Jeff Legwold breaks down the 2016 Denver Broncos draft class.
Round 1, Pick No. 26: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis | Highlights
My take: At 6-foot-6, 244 pounds, Lynch is exactly the type of big-framed quarterback Elway likes. It was one of the reasons the team selected 6-foot-7 Brock Osweiler in the second round of the 2012 draft.
Lynch is likely not ready to play as a rookie. But, the Broncos don’t need him to play and can give Lynch the expected time needed to acclimate himself into the league. Lynch didn’t play under center all that much in his career with Memphis and worked in a no-huddle attack that didn’t ask him to throw the ball down the field very often.
He’ll need to adjust to the Broncos’ scheme, but he has the mobility to eventually run the team’s play-action attack. The Broncos also believe Lynch has the kind of arm strength to power the ball down the field and he simply wasn't afforded the opportunity to do it all that much. Lynch's pro day workout was proof.
One for the future: One of the concerns scouts had with Lynch in pre-draft meetings was his demeanor. They aren't sure he has the assertiveness to be the potential face of the franchise. But the Broncos believe Lynch will have the time he needs to grow into the job. The Broncos like what Mark Sanchez can do in the offense and have said throughout the offseason they are prepared for him to be the starter. Much like Osweiler, who waited over three seasons to make his first regular-season start, the Broncos can groom Lynch in what coach Gary Kubiak has called "the right way."
Round 2, Pick No. 63: Adam Gotsis, DT, Georgia Tech | Highlights
My take: The 6-foot-4½-inch, 287-pound player moves like a much smaller man. He has played nose tackle at times in the Georgia Tech defense and will be a project for the Broncos. He’s worth a draft pick, but the Broncos rated him more highly than many of their peers. The Broncos will need a raw player to continue his lightning-quick development to play up to the value of the pick. The game video shows he’s a high-effort player, with some quickness off the ball and strength at the point of attack. Gotsis doesn’t always show a quick diagnosis of the play in front of him and projects to largely be a run-down specialist early in his career as he continues to learn the game. He is still recovering from an October knee injury.
Still on the mend: Gotsis suffered a torn ACL in his knee on the first play from scrimmage in Georgia Tech’s Oct. 31 loss to Virginia. Gotsis said Friday night he had progressed to do some running and agility drills in his recovery so he hopes to be full speed by the time the Broncos begin their regular season. Before the knee injury, some teams said they believed Gotsis could have third-round draft potential.
Still learning: Even after four seasons with Georgia Tech, including three as a starter, Gotsis has still played more Australian Rules Football -- eight years -- than he has football in the United States. But the Broncos are more than willing to put their trust in defensive line coach Bill Kollar to develop him. And Gotsis is potentially a high-reward prospect given the potential he has shown in one of the nation’s major football conferences. He finished his career with 12.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss.
Round 3, Pick No. 98: Justin Simmons, S, Boston College | Highlights
Make a play: In a year when one of the top-rated cornerbacks on the draft board -- Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander -- did not have an interception in his collegiate career, Simmons is a player who has forced turnovers. He had five interceptions last season -- eight in his career -- and forced four fumbles in his career.
Combine star: Few players invited to this year’s scouting combine did more with their time in Indianapolis. He finished with the best times among the defensive backs in important drills -- 20-yard shuttle and 60-yard shuttle -- and his 40-inch vertical leap was the best among the players invited. It helped a player who was on a 3-9 team in his senior season get noticed.
What’s next: The Broncos selected a defensive lineman as well as a safety in the second day of the draft to go with Paxton Lynch in the first round, so the third day of the draft could well include an inside linebacker, a running back and an offensive linemen -- or two -- if the board falls right. The Broncos have six picks in the third day of the draft, including three picks in a 21-pick span as the fourth round moves into the fifth Saturday.
Round 4, Pick No. 136: Devontae Booker, RB, Utah | Highlights
My take: Booker was a high-value pick in the fourth round as many teams had given hm second-round grade. He fits the Broncos’ offense and will arrive with the potential to contribute as soon as his knee is healed. Booker suffered a season-ending torn meniscus last November, but still finished with 1,261 yards rushing in 10 games to go with 37 catches. Booker rushed for 1,512 yards in 2014. He’s a decisive runner who can contribute in the passing game. He did return some kickoffs during his junior college career at American River College.
Big numbers: As a senior at Grant Union High School in California, Booker rushed for 2,884 yards and 45 touchdowns.
Competition is king: Yes, the Broncos matched the Miami Dolphins’ offer sheet to C.J. Anderson and re-signed Ronnie Hillman to a one-year deal, but Booker will push for playing time because of all he can do in an offense. He is a front-line runner who can contribute as a reliable receiver in the passing game.
Round 5, Pick No. 144: Connor McGovern, G, Missouri | Highlights
My take: McGovern was one of the strongest linemen on this year’s draft board. He has positional versatility, something the Broncos require given they usually have just seven offensive linemen in uniform on game day. He was Missouri’s starter at left tackle this past season, but most project him inside as a guard in the NFL. McGovern also said he spent one season at Missouri practicing at center and feels “comfortable" if he had to play there in a game.
Weighty matters: McGovern set a pile of weight-room records at Missouri, including five squat repetitions of 690 pounds. At one point he even suffered a torn pectoral muscle in one session of heavy lifting.
Round 6, Pick No. 176: Andy Janovich, FB, Nebraska | Highlights
My take: The Broncos adding a fullback to the roster, either via a draft pick or as an undrafted free agent, was almost a given. Scouts and running backs coach Eric Studesville scoured the available fullbacks in the draft to find the right fit. The Broncos want the two-back set in 2016. Janovich played 50 games in his career at Nebraska and 42 of his 45 career rushing attempts came in 2015. Some scouts believe he could contribute as a spot runner as his game video shows a player who can make a defender miss and will close out runs.
Very special: Janovich could potentially fill one of the necessary roles of any NFL fullback -- special teams. Janovich was Nebraska’s leader in special-teams tackles this past season with 13.
Round 6, Pick No. 219: Will Parks, S, Arizona
My take: Parks is the second safety the Broncos have taken in this draft -- Boston College's Justin Simmons was the first -- and was an active player in the Arizona defense. He had 20.5 tackles for loss in his career to go with four interceptions and 20 pass breakups. While Parks played more of a strong safety role for the Wildcats, the Broncos are looking for players at the position who could offer some help in situational packages. Parks measured in at 6-feet-3/8-inch, 204 pounds and was clocked at 4.63 at his on-campus pro day.
Round 7, Pick No. 228: Riley Dixon, P, Syracuse | Highlights
My take: The Broncos, with two punters already on the roster in Britton Colquitt and Will Johnson, showed with this pick they were concerned they wouldn’t be able to sign Dixon as an undrafted rookie. He finished third in school history with a career 46.62 yards per punt average and at 6-foot-4 ½-inches tall Dixon was one of the biggest punters on the draft board. Dixon put 43 percent of his punt inside the opponents’ 20-yard line -- 28 of 65 punts. With Colquitt, who the Broncos asked to take a pay cut last season, set to count $4 million against the salary cap, Dixon’s selection shows the Broncos will open up the competition at the position.