The Denver Broncos met with Oregon edge defender Jalen Jelks at the NFL combine earlier this month, according to Chad Jensen of Mile High Huddle. In a 3-4 defense like Denver’s, Jelks would likely play as an outside linebacker.
Jelks (6-5, 256 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.92 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 19 times at the combine. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein has compared him to George Selvie, who was a seventh-round pick out of Florida State in 2010.
During his four years with the Ducks, Jelks recorded 155 tackles — including 30 tackles for losses — and 15.5 sacks. He also intercepted a pass, broke up 11 passes, recovered a fumble and forced a fumble.
“Jelks possesses good speed off the edge, but it’s his ability to win to both the perimeter and inside that makes him dangerous,” Draft Wire’s Gavino Borquez wrote of the edge defender in January. “He’s got quick feet and a flexible frame, so he’s able to slip creases.”
After allowing Shaq Barrett and Shane Ray to hit free agency, Denver could use more depth at outside linebacker. Jelks may be one of the prospects the team is considering.
Jelks is projected to be a mid-round draft pick, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. The Broncos currently own picks Nos. 125, 148 and 156 between the fourth and fifth rounds of April’s draft.
