Mel Kiper skips quarterback for the Broncos in latest mock

With the Denver Broncos making a trade for quarterback Joe Flacco, sending a fourth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange, their outlook for the 2019 NFL Draft has certainly changed.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is the first major mock draft expert to update their mocks to reflect this change. With the 10th overall pick, he bypassed quarterback Drew Lock in favor of LSU cornerback Greedy Williams.

10. Denver Broncos

Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

Yes, the Broncos traded for Joe Flacco, but they could still draft a quarterback high, even if it’s not in Round 1. Flacco has a team-friendly contract, and GM John Elway & Co. could still try to get their QB of the future. For now I’ll go with cornerback here, as the position is the team’s top need, especially with Bradley Roby likely to leave in free agency. There has been a lot of talk about Williams’ apparent allergy to tackling, but he can improve there in the NFL. And you don’t see pro-ready corners with his size (6-2, 180) and skill set often; he is a rare talent.

This would be a solid pick for John Elway and the Broncos. As Kiper noted, the Broncos appear to be planning to allow Bradley Roby test free agency in March. The move would open a sizable hole at the position opposite Chris Harris Jr.

Drafting Greedy Williams would certainly be a positive step in the right direction to replace Roby on the outside. However, with Vic Fangio, the choice here may have been to go with a top tier inside linebacker like Devin White. In Kiper’s mock, White went to the Cincinnati Bengals with the very next pick.

Either way, the Broncos defense would benefit greatly from either player. If Flacco is truly an upgrade over Case Keenum, then I would be perfectly fine with the move to bolster an already solid defense with another Top 10 draft pick.