Round 2 Broncos’ mock: The Slide

If you read my or Scotty Payne’s Day 2 Big Boards, you’ll be well aware that there is some serious talent still out there for the Broncos to take.

Noah Fant gives Denver an elite mismatch weapon if he can develop, but there’s a lot of needs to still be addressed. How could the draft fall on Day 2?

33. Arizona Cardinals - D.K. Metcalf - RECEIVER

Kliff Kingsbury has got to be giddy that Metcalf falls right into his lap. He’s got elite speed at the kind of size that should provide Kyler Murray an elite deep threat out of the gate.

34. Indianapolis Colts - A.J. Brown - RECEIVER

Brown isn’t the kind of silly athlete his teammate is but finished his career at Ole Miss with more than double Metcalf’s career receiving yards. Perfect fit for the Colts offense and Luck could use another weapon.

35. Oakland Raiders - Rock Ya-Sin - CORNERBACK

Gareon Conley, Nick Nelson, and Nevin Lawson are currently slated to start at the three corner positions. It may not be Ya-Sin but Oakland has to grab a corner here.

36. San Francisco 49ers - Byron Murphy - CORNERBACK

Robert Saleh badly needs reinforcements in the secondary and John Lynch catches who I had as the best corner in this class. A+ scheme fit as well.

37. Seattle Seahawks - Erik McCoy - OFFENSIVE LINE

This one’s a bummer because I love McCoy. Justin Britt was low-key pretty dang bad last year and Carroll wants a run first, second, and third offense.

38. Jacksonville Jaguars - Irv Smith - TIGHT END

Jaguars are quietly set to have a really solid draft but Jag it up. Taylor was the guy pegged to them at 7 but they’ll pass again here to give Foles a binky.

39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cody Ford - OFFENSIVE LINE

Caleb Benenoch is just about as bad as the Seahawk’s Britt is and Ford has Pro Bowl potential. He’ll need some time to iron out a few kinks but it’s hard to pass at this point.

40. Buffalo Bills - Jawan Taylor - OFFENSIVE LINE

I loved the Oliver pick, but they passed on offensive help for Allen. Whether it be receiver, tight end or tackle they’ll address that here. Taylor gives them a bully to run behind.

41. Denver Broncos - Dalton Risner - OFFENSIVE LINE

There’s going to be a loud segment of Broncos Country flaming Elway for passing yet again on Drew Lock. I think he sees a much better QB class in 2020 and wants to give Flacco a chance. Whether you agree with that decision or not, the best way to do it is avoid grabbing a backup that the main stream media will call for every time Flacco sneezes wrong. Talk Radio will hate it, the local paper ain’t gonna like it, but it’s probably the best decision for the short and long term. Risner can play guard, tackle, or center and gives Munchak flexibility with Connor McGovern.

42. Cincinatti Bengals - Drew Lock - QUARTERBACK

Andy Dalton has no guaranteed money left on his contract and a coach that should be eager for life after the Red Rifle. Here’s betting A.J. Green celebrates.

43. Detroit Lions - Chase Winovich - EDGE

As good as Hockenson is at tight end the Lions passed on three pressing needs to grab him. Winovich helps, but it’ll be interesting to see what they do at corner and along the line.

44. Green Bay Packers - Hakeem Butler - RECEIVER

The Packers surprised me by passing on Fant for Gary. Outside of Davante Adams the receiving corps is just so-so. Butler would give Aaron Rodgers a big weapon to throw to.

45. Los Angeles Rams - Nasir Adderley - SAFETY

Eric Weddle is a year to year fix and John Johnson is a guy. Adderley gives them another DB who can cover and should grow into a solution on the back end.

46. Indianapolis Colts - Taylor Rapp - SAFETY

Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks ranted about Rapp for the last two months. In the end his speed knocked him out of round 1 but he’ll profile as a strong intermediate defender.

47. Carolina Panthers - Will Grier - QUARTERBACK

There’s been a slew of rumors in recent weeks that the Panthers were interested in grabbing an heir apparent to Cam Newton. They’ve also been connected to the Mountaineer.

48. Arizona Cardinals (from Miami) - David Long - CORNERBACK

A48. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside - RECEIVER

Steve Keim uses the pick he gets for Josh Rosen on a player that may have to replace Patrick Peterson. It’s almost ironic.

49. Cleveland Browns - Julian Love - CORNERBACK

I think Steve Wilks means that Justin Layne isn’t an ideal fit here schematically. Love isn’t as pretty, but he’ll slides in as the running mate with last years 4th overall pick Denzel Ward.

50. Minnesota Vikings - Greg Little - OFFENSIVE LINE

Minny could go after defensive help here, but I think Kubiak would jump Zimmer for a chance to grab a left tackle of the future. The current book ends are meh.

51. New England Patriots (from TEN) - Zach Allen - DEFENSIVE LINE

The Pats will be aggressive here and the Titans could use additional picks to chase needs after grabbing Simmons in round 1. Allen is a 5 tech who can rush the passer out of 2i.

52. Denver Broncos - Dre’Mont Jones - DEFENSIVE LINE

If you loved Oliver, you’ll like Jones as a sort of Day 2 version of him. He isn’t as stout against the run but should provide some serious interior pressure in nickel personnel. He has visited with the Broncos and really stepped up when Nick Bosa got injured at OSU last year. Defensive line doesn’t seem like an immediate need until you realize that Derek Wolfe, Adam Gotsis, and Shelby Harris are all playing out the final year of their contracts.

Other options that make a ton of sense here are cornerback, safety, and receiver. I just think Fangio, like me, believes that interior pressure is vitally important in today’s NFL.

53. Philadelphia Eagles - Juan Thornhill - SAFETY

I had Darnell Savage and Juan Thornhill th_is close as my second and third safeties. The Iggles could use help in their secondary and this likely sticks it to Dallas too.

54. Houston Texans - Elgton Jenkins - OFFENSIVE LINE

I mentioned this in my grade post yesterday. The Texans need 3 or even 4 new starters on their offensive line and Howard is sushi raw. Jenkins will step in day 1, ready or not.

55. Houston Texans - Justin Layne - CORNERBACK

Layne comes out of Mark Delangello’s Cover 4 scheme which has perimeter corners playing a lot of downs in what looks a lot like man coverage. Layne has Roby to learn from. Gulp.

56. Tennessee Titans - Parris Campbell - RECEIVER

This is about as much as hope as anything else. Marcus Mariota desperately needs some receiving help and the Titans have the slowest corps in the league. Campbell helps that.

57. Philadelphia Eagles - Joejuan Williams - CORNERBACK

Some had the Vandy man going as high as Day 1. Iggles get a long term heir apparent to Ronald Darby and he won’t need to play too soon.

58. Dallas Cowboys - Jaylon Ferguson - EDGE

Ferguson flashes first round talent on tape but his 3 Cone time knocked him down the boards. He fits across from DeMarcus Lawrence to give Big D and gives them bookends.

59. Indianapolis Colts - Amani Oruwariye - CORNERBACK

He could keep sliding but I think the Colts buy into Amani’s potential. His ceiling is a scheme transcendent corner who can make plays on the ball.

60. L.A. Chargers - Sean Bunting - CORNERBACK

LA would really like a solid OL prospect to fall here but won’t reach. Bunting’s could grow into a really good off ball zone corner and fits the size profile Gus Bradley is looking for.

61. Kansas City Chiefs - Mecole Hardman - RECEIVER

The Chiefs have gone back and forth between grabbing all the guys with troubling histories of domestic violence and playing the PR game of cutting them for John Dorsey to sign.

62. New Orleans Saints - Andy Isabella - RECEIVER

Conventional wisdom will grill the Saints for passing on defensive help here. I think they look at the guys around Mike Williams and give Brees a slot machine to work with.

63. Kansas City Chiefs - Lonnie Johnson - CORNERBACK

At some point the Chiefs need to get cornerback help. Johnson’s best chance at success at the next level is in a zone heavy scheme.

64. New England Patriots - Mack Wilson - LINEBACKER

There’s a big part of me that believes Wilson would be an easy Day 1 selection had he stayed under Nick Saban for another year. Instead he slides to the waiting arms of Belichick.