The Denver Broncos will host Mississippi center Javon Patterson on a pre-draft visit this week, according to Jordan Reid of Cover 1.
Patterson (6-3, 307 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 5.13 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 27 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has predicted he will be selected on the final day of the draft “to add interior competition in a move-based rushing attack.”
Patterson spent time at left guard, center and right guard during his time at Ole Miss. If selected by Denver, he could serve as a swing backup guard/center behind presumed starting center Connor McGovern.
After allowing Matt Paradis to walk during NFL free agency, the Broncos are expected to start McGovern this year. McGovern will become a free agent in 2020, though, so unless the team plans to re-sign him, Denver would be wise to add another center as a possible future replacement.
Patterson may be among the team’s development options at center.
