The Denver Broncos had a strong start to the 2019 NFL draft, trading away the No. 10 overall pick in order to acquire future picks, one of which will be made in the second round on Friday night.
They then selected Iowa tight end Noah Fant in the first round, a player they hope can become the next George Kittle.
Between the second and third rounds of the draft, the Broncos will make three selections (Nos. 41, 52 and 71) on Friday night, barring trades. Here are seven players the team should target with those picks.
1. Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State
The Broncos need to address the offensive line in this draft and Risner is one of the best players still available. Some teams had a first-round grade on him.
A Colorado native who has stated multiple times how much he would like to be a Bronco, it makes plenty of sense to take him. If he is on the board at No. 41, he has to be the pick.
2. Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
Does John Elway really covet the Missouri quarterback or not? Some media members say he does, others say that has been blown out of proportion. Either way, as long as he remains on the board, the Broncos will be mentioned in the same breath.
3. Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Someone could get a steal here as almost every draft analyst had Taylor as a first-round pick and many mocks had him going in the first 10 picks. But why is he sliding?
The Broncos could take a look at the tackle prospect, giving the offensive line much more flexibility. It could be a tremendous move if Taylor really does have first-round talent.
4. Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
This might be a bit high to target a safety, but Rapp is a player the Broncos could use all over the field. He packs a punch as a tackler and can hang with tight ends in coverage.
The Broncos have more pressing needs than the safety position, but Rapp is an intelligent football player who could come in and compete for a starting position.
5. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
What are the Broncos going to do with Chris Harris? If the team selects a cornerback in the second round, it could be an indicator. But even with Harris, the team needs more depth at cornerback.
Williams is a lengthy, athletic corner who can handle a variety of coverages. He also had first-round talent and could be a great addition and a future starter.
6. Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
Murphy may be an even better overall prospect than Williams and he should be one of the first picks of the board in the second round. But if he’s still on the board at No. 41, the Broncos should consider him.
Murphy is an intelligent player who sticks to receivers in coverage and frequently makes plays on the ball. If you’re looking for an awesome stat out of one of this year’s prospects, here’s one:
In his career at Washington, Murphy was targeted 87 times in the passing game. Of those, he had seven interceptions and 20 passes broken up.
7. Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
The Broncos received some great future picks in their trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it cost them the chance to draft the guy the Steelers ended up taking, Devin Bush.
The Broncos need an inside linebacker and Mack Wilson of Alabama might be the best one still on the board. He’s a three-down linebacker who can drop back into coverage and make plays against the run and the pass.
Though not nearly as polished as Bush and Devin White, he would be a solid consolation prize in the second or third round.
