Since John Elway took over as the Denver Broncos general manager in 2011, the Broncos have drafted just two players that played in that year’s National Championship game.
The first was cornerback Bradley Roby, who was a member of Ohio State Buckeyes who won the National Championship over the Oregon Ducks in 2014. Elway selected Roby with the 31st overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Roby spent five years with the Broncos before signing with the Houston Texans this past offseason.
The second of those selections came in 2017 when Elway selected wide receiver, Isaiah McKenzie in the fifth round. McKenzie was a member of the Georgia Bulldogs team that lost to Alabama in the National Championship game. McKenzie now plays for the Buffalo Bills.
Based on the history of his drafts, it’s likely that Elway won’t be drafting many LSU Tigers or Clemson Tigers when April rolls around. However, there are a number of players on both sides that could help the Broncos in the secondary, on the offensive line and at wide receiver. We spoke with Jake Schyvinck, a writer for FanSided.com, about six players to watch during the NCAA National Championship Game.
1. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
The sticky man to man cover corner is a very realistic option for the Broncos when they are on the clock with the 15th overall pick. Fulton has 13 pass breakups this season and one interception. Schyvinck said that Fulton is at his best in man coverage.
“Kristian Fulton’s biggest strength is in man coverage,” Schyvinck said. “He has a great understanding of mirroring receivers and understand how they want to beat him. He plays well at the line of scrimmage with great quickness and discipline. Fulton also recovers well by changing direction and has enough speed to hang with defenders down the field.”
2. Grant Delpit, DB, LSU
Delpit, like Fulton, is another possible option for Elway and company when they are on the clock with the 15th overall pick. Delpit is a versatile defensive back that can be deployed at safety or as a nickel cornerback. Delpit was the recipient of the 2019 Jim Thorpe award winner (given to the best defensive back in the NCAA).
“The biggest question mark around Delpit is his tackling issues in 2019,” Schyvinck said. “They weren’t there in 2018, so do the Broncos believe 2019 was a bit of a fluke? Delpit could go a long way with a good performance in the National Championship.”
3. Isaiah Simmons, Hybrid, Clemson
Simmons is one of the best players in this year’s draft class. He can play safety, cornerback or linebacker. If Elway were to trade up from the 15th pick, the target could be Simmons.
“If Elway and the Broncos are big enough fans of Simmons, I could see them moving up,” Schyvinck said. “If they move up, they should have a plan to use him in the slot, at linebacker, and in a deep third/single high alignment. Don’t confine him to one position in [Vic] Fangio’s defense. Simmons is worth moving up for in this draft, as he’s a top five player in this class.
4. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
The Broncos have Courtland Sutton, who has established himself as a top 15 wide receiver in 2019. Now, Elway and company need to add more weapons for quarterback Drew Lock to target. Jefferson is a possible Day 2 target. Jefferson enters the National Championship game with 102 receptions for 1,434 and 18 touchdowns.
“Justin Jefferson may not be the biggest or fastest wide receiver in the draft, but there’s so much to his game that will make him effective,” Schyvinck said. “He is a very good route runner who can work in and out of breaks smoothly. He has quick feet to release off the line of scrimmage, and also has great body control and adjustment skills down the field. Lock would love a target like Jefferson.”
5. A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Broncos will need reinforcements at the cornerback position with Chris Harris Jr. having possibly played his final snap in a Broncos uniform. The junior cornerback is a possible Day 2 selection for Elway.
“He’s a little more raw, but his size and speed is intriguing,” Schyvinck said. “He has great instincts coming downhill and is aggressive jumping routes. He gets a little too aggressive at times, but with a good DB coach, he can iron that out and learn what to look for when WRs tip their hand.”
6. Rashard Lawrence, DL, LSU
The Broncos could be losing Derek Wolfe and Shelby Harris in free agency this offseason. Even if they bring back one or both of them they need to add to the defensive line this offseason. Lawrence is an intriguing option for the Broncos in the third or fourth round.
“Lawrence flashed a lot in 2018 as a space-eater with upside as a pass rusher,” Schyvinck said. “He had a ton of injuries in 2019, which has hurt his stock, and in a deep defensive line class, he likely ends up a Day 3 pick.”
Monday’s game will be nationally televised ESPN at 6:00 p.m. MT.
