Broncos mock draft: With plenty of young offensive talent, time to restock aging defense

The Broncos made the 2020 draft all about adding talent around quarterback Drew Lock. This year, the focus should be on coach Vic Fangio’s defense.

Get younger on the defensive line. Acquire more talent in the secondary. Find difference-makers wherever possible.

That’s the focus of our opening projection for how the Broncos should use their nine picks, including three in the seventh round, as new general manager George Paton looks to improve the roster.

First round (Ninth overall)

CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech

The Broncos need a true No. 1 cornerback and the top options via free agency are on the wrong side of 30. Enter Farley, who opted out of the 2020 season but has enough quality game tape to be worthy of a top-10 selection. His four interceptions in 2019 showed a range of talent, including playing off coverage and reading the quarterback’s eyes to jump a pass, displaying total calm in trail coverage and winning a hand battle to bring in a downfield shot and using his acceleration to undercut an out route. Farley regularly beats receivers to where they want to go and has the tools to be strong in the run game. Draft him and continue the development of Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey.

Second round (40th overall)

DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington

Just when you started to feel confident pronouncing “Albert Okwuegbunam” in front of your friends. Like Farley, Onwuzurike (own-wuh-zuh-ree-kay) opted out in 2020 after a strong collegiate career in which he totaled seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 39 games. At 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, Onwuzurike has the necessary traits (speed, explosiveness and lateral quickness) to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and is sturdy against the run. Onwuzurike is a strong fit as a 3-4 defensive end who can slide inside on passing downs.

Third round (71st overall)

DE/OLB Jordan Smith, UAB

Involvement in a credit card scandal ended Smith’s time at Florida, but he put in the work to rebuild his NFL chances with stops at Butler (Kan.) Community College and UAB. Smith is freakishly long at almost 6-7 and has arms that seemingly stretch from one offensive tackle to the other. Smith relies mostly on his athleticism to get to the quarterback (14 1/2 sacks in two seasons at UAB) and will need some refinement. But his ceiling as a possible long-term bookend with Bradley Chubb is high.

Fourth round

OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa

The Broncos are set at left tackle for the foreseeable future after signing Garett Bolles to a four-year contract, but they are on less solid footing at right tackle. Ja’Wuan James will leave $19 million in dead money if the Broncos move on from him before next season, but would create $8 million in savings if cut before the 2022 season. Translation: He has one year to change a lot of minds. That timeframe works well for Brown, who is 6-8 with good footwork but likely needs time to develop as he transitions from the FCS to the NFL.

Fifth round

CB Keith Taylor, Washington

Paton was part of a Minnesota front office that spent first-round (Jeff Gladney), third-round (Cameron Dantzler) and fifth-round (Harrison Hand) picks on cornerbacks last spring, and he would be well served to bring a similar line of thinking to the Broncos. What the 6-3 Taylor lacks in game-changing plays (no sacks or interceptions in 43 games) he makes up for in physicality (91 tackles, including 59 in 2019). Taylor had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and looks the part of an outside corner in a zone-based scheme.

Sixth round

S Richard LeCounte, Georgia

The Broncos should not let Justin Simmons get away but it’s still time to put more resources into the safety position because Kareem Jackson is entering the final year of his contract. LeCounte isn’t an athletic freak but got the job done for the Bulldogs with 176 tackles and eight interceptions in 44 games.

Seventh round

RB Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana

With good college production (3,267 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns) and not too much tread (fewer than 200 carries in any one season), Mitchell will get a chance to stick as a depth/special teams player for some team.

DT Tyrone Truesdell, Auburn

Truesdell might have been an earlier Day 3 pick had he been able to build on his three-sack campaign in 2019. Still, he’s a load at 6-2, 326 pounds and played in the SEC meat grinder.

LB Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M

Another Johnson in the middle of the Broncos defense? Perhaps. In 47 games with the Aggies, Johnson totaled 210 tackles, including 163 the past two seasons.

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