As the Denver Broncos embark on their rebuilding journey, two things we know are that they need more draft capital and that they need to improve their pass rush.
The Broncos have a mere two picks in the top 100, and only one in the top 75. Meanwhile, their pass rush ranked 30th a season ago in pass rush win rate, and history tells us they’ll have to spend quality draft capital to fix that.
So how can Denver have their cake and eat it too?
By trading back for one of the draft’s best pass-rushing prospects.
But, who could they target if they followed such a plan?
Let’s look.
Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
The Denver Broncos halve already expressed their interest in UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu , by inviting him to the team’s facility on a top-30 visit. The 12th pick might be a little rich for Latu, but he would make a good deal of sense as a target following a trade back.
The current assortment of pass rushers in Denver features a lot of ‘Robins’, without a ‘Batman’ in sight, and Latu could fill that void.
His hands are lethal, and are some of the best one will see coming from a college prospect. He’s clearly an advanced prospect at the position mentally, boasting a polished array of pass-rush moves and demonstrating a clear understanding of how to develop and deploy a pass-rushing plan.
Latu is an outlier in that department.
Not only is he technically refined, but he displays strong instincts for the position — consistently timing the snap well, and showcasing a natural nose for the football.
However, for as appealing as his advanced development is, it’s also somewhat of a curse.
Latu is so technically refined that one has to wonder if he’s maxed out.
With sub-33-inch arms, poor explosive testing, and a slight frame, Latu doesn’t boast the athletic profile we’re used to seeing in our first-round edge-rushers, or the league’s star pass-rushers. As a result, it’s possible that Latu would wind up being just another ‘Robin’ who fails to be what Denver truly needs at the position.
His floor, if healthy, projects him as a valuable designated pass rusher, but the Broncos already have three players that match that description on rookie deals.
For Denver to feel comfortable with taking a swing on Latu, they’d have to feel confident that they could realize some of his untapped potential and would have to be comfortable with the fact that the Washington Huskies’ doctors believed Latu needed to medically retire due to his neck issues.
Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn St.
He might be the least-discussed first-round edge, but the most-desirable trade-down target for the Denver Broncos, if upgrading the pass rush is their top priority.
The fly in the ointment with Latu was, although he’s talented, does he have the upside to be the ‘special’ piece that Denver’s pass rush is missing?
That is not a concern for Demeioun ‘Chop’ Robinson. The upside is palpable there.
While Latu doesn’t have an elite trait, Robinson does with his quick first step and ability to explode off the line of scrimmage. ‘Chop’ launches off the snap like a damn rocket engine, and can thump into opposing linemen with a similar degree of force, demonstrating he isn’t just a twitched-up fly-weight pass-rusher.
Robinson also pairs his remarkable get-off with a bendy frame, making him a nightmare for any tackle that struggles to kick out.
That said, the production doesn’t match the profile.
He only started one of his three seasons in college, and even then, wasn’t overly successful, registering just four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. His inexperience shines through on his tape too, as he’s regularly leaning far too hard on sheer athletic ability to win reps, and is easily countered by craftier tackles.
If a tackle is able to move with him, they’re generally able to loop him around the pocket, as Robinson doesn’t yet have the heft to push through them. While there are some power elements of Robinson’s game, they rely on him converting his tremendous speed into forceful impact, as he’s a fairly slight pass rusher.
He also just turned 21 in January, so he should fill out more, but his game is short on power for now.
Robinson would be a swing for the fences, but if the Broncos take him following a trade down, they will have already protected themselves some from the downside of swinging and missing. Plus, when it comes to the edge-rusher room, Denver needs to swing for the fences.
They’re set on mid-tier options. They need a star. Robinson could prove to be one.
Jer’Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois
The Denver Broncos’ defensive line is a tremendous problem.
Zach Allen seems to have been a good find, but beyond that, the room is old, expensive, and in desperate need of an upgrade.
A trade-down for Jer’Zhan Newton would go a long way towards remedying that.
Newton elected to not test during the pre-draft process and doesn’t appear to be a workout warrior on tape, but what he lacks there he makes up for with his instincts and twitchiness.
The Illinois product is quick to react to the snap and explodes off the line of scrimmage. He packs a punch in his hands and has already shown pretty developed pass-rush moves on tape, helping him shed blockers to make splash plays in both the run and pass game.
His short stature also naturally gives him a leverage advantage, though the value of that leverage is somewhat negated by the limited reach that also comes with his frame.
Newton also checks some intangible boxes. His motor runs red-hot, which is impressive considering how many snaps he played for the Illini and he seems to be one of the more intelligent players on Illinois’ defense, with how much responsibility the coaching staff gave him.
Even though there’s a lot to like with Newton, his athletic limitations do show up, and will likely only show up more at the next level. His aforementioned short reach is a real concern, as is his some of his struggles in the run-game against more imposing opponents.
At the next level, he’s only going to see more players of that caliber, and it’s a real question whether or not he’ll be able to be a reliable run defender in those matchups.
He’s not the most sensible pairing for Zach Allen on the defensive front, but if the Denver Broncos want to upgrade their pass rush, he’ll be one of the very best options outside the top 15.
