The Denver Broncos stayed true to their big board during the NFL draft, selecting the best players available instead of reaching for needs. As a result, the team did not land a true inside linebacker, one of the team’s needs going into the draft.
In his post-draft press conference, general manager John Elway explained the situation.
“It just didn’t fall that way,” Elway said. “We had opportunities but the direction that we went, we felt that we were better off that way. By the time we got into — it was just different choices that you make.”
Denver did select Oregon linebacker Justin Hollins, an outside linebacker who has some experience playing on the inside. The Broncos will give him a shot at both outside linebacker and inside linebacker this offseason.
“We thought Justin could play inside or outside and that’s when we talk about inside backer,” Elway said. “With Justin, with the flexibility and the versatility that he has with him going inside as well as outside, we kind of felt like we hit all the spots the best we could.”
Right now, Todd Davis and Josey Jowell are penciled in as the team’s top two inside linebackers. There’s not much depth behind them.
