INDIANAPOLIS — Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line. When the words “Broncos” and “draft” are in the same sentence these days, the are usually accompanied by “offensive line.”
So, this week, at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis the trenches are the main focus for all interested in the Orange & Blue and with the news recently surfacing that Denver will not bring back Russell Okung, the left tackle position is item number one.
On Wednesday morning, Denver head coach Vance Joseph met with media at the combine and talked about the team’s top priority.
“Free agency is first. It’s that way for a reason, in my opinion, so we [go through] that process first and if we can acquire a guy there it would help us, it makes the draft a little bit easier, a little bit more simple,” the Broncos new lead man said. “If you don’t, then you have to maybe make some moves to acquire a guy to help you in an offensive line position.”
The idea of having to make moves to get help via the draft might give you an idea of what Joseph thinks of this class on the offensive line, and he’ll straight up tell you, “It’s not deep.” That makes the Broncos evaluation process that much more important.
“It’s a number of prospects that we’re looking at here,” he said of the combine. “It’s a decent offensive line class this year; there are definitely guys here that can help us.”
One prospect, though, may be standing out above the others. While speaking with Rick Neuheisel and Alex Marvez of SiriusXM Radio, after praising the entire Utah Utes line, Joseph turned his praise to Ryan Ramczyk out of Wisconsin, calling him “a serious, serious prospect” at left tackle and noting that he appears ready for the league. Pun likely not intended, despite the outlet.
Later, speaking with mostly Denver media, Joseph was asked to expand on those comments.
“He plays like an NFL guy,” the head coach said. “He’s got long arms, he’s got great feet, he’s tough, he’s smart. He’s definitely a guy that most teams are looking at. We’re picking at 20, so it’s gonna be tough to acquire a guy like that at 20.”
Therein lies the Broncos issue and maybe some context on his earlier comments that the team may have to “make some moves” to find somebody that can help them on the line in the draft. Regardless, in the words of the team’s new leader, “Having a true left tackle is like having a lockdown corner,” they have plenty of the latter, they need to find the former.
