The 2019 NFL Draft begins Thursday night, so I thought it would be fun to take one last look at which players have been getting mocked the most to the Denver Broncos over the last couple of weeks. I went through and tracked down as many major mock drafts as possible that were published to see what kind of consensus group of players might be available for Denver with that 10th overall pick.
Overall Broncos Consensus
- Drew Lock - 45%
- Devin White - 15%
- Devin Bush - 15%
- T.J. Hockenson - 10%
- Ed Oliver - 5%
- Dwayne Haskins - 5%
- Andre Dillard - 5%
Here were the 20 major NFL mock drafts I pulled for this mock draft database.
SB Nation - Devin White, ILB
10. Denver Broncos: Devin White, LB, LSU
Offseason needs: Linebacker, tight end, cornerback, defensive tackle
Missouri quarterback Drew Lock is the popular choice for the Broncos. But if the Broncos are smart, they’ll go another direction at No. 10. White is one of the more dominant players in this draft and could slot in to the middle of Denver’s defense.
SB Nation Writer’s Mock - Drew Lock, QB
Mile High Report - Devin White, ILB
10. Devin White - LINEBACKER
There were no other choices. Oliver went 9, White slid. I ran and grabbed him.
If you haven’t read my GIF Horse pieces on Devin White, I talked about him at length here and here. Simply put, he’s the second-best player on my adjusted Broncos board. (There is no feasible way Quinnen Williams slides, after all.) I had this to say after my first time studying him:
Long term the defense is going to prioritize linebackers that look a lot like White. They’re the key component of the Fangio system and elite athletes at the position make everything easier. He uses them as Swiss Army knives. Sometimes they’ll blitz, sometimes they’ll cover, but they need to be able to shred anything that makes it to them.
If White is there at 10, you grab him, throw him next to Todd Davis between Von Miller and Bradley Chubb and grin ear to ear as the defense takes a jump to another level in 2019. His speed would immediately cover for a lot of the weaknesses Davis has. His ability to cover and spy would be assets in the AFC West with Hunter Henry, Travis Kelce, and potentially Kyler Murray on the schedule.
The Ringer - Drew Lock, QB
10. Denver Broncos: Drew Lock, QB
Big-armed pocket passer with a knack for the big play but inconsistencies in his accuracy, footwork, and decision-making.
SHADES OF: Smoke-free Jay Cutler
NFL.com Chad Reuter - T.J. Hockenson, TE
10. Denver Broncos: T.J. Hockenson - TE
School: Iowa | Year: Sophomore (RS)
With the top four quarterbacks off the board, Denver picks an elite tight end prospect for Joe Flacco and whomever takes over the Flacco in the future.
NFL.com Daniel Jeremiah - Devin Bush, ILB
10. Denver Broncos: Devin Bush
School: Michigan | Year: Junior
The Broncos have done a lot of work on this year’s QB class, but they ultimately address the defensive side of the ball in Round 1. Bush has a chance to be an elite player in this defense.
Peter King - Devin Bush, ILB
10. Denver: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
There’s not a perfect player on the board for Vic Fangio’s defense, but so many teams need a rangy sideline-to-sideline linebacker (Pittsburgh would love for him to drop to 20, but I don’t see it), and many think Bush would be a great compliment to edge-rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Four or five teams between 10 and 20 would have serious interest in Bush if he falls past 10.
Walter Football - Andre Dillard, OT
10. Denver Broncos: Andre Dillard, OT , Washington State My good friend Cecil Lammey of 104.3 The Fan in Denver has heard that John Elway is not sold on Drew Lock. Cecil believes that Devin White and Ed Oliver are more likely to be the Broncos’ pick with T.J. Hockenson as plan C. With all of them off the board, Denver could consider some offensive line help in the form of Andre Dillard, Erik McCoy or Garrett Bradbury. Dillard would give the Broncos a true left tackle and let them move Garrett Bolles inside.
DraftTek - Drew Lock, QB
The draft is upon us and Denver will have a number of options to improve this team. I believe their best option is to find a trade partner in the top five in order to secure the QB of the future. The 49ers, Jets, and Bucs could all be possible trade partners, but if Kyler Murray is indeed the top pick in the draft, staying at #10 will not be a favorable position for a team that wants a quarterback.
Now, if Denver doesn’t want to force the issue, they should stay put at #10 because a player they like is likely to fall to them. Let’s face it; history tells us that quarterbacks are going to be selected early, and I wouldn’t be shocked if each of the top three hear their names called in the first nine picks. That means top players are going to fall, and whether it’s a LB like Devin White or Devin Bush, an OL like Jonah Williams, or a TE like T.J. Hockenson, the Broncos are bound to have somebody they like available when they are on the clock.
Pro Football Focus - Drew Lock, QB
10. DENVER BRONCOS
QB Drew Lock, Missouri (Big Board Rank: No. 37)
I have a long list of players I like for the Broncos but Lock is probably the pick if he slides to here. I have watched enough drafts to know that quarterbacks tend to slide up these draft boards the closer we get to the draft, and Lock is a big-arm QB like an Elway or Joe Flacco, but he would really benefit to sit and watch Flacco for a year. I like quarterbacks that have success from teams that can be outmatched at times in their conference. Lock has all the skills to be a star, but it is always a crapshoot at QB.
The Film Room - Dwayne Haskins, QB
Sports Illustrated - Devin Bush, ILB
10. DENVER BRONCOS
Needs: ILB, TE, C
What I know: Their connection to Drew Lock stretches all the way back to the Senior Bowl. And I’m going to say…they punt on the QBs this year. Michigan LB Devin Bush has gotten hot of late with coaches involved in the process. And word is that new Broncos coach Vic Fangio, fresh off coaching Chicago’s defense, may see a little Roquan Smith in Bush.
With the 10th pick: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
CBS Sports Tom Fornelli - Ed Oliver, DL
10. Denver Broncos
Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
I’ve had Oliver falling to Atlanta in my mocks, but I have a feeling that if he’s still here at 10, the Broncos are going to grab him. John Elway still wants a QB, but I don’t know if he’s convinced Drew Lock is the guy, or if he’s just as happy adding somebody later. So instead he’ll put Oliver between Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Goodness.
CBS Sports Pete Prisco - Drew Lock, QB
10. Denver Broncos
Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
The Broncos have Joe Flacco, but he’s not the long-term answer. Lock would be.
CBS Sports Ryan Wilson - Drew Lock, QB
John Elway has reportedly been smitten with Lock since the fall. After back-to-back losing seasons, Elway hopes he’s finally found his long-term franchise quarterback.
CBS Sports Will Brinson - Drew Lock, QB
10. Denver Broncos
Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
John Elway wants to win now and he has Joe Flacco, but he also knows that he needs a Plan B for the future and he loves him some Drew Lock. Big, tall, strong arm. If Flacco gets hurt he has to have a backup.
CBS Sports Chris Trapasso - Drew Lock, QB
10. Denver Broncos
Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
Lock has a live, explosive arm like Joe Flacco, and he’d enter the Broncos organization without loads of pressure right away.
Don Banks - Drew Lock, QB
10. Denver Broncos
Drew Lock, QB, Missouri: If the already-gone Haskins was their top passing target as is believed, the Broncos may not address quarterback in the first round and ride all the way with veteran Joe Flacco. I could be off base on Lock in the top 10, but for now I’m sticking with him as someone Denver has been contemplating all draft season and won’t be able to pass up.
Charley Casserly - T.J. Hockenson, TE
T.J. Hockenson - TE
School: Iowa | Year: Sophomore (RS)
Joe Flacco loves throwing to tight ends, but I could also see the Broncos taking a quarterback here.
Draftwire - Devin White, ILB
10. Denver Broncos | Devin White | LB | LSU
This falls well for the Broncos, who need a three-down playmaker at the second level, and would have this year’s top linebackers to pick from here. White’s impressive performance at the NFL Scouting Combine backed up his solid film, where he showed a complete skill set going up against top competition. He could easily end up being a top-five pick, so getting White here is a huge bargain.
Of the major contenders here, which of these prospects do you hope the Broncos draft in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft?
Poll
Which would you prefer at 10 for Denver?
This poll is closed
-
9%
Drew Lock
-
56%
Devin White
-
14%
Devin Bush
-
10%
T.J. Hockenson
-
8%
None of the above