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According to University of Iowa Athletics Team and Recruiting Reporter Rob Howe, Iowa center James Daniels has multiple pre-draft visits including one with the Denver Broncos.
James Daniels said he has on-location visits set up in April with the Cowboys, Broncos, Rams, 49ers, Bears, Panthers and the Eagles. He said he had more but those the ones he could think of off top of his head.
— Rob Howe (@RobHoweHN) March 26, 2018
Daniels is a 6’3”, 306lb center who is considered one of the top, if not the best center in the 2018 NFL Draft class. He is considered to be a late first-round pick who could potentially slip into the early second round.
Here is what one NFC team Scouting Director told NFL Network’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein about Daniels pro potential.
“The Iowa guys are always going to be quick and proficient, but you have to see them tested against power because they are usually going to be a little smaller, too. This guy
has decent size and I think he’s got pretty good functional power. He would come in and challenge for best center in our division right away.” -- NFC team college scouting director
NFLDraftScout.com has compared Daniels to former Kansas City Chiefs and now current Oakland Raiders center Rodney Hudson.
COMPARES TO: Rodney Hudson, Raiders - As a two-time All-American who stayed through his senior season at Florida State, Hudson was clearly more polished entering the NFL than Daniels. The 6-2, 300 pounder possesses a similar bowling ball-like frame as Daniels, however, as well as the quickness and power to be a difference-maker inside. Hudson has earned two Pro Bowl nods and a five year, $44.5 million dollar deal to leave the Chiefs (the franchise which selected him 55th overall back in 2011) for Oakland.
The Broncos do not have an immediate need at center with starter Matt Paradis expected to be back for the 2018 season. They placed a second-round tender on the restricted free-agent center. Paradis has yet to sign in it but has not received an offer sheet so all signs point to the veteran center returning to the Broncos in 2018.
He has played every snap under center for the Broncos the past few years but did have hip surgery that sidelined him for most of the 2017 offseason OTA’s and portions of Training Camp.
Paradis is entering the final year of his deal with the Broncos and will be an unrestricted free agent next season, so the Broncos could be looking for his replacement. The Broncos could view Daniels as that potential replacement, but he likely will not slip to the 40th overall pick in the second round.