The 2016 NFL Draft is 17 days away, and after a very busy post-Super Bowl off-season, the Broncos have quite a few needs they’ll have to address with their 10 picks (four in the first three rounds). Everyone is going to talk about the quarterbacks, but the real strength of this draft class lies in the trenches, where especially the interior d-linemen position is extremely deep in talent.

Getting the defense as close to last season’s form as possible will be crucial in repeating as Super Bowl champions. This will require plugging some important holes, none bigger than standout defensive end Malik Jackson, who left for Jacksonville and their $90 million offer. The other important factor that can’t be neglected (even after Jared Crick’s singing) is that Sylvester Williams’ contract will be up at the end of the 2016 season, thus leaving the Broncos with only Derek Wolfe from the starting front three who won Super Bowl 50.

The players we are profiling have three important things in common, they have the ability to stop the run playing from the 3-4 DE spot (also known as the five-technique), but are also able to slip inside and create pressure from the middle (especially the three-technique defensive tackle spot) on obvious passing downs. This versatility and duality to Jackson’s game are what will be most important to replicate. The third thing these players all have in common is that they are all likely, or have at least been rumored, to be available once the Broncos are on the clock.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some potential Orange Crushers.

First round options:

Alabama’s two big men:

Any college football lover has to have noticed the two mountains of men that the Tide had stopping the run and wrecking havoc against offenses all year, these two behemoths are Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson.

Let’s start with Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (6-3 307 lbs.):

Reed is probably the most one-dimensional player in this entire group which doesn’t necessarily bode well for him, but it would allow him to play some snaps at nose guard and allow Sly Williams to be utilized in a few more pass rushing situations from the end spot. Reed is a mountain of a man, and was dominant against the run, wreaking havoc from all spots in Alabama’s three-man front. He also showed off impressive mobility for his size and was in the opposing backfield often in his college career. There could be more pass rushing potential in a defense that allows him to focus more on getting after the QB. His primary responsibility in college was stopping the run, and he did that masterfully.

A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (6-4 307 lbs.):

Robinson is only 20 years old (though he looks about 45) but has already turned himself into one of the best defensive linemen to ever come out of Alabama’s program. He has as much potential as just about any player, regardless of position, in this draft class. Watch him against LSU and you’ll see a defensive linemen with the size of a nose tackle who’s able to dominate from the five-tech spot, who’s able to penetrate and stop the run but also create pressure from the interior. A player who, when he’s playing his best, is batting down balls and simply a menace for offensive lines to stop. The big knock on him is his lack of sack production, but like Reed, he was mostly asked to stop the run and did so at an All-American level. The potential Robinson’s shown as well as his youth, suggest there could be lots more in the tank. Of all the players on this list he’s the least likely to drop to the 31st pick, but more and more mock drafts have him dropping to Denver’s selection.

Robert Nkemdiche, DT/DE, Ole Miss (6-3 294 lbs.):

A lot has been said about Nkemdiche, both on and off the field, for several years now. He’s been a national celebrity from the time he was a high school senior and the consensus number one recruit in the country. Because of this, he’s probably been scrutinized more than just about any other player in this draft. First things first, Nkemdiche is an athletic freak, plain and simple, he showed this in Indianapolis as he was the rare 290-plus-pounder who was able to run a sub five-second 40-yard dash (4.87), as well as a 35 inch vertical. This wasn’t at all surprising as Nkemdiche was, at times, dominant in his career, reaching his peak in the upset win against Alabama this season. He’s built perfectly to play as a base 3-4 end and has shown great pass rushing ability from the interior, in large part due to his athletic prowess. When he’s on, he’s a legitimate top-five talent, he has a relentless motor and vicious/violent hands. The problem is that Nkemdiche has been inconsistent both on and off the field throughout his career. He’s never dominated on a regular basis as you’d expect, given his talent, and the off-field issues have been well documented. The biggest concern for teams could be the people he’s surrounded himself with more than any one single incident. Elway and the Broncos have shown a willingness to gamble on 1st round talents with off-field concerns, and it’s paid off in the past (Bradley Roby and Shane Ray come to mind), Nkemdiche might be next in line, or he might be too risky even for Denver’s taste.

Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (6-6 310 lbs.):

Jones is talked about less than other prospects in an incredibly deep class, but don’t overlook him, as he’s got as much potential as just about any of these guys. He’s a rare player who even at 300-plus pounds plays almost more finesse than power. Probably the rawest of the first round possibilities here, but with upside that would rival even Nkemdiche and Robinson. Jones was moved around often at Mississippi State and sometimes played out of position. He has all the physical and athletic talent to excel against the run from the 3-4 end position and create pressure from the interior. At this point, he’s most accomplished as a pass rusher where he’s flashed incredible mobility and ability to penetrate the pocket. He sometimes plays too high and doesn’t get enough leverage against the run, he also needs to be better reading the run and could improve his technique. He’s not a ready-made product, but a few years from now he could be a Jackson type steal who’s worth $90 million plus.

Later round prospects:

Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State (6-1 309 lbs.):

Don’t you dare sleep on Hargrave, the FCS product, like so many media-types are. While some analysts, who blatantly ignore small school players, might not have taken notice of Hargrave yet, the NFL certainly has, as he’s been one of the most impressive performers during this offseason draft process. Hargrave started things off by going to the East-West Shrine game and dominating all his Division-I counterparts. After an injury to Sheldon Rankins (another name worth keeping an eye on, though not covered here because he’s almost certain to go in the top 15 picks) Hargrave received an invite to the Senior Bowl and was devastating in 1-on-1 drills against the best senior prospects in the entire Draft.

As if that wasn’t enough he went to Indy and put up Nkemdiche-like freakish athletic numbers, despite being 15 pounds heavier:

Bench press: Nkemdiche 28, Hargrave 29

Vertical Jump: Nkemdiche 35 inches, Hargrave 34.5 inches

40-Yard Dash: Nkemdiche 4.87, Hargrave 4.93

All that after having absolutely destroyed his competition over his college career, dominating to the tune of 46 tackles for a loss and 29.5 sacks, in just the last two seasons. Put on the tape and you see a man among boys, simply dominating. There isn’t another prospect coming out of the FCS who has a higher ceiling than Hargrave (yes that includes Carson Wentz and Noah Spence). Hargrave has already proven he can more than hold his own against the big boys this offseason but the jump in competition is undeniable, he’s also raw and is used to dominating more thanks to his physical and athletic gifts than technique. He’ll have to be to worked on and sculpted, but this is a first-round talent make no mistake about it. If the Broncos could get him from the 2nd round on, watch out!

Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State (6-3 301 lbs.):

Like Hargrave, but for completely different reasons, Washington is also a 1st round talent (at least based on this analyst’s eyes when he puts on the tape) who could be had from the second round on. This is because, despite a decorated career as a Buckeye, Washington was charged with solicitation before the Bowl game and subsequently suspended for the final game of the season (and his career), he also was disappointing at The Combine. Yet, there are few players from the defensive tackle spot who were able to create pressure like Washington did the past two seasons. He was undoubtedly aided by the wealth of talent surrounding him on the Buckeyes defense, but he certainly played his part. He’s a tall, lean d-linemen who’s got the measurables to comfortably play as both a 3-4 end and three-technique interior pass rusher. He’s solid against the run, though not as powerful or as dominant as some of the other prospects we’ve talked about. Extremely talented at penetrating gaps and creating pass rush in 1-on-1 situations. His talent and upside merit high consideration and he could be an immediate contributor early in his career.