What we learned from John Elway's pre-draft press conference

DENVER — Draft week is finally here.

On Monday afternoon, from the comfort of his own home, John Elway kicked off draft week — a time the entire sports world has eagerly been waiting for for months.

While Elway didn’t reveal who the Broncos will be selecting with the 15th-overall pick on Thursday night, he did drop a few tidbits. Here’s what we learned.

DEEP AT POSITIONS OF NEED

Arguably the Broncos’ two biggest needs entering the draft are wide receiver and offensive tackle. The 2020 draft fits those needs just perfectly.

“It’s a very deep draft when it comes to the receivers. I think everybody is obviously going to have different views on who they think is best for them, but obviously, there is a lot of good wideouts,” Elway said on Monday.

Elway made it loud and clear exactly where the Broncos stand with their receiver position.

“The good thing is, and the fortunate thing for us—as you said we do need a wideout—is it’s a deep class,” Elway said, admitting the team needs a receiver. “So we just have to see how things fall.”

Along with four potential top 15 picks at tackle, Elway believes there is “good depth” at tackle as well, adding, “I think that’s one of the stronger positions.”

TRADES?!

There’s been a lot of chatter around the country over the past week that the Broncos are looking to trade up in the draft. On Monday, Elway didn’t squash those rumors one bit.

“We always look at the possibilities of possibly going up and we’ll continue to do that,” he said, before giving the cliche counter. “But we’re also looking at going back… We’re preparing ourselves to go in either direction depending on how it falls.”

A first-round trade likely won’t happen until the draft is unfolding because whether the Broncos trade up, move back or stay put at 15 depends on what players are available in all of those scenarios.

“We’re looking at all of those combinations,” he added.

Elway added that because of the virtual nature of the draft, there may be fewer trades in general, but still believes there will be trades.

NO LOVE FOR ALABAMA?

Despite being the most successful collegiate team of the past decade, Elway’s never drafted a player from the University of Alabama. On Monday, Elway said that’s just happenstance.

“It just kind of fell that way. There’s really no reason,” Elway stated. “Obviously we’ve got a great deal of respect for that program down there that Nick Saban has and the football players that they have and their system.

“It’s just kind of fallen that way,” he continued. “There’s really nothing really more than that. It just hasn’t worked out. To be able to say that there’s a reason why we haven’t draft anyone from Alabama, we really don’t have a reason other than the fact that’s it’s just not fallen that way.”

That’s good news since three potential top-10 picks are coming from Tuscaloosa, including two receivers and an offensive tackle — two of Denver’s primary needs.

BUILDING AROUND DREW

There’s no question how Elway and the Broncos feel about Drew Lock. The second-year player is unquestionably Denver’s quarterback for 2020 and will be given the keys to run away with the job for the future.

“We’ve decided that we’re going to build around Drew and give him that opportunity to take the job,” Elway said in his pre-draft press conference via Zoom. “We feel that he’s that guy.”

But, just because he’s the man for 2020 doesn’t mean his evaluation is over.

“By no means has Drew made it,” Elway stated. “We believe he’s got the potential to do it. We think he’s just going to continue to get better and better. He’s still in the learning process and knows that he’s going to have to get better.”

Along with going 4-1 in his starts down the stretch, the Broncos were pleased with the way Lock prepared throughout his entire rookie season.

“We really liked what we saw,” Elway said, reflecting back on Drew’s rookie season. “We liked what we saw last year when he was on IR and how he tried to prepare himself and get ready to play when he had a chance to play.”

NEGOTIATING WITH SIMMONS

As expected, the Broncos placed the franchise tag on Justin Simmons days before free agency began. But that was just the beginning.

In recent weeks, the team and Simmons’ agency have been in “active negotiations” regarding a long-term deal for the Second-team All-Pro safety.

“We’ve given them an offer, they’ve given us an offer back,” Elway said on Monday.

The two sides have until July to reach a long-term deal.

HOPEFUL FOR CALLAHAN

Bryce Callahan joined the Broncos over a year ago, yet he’s never stepped on the game field in Orange & Blue. After having season-ending foot surgery to repair a broken screw from a surgery a year before, Elway is optimistic he’ll be back on the field this year.

“We’re hopeful that things are coming along, and he’ll be ready by the time we get to training camp and then work back into things,” Elway said on Monday. “We’re hoping that Bryce can come back and play this year and play the way we think he’s capable of.”

If Elway is right, the Broncos will have two new starting cornerbacks out on the field this year with the addition of A.J. Bouye.

FEWER UNDRAFTED PLAYERS

With 10 picks entering the draft, Elway said the Broncos won’t have as much room to add undrafted players. In fact, Elway set expectations for Denver to add seven to nine players once the draft finishes up.

The process for signing these players won’t change, other than the remote nature and it taking place on Zoom immediately after the draft ends.

“It’s always a difficult time, but even more so this year with it being virtual. We’re fortunate in the fact with our numbers we don’t need too many CFAs,” Elway said. “It’s a good year to be in the position we’re in.”