The last time it took so long for the first quarterback to be taken, the Spice Girls were on the charts. For those teams that wannabe taking a Round 2 passer, they will have options, starting with Liberty quarterback Malik Willis, who, to the surprise of many, tumbled out of the first round entirely.
This could help the Broncos. If a run on passers happens in Round 2, it could push some of the best available players at other spots further down to the point where a trade-up becomes as reasonable as it might be tempting for general manager George Paton.
Here are some of the best players still on the board who could be in the Broncos’ sights:
EDGE DAVID OJABO, MICHIGAN: No team decided to roll the dice on Ojabo, who had a spectacular 2021 season but tore his Achilles tendon during his Pro Day workout in March. The talent is there; the speed is there; the bend is there. But between the injury and Ojabo’s relatively late start in the sport, the team that drafts him will need patience.
ILB NAKOBE DEAN, GEORGIA: It’s all about positional value. Dean’s overall skill set places him behind only Utah’s Devin Lloyd among inside linebackers in this year’s draft class. But Lloyd didn’t go off the board until the No. 27 pick, going to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cornerbacks were valued; inside linebackers weren’t. That said, while Dean isn’t as proficient in coverage as Lloyd, he still possesses a high-level skill set.
CB ANDREW BOOTH JR., CLEMSON: He plays with physicality that belies his 194-pound frame, and he doesn’t hesitate to complement his solid work in coverage with solid instincts and aggression against the run.
EDGE BOYE MAFE, MINNESOTA: At 261 pounds, Mafe has the bulk to develop into a solid power edge rusher, but he has relied on his speed and quickness to this point — which is special for an edge rusher of his size.
TIGHT END TREY McBRIDE, COLORADO STATE: The search for spectacular specific traits in players means that an all-around standout like McBride can be overlooked. On an NFL scale, McBride doesn’t project as great at any one aspect of his position — although his ability to read zone coverage and find vacant spots already resembles that of a seasoned veteran.
OT BERNHARD RAIMANN, CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Like Ojabo, Raimann, a native of Austria, is a relative newcomer to American football. He’s also still learning how to play tackle; as recently as 2020, he was a tight end. Raimann has maintained the quick feet and athleticism he displayed before he added 60 pounds of bulk to become a tackle, and should fit the outside-zone-intensive Broncos scheme well.
CB ROGER McCREARY, AUBURN: His measurables don’t match up to those of other cornerbacks, but his play does, as he consistently passed tests against a slew of draftable wide receivers in SEC play.
AROUND THE AFC WEST …
In an offseason that has largely been about the comings and goings of offensive skill players, the Chargers and Chiefs turned their focus elsewhere — but still targeted areas of need.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, PICK 17: G ZION JOHNSON, BOSTON COLLEGE
In the AFC West arms race, the Chargers decided that protecting the golden right arm of Justin Herbert was their highest priority. So, one year after taking tackle Rashawn Slater in the first round, they found another plug-and-play lineman in Johnson, who was a first-team All American.
Los Angeles general manager Tom Telesco announced at a Thursday night press conference that Johnson would play right guard. That spot did not appear to be the most significant need on the Chargers’ line heading into the draft; right tackle was the spot that appeared in need of an upgrade, which is why Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning seemed to be a potential fit.
Penning’ s upside was tempting, but Johnson will be ready at the jump and could help make the Chargers’ line the NFL’s best — if they can figure out right tackle.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, PICK 21: CB TRENT McDUFFIE, WASHINGTON
The Chiefs thought enough of McDuffie to move up eight spots — but they didn’t have to sacrifice either of their second-round picks to do it. Not bad for a player that Chiefs general manager Brett Veach wasn’t expecting to fall.
“I don’t think we thought he’d be there,” Veach told Kansas City-area media after the first round.
And as a result, they got a versatile chess piece. Long-term, McDuffie has lock-down, CB1 potential. Right away, he can be utilized all over the secondary.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, PICK 30: EDGE GEORGE KARLAFTIS, PURDUE
It was a slight surprise to some that the Chiefs passed on Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson after trading up, but Karlaftis is still a solid get with their second first-round pick. He should become an immediate starter on the opposite flank of fellow edge rusher Frank Clark. Karlaftis isn’t going to be a classic speed rusher, but he can win one-on-one matchups with power. The Chiefs hope that Karlaftis and Clark can provide the same 1-2 edge punch that their AFC West rivals possess.
Veach told Kansas City-area media at a post-Round 1 press conference that the Chiefs received offers for the pick, but declined. Given that Karlaftis seemed poised to go eight to 10 picks earlier, one can’t blame Veach.
