With the draft less than two months away, the Denver Broncos and every other team in the NFL is starting to put together their draft rankings and big board that they will follow on draft night.
The NFL Scouting Combine and Senior Bowl are done, all of the film on these players is out there, and all that’s left is the college pro days, making this the perfect time to break down the options for Denver at the 12th overall pick.
The Broncos can rest easy knowing that one of their 12 favorite players will be on the board once they’re on the clock. Who should those top-12 players be and how should Denver prioritize them?
Tier 1 – Do Whatever It Takes
In every draft, there are a few prospects that are “can’t miss” at a major position of need. For Denver, there is a glaring need at quarterback that needs to be filled.
If Denver is able to acquire any of the prospects in this tier, they should do whatever it takes to make it happen.
1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The first overall player on my big board for Denver is an obvious one — Caleb Williams.
The USC QB has received his fair share of criticism in this cycle, both on and off the field, but he is the clear best player in this class.
Williams offers the complete package to whatever team selects, combining as impressive creativity skills as we’ve ever seen from a prospect at the position with consistency clean play from the pocket. Williams receives criticism for his over-reliance on “hero ball”, but that was largely a result of the poor structure and offensive line around Williams, and he still had plenty of success despite the dysfunctional surroundings.
2. Drake Maye, QB UNC
In most drafts without a Caleb Williams-level prospect at the top, Drake Maye would be the first overall pick.
There are more issues with Maye’s game than Williams, but the package he provides to whatever team drafts him is extremely tantalizing.
Maye is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback with a rocket of an arm and above-average athleticism to pair. Maye also provides great play within the pocket, throwing the football accurately and doing an excellent job of avoiding sacks.
Tier 2 – Stay Put and Draft if Available
The next tier of prospects includes players that will grade out very highly. If one of them is available at 12, the Broncos should bypass their trade-down offers. That said, they shouldn’t send extra capital to move up from 12 for any of these targets, especially with the current situation Denver is in.
3. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, OSU
Removing positional value, Harrison Jr. may be the top overall player in this class. He is a perfect prospect in every way: a 6-foot-4 receiver who can run as well as almost anybody in the NFL, while being a premier route runner for his age and size. Harrison won’t be an option for Denver in the draft, but he’s the top non-quarterback option, without a doubt.
4. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Alt is another player that Denver will not have the chance to select, but he is a slam-dunk prospect at tackle and the last of the true blue-chip prospects. Alt offers extremely good size at 6-foot-8 and it’s easy to tell he’s a former tight end based on how well he moves, all while doing everything you want your offensive tackle to do. Alt is one of the few prospects in this class that provides a high ceiling and floor.
5. JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Positional need and value are doing the heavy lifting for McCarthy here, as he’s likely more of a top-20 caliber prospect than top-five, but Denver has a huge hole at the most important position in sports and McCarthy gives the team a chance to fill it in a big way.
The question on McCarthy isn’t the talent or the intangibles — there just simply isn’t enough film on him to make a definitive evaluation, making him one of the trickier prospects in recent memory. McCarthy is a top-tier athlete and has an above-average arm, and it was expected that McCarthy would only improve his stock after getting on the whiteboard with coaches.
It’s not a sure thing that McCarthy is a franchise QB but he’s likely the team’s best shot at one, and that makes him a better pick than the four players below him.
6a and 6b. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington; Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
If you asked before the combine, Nabers would have had the edge over Odunze.
After seeing Odunze work out and look great doing so while Nabers neither tested nor weighed in, you can’t separate the two.
They’re two different styles of receiver, with Nabers providing top-end speed while also dominating after the catch, whereas Odunze is more of a good-not-great athlete but can consistently win on the outside, especially through contact.
If Denver could select either of these receivers, they would become the team’s top pass catcher overnight.
8. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
I almost thought about putting Bowers higher, but directly below the two receivers feels about right. Labeling Bowers as a “tight end” almost feels wrong because he is unique in comparison to most if not every tight end prospect in NFL history.
Many of the issues with Denver’s pass-catching room would be solved instantly with the addition of Bowers. The team has flat out said that they’re looking to add a pass-catching tight end, and Bowers would slip right in. Bowers is the rare tight end capable of lining up and winning one-on-one consistency both in line, in the slot, and on the outside while also being a solid blocker.
Additionally, Bowers upgrades the biggest weakness of Denver’s pass catchers over the past several years: yards after catch ability. Bowers led the FBS in yards after catch in back-to-back seasons with Georgia, and it becomes obvious from watching the tape that this is an area he excels. Many are overthinking Bowers through a tight end lens when the reality is he is an offensive weapon that we haven’t really seen before.
9. Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Fashanu is one of the freakier players in this class. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds, he moves as well as any tackle in the class, despite his size, and is extremely powerful.
Because of his big frame and mobile feet, Fashanu is arguably the best pure pass-protector in this class. He fires out of his stance and has a strong anchor. He has issues as a run blocker at times, but you would feel good if you landed him at 12 to be your franchise tackle for the next decade.
10. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Mims is without a doubt the most difficult player to project in this draft and one of the tougher projections of the last decade.
Mims is a 6-foot-7 tackle weighing 330 pounds but moves extremely well for his size and has incredible power in his lower body. The measurables and traits suggest Mims is a top-five player in this class, but the issue is he has had considerable injury concerns and has only eight starts in his career.
Selecting Mims would be a major risk, but if he falls to 12, it is a risk worth taking considering his upside.
Tier 3 – Trade Down and Collect Picks
This tier of prospects includes players that are worth the 12th pick, but the Denver Broncos should search for a trade-down package before they decide to settle at 12 with one of these options.
11. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
The word that comes to mind when I watch Turner? Freak.
Turner displayed elite athleticism at Alabama, so it wasn’t surprising to see him test so well at the combine.
As a pass rusher, Turner has a good get-off, good hands, and a good bend. He also excels as a run defender at the LOS. The appeal with Turner is it seems he can also be an off-ball linebacker and play the position well, providing versatility and high-level talent to whichever team drafts him.
12. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu is my biggest post-combine riser, as he displayed elite athleticism in every way at the combine to match what was already very good tape.
Fautanu provides whatever team drafts him the versatility to play four positions on the offensive line, although his best projection is guard, He is an extremely explosive athlete which we saw constantly at Washington, at his best going downhill in the run game. The fact that he is likely to play guard in the NFL is the only reason he isn’t higher on this list.
