Ranking the Broncos’ positional needs entering the draft

DENVER — Entering the offseason, the Denver Broncos’ roster resembled a honeycomb. There were holes all over the place.

But after a star-studded free agency and trade period, John Elway plugged many of the holes with his sweet-as-honey moves. Yet there’s still plenty of work to be done as Vic Fangio acknowledged after free agency, stating, “we still have enough needs on both sides of the ball.”

Here’s how those needs stack up as the team enters the draft.

1) Wide receiver

Without a doubt, receiver was one of Denver’s biggest needs entering the offseason. During free agency, the Broncos didn’t make a single move to upgrade the group, thus making it their biggest need entering the draft.

Fortunately, if there is ever a draft to need a receiver, or two, this is the one. Not only are their multiple elite talents that will go in the first round, it truly is a deep class, as Fangio pointed out at the NFL Combine.

Outside of budding-star Courtland Sutton, Denver’s currently void of another starting receiver. Unfortunately, Pat Shurmur’s offense is all about three-receiver sets, making the need for multiple receivers in the draft critical.

2a) Center

As is stands right now, the Broncos’ starting center would likely be Patrick Morris. No disrespect to Mr. Morris, but many may be asking: Who?

Morris went undrafted out of TCU in 2018 and spent the majority of his NFL career on the Steelers’ practice squad. The Broncos claimed him off waivers in December, where he not only played in two games, but earned a game ball from the head coach for one of his performances.

But after letting Connor McGovern walk in free agency, Morris doesn’t exactly eliminate the hole left by Denver’s former center.

Although the Broncos did sign versatile offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, who can play center, Fangio and Glasgow have stated he would be best suited at guard, leaving Denver with a glaring hole in the middle of the offensive line.

2b) Offensive tackle

The Broncos have a substantial investment in both of their starting tackles as they used a first-round pick on Garett Bolles and made Ja’Wuan James the highest-paid right tackle in NFL history at the time.

Yet just because there was an investment made, doesn’t mean it cashed out. On the right side, James played 63 total snaps in 2019 as he battled injuries all season. On the left, protecting Drew Lock’s blindside, Bolles led the NFL in holding penalties.

The combination of those makes for a glaring need at at least one tackle position.

With Bolles entering the fourth and final year of his contract — barring the Broncos picking up his fifth-year option — Denver needs to not only think about the future of the tackle position but how it can be upgraded immediately.

A tackle taken in the first round would almost guarantee there would be a new starting left tackle in town when the 2020 season opens. However, if they wait until a later round to grab one, they’ll likely be focusing on the future and developing that player.

4) Cornerback

By acquiring A.J. Bouye from the Jaguars, Elway and Co. did enough to ensure the Broncos don’t need to take a cornerback early in the draft. But Elway’s track record would show he believes it’s almost impossible to have too many quality corners.

If healthy, the Broncos have two quality starting cornerbacks with Bouye and Bryce Callahan. But that’s a major “if” when it comes to Callahan as he missed the entire 2019 season with a foot injury.

Outside of those two, Fangio has a lot of quality depth pieces, but not a surefire third corner. With De’Vante Bausby, Isaac Yiadom, Duke Dawson and Davontae Harris, Fangio could very well find a gem, but that can’t be counted on in April.

Elway’s no stranger to picking corners in the third round. This year, he has three of those picks.

5) Inside linebacker

The Broncos’ starting inside linebackers for 2020 won’t be a surprise. Unless there’s a shocking development in the first round, Todd Davis and Alexander Johnson will be the starters in the middle of Fangio’s defense.

However, that doesn’t mean there’s not a need at the position. While it seems the Broncos found a gem in Johnson, the team needs to look to the future to replace Davis as 2020 is the final year of his deal. The draft, not free agency, is the perfect place for Fangio to find his next project at inside ‘backer and have a year to groom him.