The Draft starts in Mobile: The DNVR 2020 Senior Bowl Preview

MOBILE, AL. — Another year at the Senior Bowl and things have changed significantly for the Denver Broncos. It all started here in Mobile, where two offensive leaders in Drew Lock and Dalton Risner were found a year ago.

While there are quite a few intriguing arms down here, for the first time in a while, it seems like a safe bet that Denver won’t be in the market for one of the draft’s top quarterbacks.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other areas of need or tons of other intriguing prospects to watch for Broncos fans here. 

After listening to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, Heisman finalist Jalen Hurts and top prospect Javon Kinlaw speak in the opening presser, here are the big names we’ll be keeping an eye on.

Cream of the crop

You’ll see our top-10 prospects below, with Kinlaw sitting firmly at the top.

With “only” six tackles for a loss and as many sacks in his final season of SEC football, the towering defensive lineman doesn’t sit atop our list because of his production but he certainly does because of his unique combination of size, athleticism and upside.

After having watched a similarly gifted and raw defensive line talent in Marcus Davenport vault his stock following his Senior Bowl performance in 2018, Kinlaw could do the same. What might be scarier for opponents, and intriguing for potential future employers, is that Kinlaw’s length, athleticism, power, pass-rushing potential and versatility from the interior is even more intriguing. The former Gamecock is also coming off strong showings against the top competition he faced in Alabama and Georgia in 2019, something Nagy was quick to point out.

Going defense in round one shouldn’t be a priority for the Broncos, but someone like Kinlaw anchoring the middle of a formidable front that has plenty of talent on the edges might be too good to pass up for John Elway.

Kinlaw is joined by other standout defensive tackles in Neville Gallimore of Oklahoma, Raekwon Davis of Alabama and Leki Fotu of Utah.

Searching for the next Terry McLaurin

Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, D.J. Chark are just a few of the phenomenal receivers we’ve seen elevate their draft stock in Mobile over the last few years and all have quickly turned themselves into household names.

Who that’ll be this year is less clear than in years past, though, in a deep group of receivers with a nice mix of speedsters and big-bodied targets that can regularly win 50-50 balls there are plenty of candidates.

With new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, the speedsters like McLaurin are at a premium and one to keep an eye on is Texas A&M’s Quartney Davis who Nagy spoke glowingly about despite, like the former Buckeye, his lack of college production.

“He’s in for a really big week,” predicted Nagy. “I think this kid is going to open a ton of eyes. The receiver position is hard because as fans we just look at numbers and every school in the country has two or three wideouts these days that put up huge numbers. This game is always big for wideouts because you see them against press man [coverage]. This will be a big week for him, he’s talented, he’s explosive, he’s got playmaking ability and I think he’s got as big a chance as anyone to rise up.”

Beyond Davis, known commodity Michael Pittman Jr. of USC will garner lots of attention, while Denzel Mims of Baylor is one of the most talented acrobatic catch specialists in this class. With ample length and deceptive straight-line speed, Mims could easily go from being a name to keep an eye on to one of the real stars of the event.

A small schooler who’s generating some early buzz is Liberty’s oversized target, Antonio Gandy-Golden, while Florida’s Van Jefferson and Ohio State’s K.J. Hill are other quick receivers the Broncos should be watching closely.

Pass protectors with first-round opportunities

Given the Broncos desperate need, we had to talk offensive line and the headliner here was Auburn’s Prince Tega Wanogho, who looks the part and has shown elite flashes. Unfortunately, he will not be participating due to a knee issue.

While Nagy was clear that replicating the five first-round offensive linemen from 2019 is probably unrealistic, he did speak glowingly about two non-power five tackles who, like Tytus Howard a year ago, could vault themselves into the early rounds.

“Josh Jones for Houston,” was the first name Nagy spat out. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he went in the first round. He’s really talented, he’s got great feet, he’s long and just meeting him here the last few days he’s got a really good head on his shoulders, he’s a pro.”

Jones has the prototypical tools of a pass protecting left tackle, how he faires against top competition could make him lots of money.

Another tackle that received praise was Matt Peart of Connecticut, who received a glowing comparison from Nagy.

“I’m not going to say he’s going in the top five like D’Brickashaw Ferguson did but when I watch tape that’s what I saw…he’s long, he’s got incredible feet. They played him on the right side at UConn but he’s going to be a left tackle.”

In what is already a really strong offensive tackle crop with a deep junior class, players like Tega-Wanogho, Jones, and Peart vaulting themselves into the top three rounds could really help elevate this class even more.

Who’s got next?

With Carson Wentz, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen and Daniel Jones all helping their draft stocks in a major way the past few years in Mobile, this 2020 group has a big opportunity in front of them.

It all starts with Oregon’s Justin Herbert, a man child with all the necessary tools to be special in the NFL. The problem is he’s just never put it all together. Nagy mentioned the lack of specialized training as the primary reason why Herbert’s upside is that much more enticing.

A big week could vault him in the top 10 and maybe even throw him in the mix of young AFC West QBs who try to supplant Patrick Mahomes, as Herbert seems like a favorite to be selected by the Chargers with their sixth pick.

Utah State’s Jordan Love has nothing to envy Herbert, as his raw tools might be even more tantalizing. However, Love’s coming off a down year where inconsistencies and turnovers really hurt his stock. He comes in with a lot to prove and could really benefit from having NFL level receivers to throw to.

A lot of eyes will be on Oklahoma and former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts who put on a show with the Sooners this year, though he’ll have plenty of questions to answer regarding his accuracy, touch, and general arm talent.

There’s plenty of intrigue with the quarterbacks, with many fitting the raw, high-upside profile that Drew Lock had coming in a year ago.

A few to keep in mind in the back-seven

As we arrived, a disappointing piece of news came from LSU’s star cornerback Kristian Fulton not being able to attend the event. This will open up the door for big-school standouts like A.J. Green, who held his own against the best wideouts he faced in the Big 12, plenty of which will go very high in April’s draft.

Troy Pride Jr. of Notre Dame has plenty of pedigree that could propel him into the top-100 picks, while versatile defensive backs K’Von Wallace of Clemson, Julian Blackmon of Utah or Michael Ojemudia of Iowa could fit in that big nickel role Will Parks was utilized in this past season.

Beyond the defensive backs, there are several talented linebackers here who could offer more range and athleticism in coverage for a defense like Denver’s. Troy Dye of Oregon will have lots of eyes on him as will Appalachian State’s Akeem Davis-Gaither, Utah’s Francis Bernard and even local product Davion Taylor from Colorado would all fit the mold as well.

That’s just scratching the surface as scouts and media get to know this loaded group. Last year 93 players were drafted from the Senior Bowl with 10 going in round one and 40 in the first three rounds. With the Broncos possessing five selections in the top 100 and focusing on team leaders with four years of experience, the crop in Mobile will offer plenty of names for Broncos fans to follow.

Top-10 draft prospects at the Senior Bowl

1. Javon Kinlaw, IDL, South Carolina

2. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

3. Neville Gallimore, IDL, Oklahoma

4. Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin

5. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

6. Michael Pittman Jr, WR, USC

7. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn

8. Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

9. Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama

10. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor