Horse Tracks: Trading down may be Broncos' best option in the NFL Draft

Good morning, Broncos Country.

The Denver Broncos already have ten selections in this year's NFL Draft, but if their top draft targets (presumably) in Christian McCaffrey and Garet Bolles are unavailable when their selection rolls around  — their best option may be to trade down and accumulate more picks.

It's always a possibility that the team is interested in trading up to acquire one of those players. Yet, the last thing I'd want to see the team do a week from now is move up and mortgage their ability to round out their roster with young prospects who offer promise and a lot of potential just to land someone they highly covet.

The team seems to be preparing a draft plan for both McCaffrey and Bolles off the board, which has been reported to include trading back with the Cleveland Browns. That's smart thinking, and a decision the Broncos should absolutely pull the trigger on if they aren't infatuated with anyone left on their board when the twentieth selection is officially on the clock.

Sure, the team could opt to stand pat and take a player such as offensive tackle Ryan Ramcyzk (who I'm not as high on as many draft analysts are), but I would much rather see the team acquire a high second round pick, as well as a third round selection that gives them the opportunity to grab an additional player in a historically deep class of prospects.

Say the Browns do trade up to the twentieth spot and in return the Broncos receive the 33rd overall selection (which would be a hot commodity for another trade), as well as as the 65th overall selection (the top pick in the third round).  Denver could then take a prospect like Antonio Garcia to shore up their tackle position at the top of the second round, but also gain another quality prospect in the third round where they already have two selections. In my eyes, two high quality prospects are definitely better than taking the "best" of who is left in the middle of the first round.

More ammunition means more draft flexibility, and also the capital to build a stronger foundation and roster for the future. However, trading out of the first round does signify a big risk and many of the team's targets in a hypothetical trade down may end up being off the board by the time the second round rolls around.  Yet, if I was John Elway, that would be a risk I'd be willing to take.

I'm a firm believer that having more picks is always better, and that especially rings true in a class that is lacking top-tier talent, but holds a plethora of Day 2 caliber prospects who can contribute immediately. It would help the team compete this season for another Super Bowl, as well as keeping the team strong for the long-term.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the Broncos' draft plans in the comments section.

As always, thank you for reading and here is today's offering of Horse Tracks.

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