Pierschbacher. “The type of defense that we play, he’s at nose and crowds the ball. As soon as I move the ball, I’m trying to get back, and he’s already on my shoulder swimming and doing the hand swiping, so that’s tough.”

Think of replacing Domata Peko with someone who harasses centers like Williams does and forcing offenses to either adjust by double teaming him inside, allowing Miller or Chubb to face one-on-ones, or simply letting Williams run free to destroy clean pockets inside, a nightmare scenario for immobile QBs like Philip Rivers or Derek Carr.

Obviously, getting a talent like Williams at 10th overall would be an absolute steal, as he’s almost guaranteed to be gone by then, but crazier things have happened in the draft, so you never know. A consensus top two player in the class, Williams is perfect in every way for Denver’s defense.

Options at 10

Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

Oliver is as enticing a prospect as there is in this class due to his otherworldly gifts as an interior rusher. What makes the Houston standout so devastating is his combination of athleticism and ability to win the leverage battle, as he can just submarine blockers with his compact 6-foot-1 frame.

In fact, the former five-star recruit is such a talented athlete that he’s even been looked at by some teams as a linebacker, a position he could play at close to 290 pounds due to his outlandish speed sideline-to-sideline, which regularly shows up on tape when he runs ball carriers down in pursuit.

While his skills are incredibly appealing, Oliver is far from a perfect prospect, exactly why teams are trying to find the best position for him to succeed. He can be inconsistent on tape and needs to use his hands better, as he’ll too often bury his head in a blocker’s chest instead of extending his arms. He’ll need to develop a more refined pass rushing arsenal. Oliver is also small for the position with a real lack of length at under 6-foot-2 and with 31 and 3/4 inch arms, which puts him in the fifth percentile for a defensive lineman.

Under John Elway, the Broncos have never drafted a defensive lineman with length deficiencies, instead opting for longer players like Wolfe, Gotsis, or even DeMarcus Walker. Vic Fangio has also preferred bigger lineman in his years as a defensive coordinator.

Having a wrecking ball DT to pair with the Broncos other talented pass rushers could lead them to once again be the best pass defense in the NFL, it’s just a matter of finding the right fit for Oliver.

Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan

Gary is as divisive a prospect as there is in this class, as he’s a freak athlete with similar traits to Jadeveon Clowney or J.J. Watt but didn’t live up to his infinite talent in college.
Gary was also used out of position as an edge rusher at Michigan, a position he has the natural athleticism and length to play, but he’s probably more suited to rush inside where he’d be a nightmare for guards to block.

Gary is a classic boom-or-bust pick and if a team believes in their defensive line coach’s ability to develop him—the Broncos are big believers in Bill Kollar—he should go really high.

Gary just isn’t dominant on tape, he’s still incredibly raw and needs to be developed both against the run and as a pass rusher. His combination of size, athleticism and versatility would make him very appealing for a veteran defensive play caller like Fangio, who could move him and Chubb around to hunt matchups on the defensive front.

Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson

Wilkins would be a bit of a reach at 10 and isn’t even our fourth-highest ranked interior defensive lineman, but he’s well thought of in NFL circles after a historic career at Clemson that ended with a national title last season.

Wilkins is the full package—he has a stout frame along with the hands and get-off to disrupt the pocket inside, showing strength against the run and wiggle versus the pass. He’d be about as boring a pick as anyone could make in the top-10, but he’d be worth considering given his skill set.

Options at 41/trade-back options

Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame

Tillery has a first-round grade on our big board and has really helped his stock since the season ended with an incredible combine showing. On top of that, he has the length, athleticism, and pass rushing upside that 3-4 defenses covet and would be a perfect fit in Fangio’s defense.

The problem is, Tillery, who reminds me of a more athletic Akiem Hicks and has been compared to Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones, will almost certainly be gone by the Broncos second-round selection.

He’d be the perfect pick if Denver were to trade down from 10 or trade up from 41 and could end up being one of the steals of the 2019 draft class.

Jeffrey Simmons, DT, Mississippi State

Simmons is powerful, with a long frame, violent hands and a developing skill set as an interior rusher. That’s a rare combination to possess, and it should come as no surprise that prior to his ACL injury, which he suffered this offseason while preparing for the draft, he was regarded as a top-10 hopeful.

Despite the injury and a concerning off-field incident from back in high school—which kept him out of the combine—Simmons presents incredible value if he were to slip to round two. The big question with him is if Elway and Co. can stomach using a premium pick on a player that will miss his entire rookie season. Given how selections like Jake Butt have gone, that’s no small dilemma.

Dre’Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State

Jones’ stock has fallen off a bit after a disappointing combine in which the high-upside prospect didn’t show the type of athleticism worth gambling on. In round two, however, the value might be too good to pass up.

His pass-rushing ability is quite enticing, and he has the measurables to fit Denver’s scheme. When he’s on, he’s shown elite flashes, the type of flashes that could make him the next Malik Jackson, but he’s also been surround by tons of NFL talent on the Buckeyes’ line.

If the Broncos pull the trigger in round two, the pick will be scrutinized by some, though he’d present good value according to our board as he’s currently slated in our top 35.

Dexter Lawrence, NT, Clemson

Fans will be a bit annoyed to see the first true nose tackle on our list this low, as that seems to be a need area many in Broncos Country are anxious to plug. Lawrence is that gap-stuffing nose guard with plenty of athleticism to profile as a potential three-down NT.
His talent is undeniable, though he does leave you wanting for more when watching tape as he rarely dominates on a play-by-play basis. At 41, he’d be decent value though not necessarily the dynamic interior pass rusher that could take the Broncos pass defense to the next level.

Zach Allen, DL, Boston College

Allen’s versatility, length, and pass rushing upside make him very intriguing for the Broncos in round two. He’s a smart kid with good production who tallied 30.5 TFLs the past two seasons in the ACC.

Allen is exactly the type of prospect the Broncos have coveted on the defensive line in the past, with strength against the run and deceptive pass rushing skills. Remember his name as he could definitely be targeted by Denver on day two.

Late-round sleepers

John Cominsky, DL, Charleston

Late-round should be put in quotation marks here, as Cominsky tested as an absolute freak at the NFL Combine after a stand out performance for the small-schooler at the Senior Bowl, so he won’t be flying under the radar for long.

Cominsky is another long, athletic lineman with the perfect frame for a 3-4 end to go along with off-the-charts potential. In some ways, he looks like what Adam Gotsis should’ve become. He’s a developmental project but has Allen’s versatility and Gary’s raw athleticism. In other words, he has some elite traits and seems to only be scratching the surface right now.

Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M

If the Broncos were to wait until day three of the draft—which would be a mistake given the abundance of talent at the position this year—Mack would be a very intriguing prospect.
For starters, he has the size to play as a 0 or 1-technique patching up the hole left by Peko, and as a former highly coveted recruit has some untapped athleticism that could allow him to be more of a factor rushing the quarterback than you may think.

Mack has had a strong offseason with impressive showings in the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl that have helped elevate his stock.

A few other names to keep in mind: Arizona State’s Renell Wren has the length and athletic upside to fit perfectly in Denver, the tape won’t wow you, but he checks off a lot of boxes. Western Illinois’ Khalen Saunders, on the other hand, has the pass rushing ability and versatility as a rusher to be targeted on day three. Don’t sleep on either.