NFL Mock Draft 2016: Mel Kiper has the Broncos selecting Alabama defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson

With the NFL Draft only three weeks away, ESPN's draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. released version 4.0 of his 2016 NFL Mock Draft series.

Three QBs go in the first 15 picks of Mel Kiper's Mock Draft 4.0: https://t.co/PN1kMULUws pic.twitter.com/XnzTsEO9Hx

— ESPN (@espn) April 6, 2016

In his first mock draft, Kiper had the Denver Broncos selecting Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. In his second mock draft, he had the Broncos taking another Ohio State prospect, this time, offensive tackle Taylor Decker. In his third mock draft he had the Broncos taking an offensive tackle but this time, it was Indiana's Jason Spriggs. Well, this time around Kiper has Alabama defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson sliding down to pick 31.

Here is Kiper's reasoning behind this selection.

The departure of Malik Jackson in free agency makes Robinson an easy pick here. And really, even if Jackson was still around, this pick makes sense. If there's a big question at this stage, it's whether John Elway could be in the QB market right here. He's got time, and he usually has a pretty good plan, too.

I found this pick rather interesting because Robinson has been viewed as a top 15 pick throughout the draft process. So either Kiper is being told that Robinson could slide, or maybe Kiper just isn't that high on Robinson as some others. CBS Sports ranked Robinson as their 17th overall player in this year's draft, and the second overall defensive tackle in a loaded defensive tackle draft class.

He is a 6'4", 307lb defensive lineman who would fit well into the Broncos defense, and possibly could start day one in the spot left vacated by Malik Jackson who left during free agency.

I would really love this pick if the Broncos already have a solution at the quarterback position. Kiper has Paxton Lynch going to the St. Louis Rams at pick 15, so it would take a pretty major trade for the Broncos to move up for him. If they decide to stay put and Robinson is there, I think the Broncos will come away happy.

The Broncos would have had plenty of choices at pick 31 if this scenario played out. Some of the best players available at pick 31 include Connor Cook, Derrick Henry, Hunter Henry, Jason Spriggs, Cody Whitehair, Jihad Ward, Robert Nkemdiche, Jonathan Bullard, Vernon Butler, Chris Jones, Noah Spence, and Karl Joseph.

What do you think Broncos Country? Did Kiper do a good job here, or would you have done something different?