2015 NFL Draft: Best Broncos prospects for Day Two

Defensive Backs

Landon Collins, SS — Alabama  (First Round)

Landon Collins is a physical defender who has more in-box qualities than premium coverage skills, but certainly was a first round caliber player in my mind.   He isn’t likely to last long in the second round and should fine a home in the Top 40 selections.

Eric Rowe, DB — Utah (Second Round)

A lot of scouts are divided on Rowe’s talents because they struggle whether or not to keep him at corner or safety.   It’s quite simple — keep him at safety and you have a Pro-Bowl caliber player.   He has some of the best coverage traits in the entire draft and could be an instant starter for the Broncos, even with the signing of Darian Stewart.  He is one player I would like to see Denver move up for.

Jalen Collins, CB — LSU  (Second Round)

Collins is another player who has the complete triangle in regards to measurables and has superb ball skills, but has failed three drug tests and has medical concerns.  It isn’t likely the Broncos select him, but his talent is worth mentioning.

P.J. Williams, CB — Florida State (Second Round)

A talented cover corner who tends to get a little grabby, P.J. Williams is one of the top remaining corners in the draft.  It isn’t a need for Denver, but players of his caliber being available in this round certainly help players at positions of need fall to Denver.


Ronald Darby, CB — Florida State (Second Round)

The other half of the Florida State cover duo, Darby has a little bit more versatility to his game and seems like a cleaner prospect who is less adverse to taking risks.  He too will be an early pick in the second round for a team in need of a quality corner and will likely start in the nickel packages for someone immediately.

Defensive Lineman

Eddie Goldman, DT — FSU  (First Round)

Dubbed "The Accountant" — Goldman has the size and ability to play various spots in any defensive front.  He might not have the most astounding production numbers, but his hidden production is something that won’t show up on the stat sheet, but undoubtedly played an integral part in the Seminoles’ defensive successes over the past several seasons.



Jordan Phillips, DT — Oklahoma (Second Round)

A big bodied, versatile defender who has experience in a two-gap scheme for the Sooners, but flashes freakish size and athletic ability comparable to former Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.  Has the skill set to be a nose tackle in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense.



Carl Davis, DT — Iowa (Second Round)

Davis played in a "patty cake" defensive scheme with the Hawkeyes, but has the ability to be a difference maker at the nose tackle position in the NFL.  I have talked to several sources within Iowa who speak very highly of Davis and refuse various reports of him being "lazy" and not being dedicated to the game of football.  He would be an intriguing option for Denver if available when they select.


Grady Jarrett, DT — Clemson (Second Round)

Undersized but tenacious, Jarrett could be the diamond in the rough he Broncos are waiting for on their defensive front.  With long-term concerns at the position looming large, the Broncos could score tremendous value with this gap firing product from Clemson at the end of the second round.


Preston Smith, DE — Mississippi State (Second Round)

The Broncos have scouted Smith extensively who has an incredibly strong and lengthy frame.  He is very sound against the run and above-average in pass pursuit, but lacks the "quick twitch" athleticism to make him a blue-chip prospect.  However, he is comparable to recent Broncos free agent Antonio Smith and is likely to be on the top of the Broncos wish list on the second day.

Xavier Cooper, DT — Washington State (Third Round)

The Cougars aren't known for putting out high caliber NFL talent, but Cooper certainly fits the bill.  He has played all over their defensive fronts and is one of the most disruptive tackles in this class and is a quality fit for the Broncos defensive scheme.  Rumors are the Detroit Lions are absolutely infatuated with him and could very well use their second round selection to place him along side Haloti Ngata.



Mario Edwards, Jr., DE — Florida State (Third Round)

Has all the talent in the world, but never seemed to live up to the hype with the Seminoles.  Has the athleticism, size and frame to be an every down defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, but will need the tutelage from proper coaches (such as Bill Kollar) for him to reach the potential he holds within.   Could be a name to watch since the Broncos have Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe set to be free agents in 2016.

Michael Bennett, DT — Ohio State (Third Round)

Likely best suited for a 4-3 front, Bennett has an impressive first step and could be utilized effectively as a one gap shooter for Wade Phillips.  He is a prospect to keep an eye on in the late second to early third round.

Offensive Lineman

Jake Fisher, OT — Oregon (Second Round)

I never bought into Fisher being drafted in the first round, but he is clearly one of the top tackles remaining and a superb fit for Denver’s offensive zone blocking scheme.  He won’t be there at #59, so any desire for his services will necessitate a move up the boards to acquire them.

T.J. Clemmings, OT — Pittsburgh (Second Round)

There’s no doubt that Clemmings has tremendous upside, but he is extraordinarily raw and needs a year of seasoning before he can contribute significantly at a pro level.  With teams in dire need of tackles with high potential, Clemmings should go off the board fairly quickly at the beginning of the second round.

AJ Cann, G — South Carolina (Second Round)

Best suited for a power scheme, AJ Cann is one of the most battle-tested and consistent offensive lineman in this class.  He does move rather well for a big man and would fit a need at left guard for the Broncos.  It will be interested to see where he goes, but I am betting it is in the Top 50 selections.

Ali Marpet, G — Hobart (Second Round)

The legend of Ali Marpet continues to grow and it has been mentioned that he has been favored by teams picking at the top of the second round.  There will be a learning and competition curve from Division III Hobart to the NFL and I do not hold the same opinion that he will be an immediate impact player in the pros as some in the scouting community have suggested.  He will need some time to develop.


Hroniss Grasu, C — Oregon (Second Round)

Grasu would be an absolutely perfect for Denver and could be available when they are on the clock.  Despite the front office’s praise of Matthew Paradis, Grasu has a much higher ceiling and could become a Pro-Bowl caliber player in our offense.  He is definitely a name worth remembering tomorrow.



Ty Sambrailo, OT — Colorado State (Second Round)

Sambrailo is slated by most to be a right tackle, however several outlets reported yesterday that teams, even the Broncos, have worked him out at center.  He is local prospect and one Denver has done their diligence on.  There is a very strong chance he is the teams second round pick if available when they are on the clock.

Benardrick McKinney, ILB — Mississippi State (Second Round)

Rumor has it that the Broncos are infatuated with the size and athleticism of McKinney, but I have my doubts that he lasts all the way to their selection.  If the team is serious about upgrading the inside linebacker position, they will have to move up for him.

Paul Dawson, ILB — TCU (Second Round)

Dawson has the best instincts of any inside linebacker in this class and seems to recognize what the play is going to be before the ball is even snapped, but concerns over his character and sentiments that he is not beloved within the TCU program may drop him to the #59 selection.  I would be absolutely thrilled with the selection as it gives the Broncos a contingency plan for Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan, who both have injury concerns and expiring contracts at the end of the season.

Eric Kendricks, ILB — UCLA (Second Round)

I expect Kendricks to go early in round two.  He is undersized and some teams might view him more as a natural WILL, but he is one of the most instinctive and pro ready playmakers at linebacker in the entire draft.  I believe he can do well in our scheme, he just needs quality defenders in front of him to help make that happen and keep him clean.

Denzel Perryman, ILB — Miami (Second Round)

A bit shorter than you’d like, Perryman is the best athlete out of the group.  He has a comprehensive package and will be an impact player as a rookie.  Unfortunately, the Miami coaching staff wasted his talents, along with his teammates and his tape is not an adequate reflection of the potential he has.  Either him or the players mentioned above would serve the Broncos well in the second round.

Receiving Options

Maxx Williams, TE — Minnesota (Second Round)

Touted as the best tight end in a weak class, Williams is a redshirt sophomore who has high end play making ability.  The Broncos did sign several tight ends this off-season, but the likes of James Casey and Owen Daniels are not long-term solutions for the Broncos.  Gary Kubiak’s offensive system needs players like Williams and I wouldn’t count against the Broncos making a move to secure the Golden Gopher.

Clive Walford, TE — Miami (Second Round)

Walford is easily the most athletic tight end in this class and boasts consistent production and improvement over his time with the Hurricanes, but recent reports surfaced several days ago that he interviewed poorly and many GM’s and talent evaluators were very off-put with the way he handled himself.   Despite that, he would be a fantastic option with prodigious upside for the Broncos and would be a valuable selection at the end of round two.

Devin Funchess, WR/TE — Michigan (Second Round)

An absolute terror in the red zone, Funchess has impressive size and an impeccable catch radius that would make him a threat in any offense.  However, he is more of a body catcher than natural hand catcher receiving the football and does not have the premier athleticism you would expect out of a wide receiver.  If he puts in hard work, he could have comparable success to Kelvin Benjamin, the first round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2014.  He is a polarizing prospect, but I would not be upset if the Broncos swooped him up in the second round.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR — Oklahoma (Second Round)

Few players possess the size and athleticism of DGB, but even fewer display the red flags that have riddled his collegiate career.  I expect a team will gamble on this playmaker quite early and it is doubtful he would be an option for the Broncos, but having him go before we pick only helps us in our chance to land a more realistic target.

Jaelen Strong, WR — Arizona State (Second Round)

Had it not been for his wrist surgery, Strong was a likely candidate to be selected in the first round.  He has impressive workout numbers and a background in basketball which has helped him become a tremendous pass catcher with great balance and a feel for nabbing the ball out of the air.  He doesn’t play as fast as he times and struggles with press man coverage, but has upside as a #2 receiver in the NFL.

Running Backs

Tevin Coleman, RB — Indiana (Second Round)

A homerun threat who can take it the distance, Coleman is an upright, decisive north-south runner with an impressive blend of size and speed.  He needs to learn to be more patient and develop his vision in order to have the same success as he did in college in the pros.   Running back isn’t a high end need for the team, but he is talented enough to be considered if available when the Broncos are on the clock.

Jay Ajayi, RB — Boise State (Second Round)

Ajayi is a prospect that does most everything very well, especially catching the ball out of the backfield.  He is an exciting runner to watch and possesses three down capability and was one of the top performers in most drills at the combine, but concerns over his ACL may drop him into the latter half of the second round.

Duke Johnson, RB — Miami (Second Round)

It can easily be argued that Johnson is the best zone runner in the entire class, with impressive cutback ability and the speed and agility to stretch it outside.  One of the most important pieces of the Hurricanes offense, "The Duke" is an explosive player who has quick feet and is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.  I would give my first born up for the possibility of having Johnson on the squad, but unfortunately the team felt the need to blow a second round selection on Montee Ball several years ago.  But hey, anything can happen, right?

Other Prospects

These are a handful of other prospects who are likely to find homes somewhere on the second day:

OLB’s / PRS’s:  Eli Harold, Randy Gregory, Danielle Hunter, Lorenzo Mauldin, Owamagbe Odighizuwa.   All quality players in their own right and hopefully many are selected in the second round, as the need Denver had for them is no longer with Shane Ray in the wings.

RB’s: Ameer Adbullah, TJ Yeldon, Jeremy Langford, David Johnson, Javorius Allen

WR’s: Chris Conley, Tyler Lockett, Devin Smith, Sammie Coates, Rashad Greene

OL’s: Jarvis Harrison, Tre Jackson, Donovan Smith, Mitch Morse

DB’s: Jaquiski Tartt, Adrian Amos, Quinten Rollins, D’Joun Smith, Josh Shaw