In what is arguably the best time of the football calendar year, draft season is now fully upon us.
With the 2024 NFL Draft just eight days away, Broncos Country is buzzing with excitement to learn who the newest members of the Denver Broncos will be. This is an important draft for the franchise, as they are in a position to kick-start their rebuild with exciting young talent.
Understandably, the majority of media attention has been spent deciphering what Denver will do at No. 12 overall, as the Broncos have not owned the rights to a first-round pick since 2021.
They could choose to trade multiple first-round picks to move up for QBs Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy, trade down and acquire more capital to fill additional needs, or stand pat and pick a premium player at 12.
However, it is important to remember that the draft is far bigger than just one round, as the Broncos will need multiple contributors from this class if they hope to turn things around. Luckily, this is one of the deepest draft classes in recent memory, as there are plenty of Day 3 prospects who could develop into solid pieces for Denver.
Today, let’s take a look at six under-the-radar draft offensive prospects that the Denver Broncos could target in the later rounds of the draft.
Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
Measurables: 6’2”; 217 lbs; 8.22 RAS score; 22 years old.
2023 Stats: 2,406 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, five interceptions
Draft Projection: Rounds 3-4
In what has been such a quarterback-hungry offseason for Broncos Country, Tulane’s Michael Pratt appears to have gotten somewhat lost in the shuffle among other options in the draft.
While he is not particularly electric in terms of arm talent or athleticism, he is a great fit for Sean Payton’s offense as a high-floor backup with spot-starter ability.
Positives
- Very accurate with the football and is able to layer throws all across the field.
- Displays solid athleticism in the pocket and can be an occasional running threat.
- Pocket presence would also be an upgrade for the Broncos, as he stays calm and collected and always keeps his eyes downfield.
- Clearly has the requisite football IQ needed for the position, as he always knows where to go with the football and limits turnovers.
- PFF credited him with a mere 3.5% of turnover-worthy throws.
- Highly competitive, went toe-to-toe with Caleb Williams in the 2022 Cotton Bowl and beat him.
Negatives
- Average to below-average arm strength, which will decrease his margin of error against NFL defenses.
- High floor, low ceiling.
- Struggles with throws outside the numbers.
- Only has average size and athleticism for the position.
- Decision-making can sometimes be a tick too slow, as he has a tendency to wait too long to commit to a throw, and that’s a bigger problem given arm strength and athletic concerns.
Overall: Pratt checks so many Payton-specific boxes for the Denver Broncos, making him a great target in the late-Day-2 or early-Day-3 range. Ultimately, the lack of elite traits is the primary reason why he will be available at that point in the draft, but that wouldn’t prevent him from being a productive player for the Broncos. After all, Payton has gotten the most out of physically limited quarterbacks in the past, such as Teddy Bridgewater, Trevor Siemien, and Taysom Hill. He might even be able to start in 2024, given his competition.
Tyrone Tracy Jr, RB, Purdue
Measurables: 5’11”; 209 lbs; 9.64 RAS score; 24 years old
2023 Stats: 716 rushing yards, 132 receiving yards, eight touchdowns
Draft Projection: Rounds 4-5
Should the Denver Broncos add to the running back room, one of the most versatile options in the entire draft is Purdue’s Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Tracy Jr spent the first four years of his career at Iowa as a wide receiver before transferring to Purdue and eventually converting to running back.
Positives
- Unlike most receiver-running back conversions, he is well-built, at 5’11”, 209 lbs, meaning he can handle running between the tackles at the next level.
- Contact balance absolutely pops on film, as he has a strong enough lower body to fight through tackles and create yards after contact.
- Able to make sharp cuts and burst upfield.
- He would contribute right away to special teams and perhaps challenge Marvin Mims Jr. for kick-return duties.
- Experience at receiver means that he has the versatility to be used in the “change-of-pace” role out of the backfield, while perhaps occasionally lining up out wide.
- Extremely willing in pass protection
Negatives
- Only one year of experience at the position, meaning that he has underdeveloped vision
- Needs more reps reading blocks, as he sometimes attempts to bounce runs outside instead of staying in his designed lane.
- Lateral movement is just average, making him more of a north/south runner.
- Will be a 25-year-old rookie with lack-of-development concerns.
Overall: Tracy Jr. is an intriguing developmental running back that needs more experience playing the position. If he develops his vision, patience, and ability to read blocks, then his combination of size, speed, and receiving ability will make him a threat to NFL defenses.
The Denver Broncos running back room could use someone with Tracy’s exact skillset, as Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine are limited in explosiveness, while Jahleel McLaughlin is limited in size.
However, it is worth noting that Tracy Jr’s age is a big reason why he will be available, as running backs tend to age faster than every other position. Thankfully, Tracy has very little tread on his tires and should still provide quality seasons as a pro.
Bub Means, WR, Pittsburgh
Measurables: 6’1”; 212 lbs; 9.47 RAS score; 23 years old
2023 stats: 41 receptions, 721 yards, six touchdowns
Draft Projection: Rounds 5-6
In one of the most stacked wide receiver classes in recent memory, Bub Means is an exciting combination of height, weight, and speed that is flying under the radar. Although there are areas of his game that need to be polished in the pros, Means still has the skillset to contribute right away as a rookie.
Positives
- A great combination of size and speed that can make him a viable vertical threat at the next level.
- Dependable in contested-catch situations, does not shy away from contact and will finish through the catch.
- Has strong hands at the catch point, knows how to use his body and long arms to out-leverage the defender and come down with the ball.
- Shows urgency to get downfield after the catch, was excellent in “catch and go” situations.
Negatives
- Not a polished route-runner. Often has to round his routes and needs extra steps for his comeback/curl routes.
- Average agility, will not make any defenders miss after the catch.
- Has the frame to be a good perimeter blocker, but must improve effort and technique.
Overall: Means’ athleticism combined with his strong contested catch ability would make him a great developmental target for the Broncos later in the draft.
Most of his deficiencies simply need to be coached, and an NFL wide receiver coach like Keary Colbert can teach him how to sharpen his routes and improve his blocking technique.
His agility makes it tough to envision him ever becoming an elite route-runner, but that has not stopped stiffer-hipped athletes, such as Courtland Sutton, from learning how to separate at the next level. As he grows in these areas, he could still be utilized as a deep threat and red zone target as a rookie.
Erick All, TE, Iowa
Measurables: 6’4”; 252 lbs; DNQ RAS score; 23 years old
2023 Junior stats: 21 catches, 299 yards, three touchdowns
Draft Projection: Rounds 4-6
Tight end will absolutely be a need for the Denver Broncos in this draft, as incumbent starter Adam Trautman is not overly dynamic as a receiver and 2022 third-round pick Greg Dulcich has struggled to stay on the field.
Should he fall far enough in the draft, Iowa tight end Erick All would be a high-risk high-reward option for the Broncos that is worth taking a swing on.
Positives
- Extremely smooth athlete for the position that is fast enough to out-run linebackers and big enough to out-physical defensive backs.
- Has great lateral agility for his size that should translate to a full NFL route tree.
- Would be a great target for a young quarterback, as he is able to adjust to poor ball placement and runs smooth routes.
- Shows great willingness and effort as a blocker.
Negatives
- Several season-ending injuries, including an ACL tear in 2023 and “life-changing back surgery” in 2022.
- Was not able to test due to his injuries.
- Despite great effort when blocking, he is not a refined in-line blocker and can get overpowered at the point of attack.
- Would be better served as a move-blocker.
- Guilty of some easy drops, can sometimes begin running before securing the catch.
Overall: As a prospect, All is simply the epitome of a dice roll, as there are many possible outcomes for his NFL future.
While he could be yet another Denver Broncos draft pick who struggles to see the field, he could just as easily be the next great Iowa tight end like George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, or Sam Laporta. There is no doubt that the injury concerns are real, so the Broncos must ask themselves All’s the elite athleticism and upside is worth a swing on Day 3.
Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona
Measurables: 6’5”; 244 lbs; 4.61 40-yard dash; 9.13 RAS score; 25 years old
2023 stats: 45 catches, 528 yards, four touchdowns
Draft Projection: Rounds 4-5
If the medicals take Erick All out of the equation for Denver, Tanner McLachlan from Arizona is another quality target in the early-Day-3 portion of the draft. McLachlan is one of the most interesting prospects in the class, as he will be a 25-year-old rookie who still has yet to play his best football.
Positives
- Good size and frame with the upside to add additional weight/strength in an NFL strength and conditioning program.
- Has good straight-line speed for the position, can attack the seam with ease.
- Fairly decent separator, can be schemed open fairly easily as a rookie while he polishes his route-running.
- Fights for extra yards after the catch and is tough to bring down.
- Strong at the catch point and is able to adjust to poor ball placement.
- Alignment versatile tight end that flashes the ability to block in-line.
Negatives
- Must get stronger and add more weight to his frame, as that is limiting his upside as a blocker and yards-after-catch threat.
- Blocking technique still needs to be polished, as he is very inconsistent on tape.
- Not overly dynamic laterally, which limits his upside as a route-runner.
- Will be a 25-year-old rookie..
Overall: Despite being a sixth-year senior, McLachlan projects the clear upside to grow into a key contributor in an NFL offense.
He has plenty of intangibles that teams look for at the tight end position and will be even better if he fully commits to an NFL strength and conditioning program. Stylistically, he is similar to former Browns tight end Harrison Bryant, except he has the frame to be even better as a blocker.
Although he figures to improve from this point, the question is how much? His age will scare a lot of NFL teams, as he will be 29 years old by the time his rookie contract ends. A team may only be getting four to five years of his prime, which is why he will be available at this point in the draft.
Garrett Greenfield, OT, South Dakota State
Measurables: 6’5”; 311 lbs; 8.36 RAS score; 24 years old
2023 stats: N/A
Draft Projection: Rounds 5-7
Offensive tackle figures to be a big priority in the draft, as economic uncertainty is clouding Garett Bolles’s future and free agent acquisition Mike McGlinchey struggled in his first year as a Bronco. Should the Denver Broncos defer addressing the position until Day 3, Garrett Greenfield from South Dakota State would be a interesting developmental target.
Positives
- Loads of experience at the college level, with 55 career starts combined across left and right tackle spots.
- Easy movement skills. Is able to move laterally and get to the second level in the run game with ease.
- Explosiveness metrics at combine were elite, setting a new record for offensive lineman with a 38.5-inch vertical.
- Able to quickly get into his pass pro stance and hard to initially beat around the edge .
- Showcases the grip strength to lock onto defenders in pass pro.
- Plays with a nasty mentality in the run game, trying to always finish through the ground.
Negatives
- Just average length for a tackle, at 33.5-inch arms.
- Run blocking technique needs refinement, as he often loses the leverage battle.
- Upper body works faster than his feet, sometimes leading to him lunging and losing his balance.
- Struggles to anchor and can get overpowered by a strong bullrush, will need to improve core strength at the next level in order to better sustain blocks.
- Would like to see more knee-bend.
Overall: When watching the tape, there is immediately many positives about Greenfield that jump off the screen. He has has the intangibles, possessing great size with a thick frame and plus movement skills. He is also, like many on this list, extremely experienced at the college level at 24 years old with 55 career starts. While this is generally viewed as a negative, it can be a positive for offensive lineman, as it gives them more reps against different types of pass rushers and their variety of moves. Despite his experience, he does not come without his faults, as he needs to work on his technique with an NFL O-line coach. If he can learn to take better advantage of his size and strength to win the leverage battle, he can develop into a serviceable swing tackle at the next level with low-end starter upside.
