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A look at which prospects the Broncos reportedly had Top 30 visits with prior to the NFL Draft

A look at which prospects the Broncos had reportedly had a private visit/workout.

By Scotty Payne
Big 12 Championship - Oklahoma v TCU Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Prior to the NFL Draft, each NFL team is allowed 30 private visits/workouts with prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. Well, the deadline for these visits has passed and we 28 reported private visits/workouts between the Broncos and prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft.

So here are the 28 reported pre-draft visits/workouts made by the Denver Broncos with prospects in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft.

Broncos reported Top 30 visits

Position Name School Round Source
Position Name School Round Source
Quarterback Josh Allen Wyoming Top 5 X
Quarterback Sam Darnold USC Top 5 X
Quarterback Baker Mayfield Oklahoma Top 5 X
Linebacker Fred Warner BYU 2nd-3rd X
Quarterback Josh Rosen UCLA 1st X
Running Back Ronald Jones USC 1st-2nd X
Defensive Tackle Vita Vea Washington 1st X
Center James Daniels Iowa 1st-2nd X
Linebacker Jerome Baker Ohio State 2nd-3rd X
Linebacker Keishan Bierria Washington 6th-7th X
Linebacker Josey Jewell Iowa 3rd-4th X
Cornerback Devron Davis UTSA 5th-6th X
Cornerback Donte Jackson LSU 2nd-3rd X
Offensive Tackle Martinas Rankin Mississippi State 2nd-3rd X
Cornerback Davontae Harris Illinois State 5th-6th X
Wide Receiver Javon Wims Georgia 5th-6th X
Wide Receiver D.J. Chark LSU 2nd X
Running Back Gus Edwards Rutgers UDFA X
Running Back Trenton Cannon Virginia State UDFA X
Cornerback Anthony Averett Alabama 2nd-3rd X
Safety Dane Cruikshank Arizona 3rd-4th X
Linebacker Lorenzo Carter Georgia 2nd X
Defensive Tackle Foley Fatukasi UConn 3rd X
Wide Receiver Dante Pettis Washington 2nd-3rd X
Wide Receiver Damion Ratley Texas A&M UDFA X
Offensive Tackle Geron Christian Louisville 2nd-3rd X
Cornerback Isaiah Oliver Colorado 1st-2nd X
Running Back Rashaad Penny San Diego State 2nd-3rd X

This list is noteworthy because the Broncos have held a pre-draft visit or workout with their first-round pick the past two seasons. Both Garett Bolles and Paxton Lynch visited with the team, so it’s possible that the Broncos first-round pick is on this list.

However, some key names connected to the Broncos(cornerback Denzel Ward, guards Quenton Nelson and Will Hernandez) have not made a reported visit. It is possible 1 or 2 of the three visited, but it went unreported because the Broncos did not want it out. Its possible they were comfortable enough with them where they didn’t require a closer look. So just because a prospect is not on this list does not mean that the Broncos are not interested in that prospect. It is a part of the game teams play this time of the year.

One thing we can take away from this list is the positions that the Broncos decision-makers spent considerable time scouting during this process. Here is the positional breakdown of the prospects the Broncos met or worked out this offseason.

  • 5 Cornerbacks
  • 5 Linebackers
  • 4 Quarterbacks
  • 4 Wide Receivers
  • 4 Running Backs
  • 2 Offensive Tackles
  • 2 Defensive Tackles
  • 1 Center
  • 1 Safety

Thoughts:

Broncos are going quarterback at 5 or not taking one at all:

One thing is clear if the Broncos are going to draft a quarterback, General Manager John Elway will be taking multiple meetings with you. Well, the Broncos have really only met with the big 4(Darnold, Allen, Rosen, and Mayfield). The same 4 who figure to go top 5 or 10 in next weeks NFL Draft.

So I do not really see them taking one in the draft unless it’s at 5. They will roll with Case Keenum, Paxton Lynch, and Chad Kelly.

A cornerback will be drafted early:

The Broncos traded away veteran cornerback Aqib Talib this offseason and are actively looking for his replacement. Sure, they added veteran Tramaine Brock, but he’s nothing more than veteran insurance. 2017 third-round pick Brendan Langley has upside, but he was a project pick. So the Broncos still need a number three corner to be behind Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Roby.

The two day two prospects the Broncos met with are cornerback Donte Jackson and Isaiah Oliver. So I could see one of them at 40 or possibly Jackson in the early third. Could even see them go corner as early as the first-round with their rumored interest in Ohio State’s Denzel Ward.

An Inside Linebacker will be taken on day two:

The Broncos met with 5 linebackers throughout the process and look primed to take one early.

BYU’s Fred Warner, Ohio State’s Jerome Baker, Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter, and Iowa’s Josey Jewell are all day two prospects who the Broncos met with and could take in the 2nd or 3rd round. It appears they are looking for an athletic/coverage linebacker to fix their big weakness on defense.

If the Broncos do indeed trade back, look for Georgia’s Roquan Smith to be high on their wish list if he is still available.

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