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Report: Linebacker T.J. Watt will visit the Broncos prior to the draft

J.J. Watt's brother is visiting the Broncos

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

According to NFL Network's Path to the Draft, Wisconsin edge rusher T.J. Watt will have a pre-draft visit with the Denver Broncos on April 18th.

Watt is a 6'4", 252lb edge rusher from Wisconsin and is considered a late first round or the early second round pick during the 2017 NFL Draft.

He played two seasons at Wisconsin and had a breakout year in 2016. During his two-year career at Wisconsin, he totaled 70 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 defensive touchdown, 6 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles. This past season he totaled 63 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 touchdown, 4 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles. Watt earned second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors for his 2016 performance.

Watt has a bunch of visits and workouts scheduled and is taking it all in stride because this is a "once in a lifetime opportunity" that he does not want to miss out on.

"Through the whole first half of this whole thing, my schedule had been set and nothing had really changed. Then, to have coaches call in late and kind of pack the whole weekend and have multiple workouts back to back, some people would shy away from it," Watt said. "But at the same time, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. If a coach is going to take the time to fly all the way up to Madison, Wisconsin, to see me work out, I'm going to do whatever I can to show him I can play ball for their club."

The Broncos lost veteran edge rusher DeMarcus Ware to retirement and will look to former first-round pick Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett at the edge rushing position. It's a position that General Manager John Elway values highly, so it makes sense for them to have some level of interest in Watt.

Here are some highlights from Watt's 2016 season and why he is considered a potential first-round pick.