ENGLEWOOD – Trader John Elway began the draft by moving back to acquire ammunition, then used it to take a shot on a future franchise quarterback.
National pundits, local scribes, surveys and polls have largely lauded Elway, the Broncos’ general manager, for the way he executed his draft.
It was his ninth draft and he seems to be getting the hang of it.
Here’s the final results of the Broncos 2019 draft:
Rd (Pick) Player, position
1. (20) Noah Fant, TE
2. (41) Dalton Risner, OG
2. (42) Drew Lock, QB
3. (71) Dre'Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State
5. (156) Justin Hollins, LB, Oregon
6. (187) Juwann Winfree, WR, Colorado
Fant will likely be the “move” or receiving tight end with Jeff Heuerman playing in-line. Risner should start at a guard spot, although the Broncos currently are going with Don Barclay at left guard and Sam Jones at right guard.
Lock becomes the backup quarterback to Joe Flacco and the Broncos are emphasizing that Flacco will be their starter in 2019. Which may be what he heard at this time last year after the Baltimore Ravens moved up to take Lamar Jackson with the final pick of the first round.
Jones could develop into a passing down interior pass rusher, although he may need a half season to develop into that role.
Hollins is an outside pass rusher, although there’s talk he could get a look as an inside linebacker. He had a combined 11.0 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss in his final two seasons at Oregon.
“I’m going to play anywhere they need me," Hollins said in a conference call Saturday with the Denver media. “I’m one of those guys who is just going to get in and play where ever I am needed, whether that is special teams, inside, outside—it doesn’t matter. I am here to compete. I am here to play as hard as I can and provide the team with some type of impact.”
The Broncos traded out of another fifth round pick to acquire veteran special teamer Dekoda Watson from San Francisco, then traded up – and surrendering their seventh-round draft pick to take Winfree.
They did not trade cornerback Chris Harris Jr., nor draft a corner. Elway is expected to open discussions with Harris and his agent Frederick Lyles next week to see if they can resolve their contract differences.
Winfree won the 40-player audition Colorado-area players had at the Broncos local pro day April 10 at the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse. Elway, his top assistants were there, along with head coach Vic Fangio and his full coaching staff.
“I definitely didn’t think they were really high on me, to be honest with you, but after the local pro day that I attended, and sitting down with the receiver coach (Zach Azzanni), he really expressed high interest in me," Winfree said in his conference call. “From there I could see I really changed their point of view on me. Them seeing me close-up, seeing what type of player I am and what type of man I am off the field was big for me. That definitely helped a lot. Especially with [RB] Phillip Lindsay, I know he put in a huge word for me. That’s my big brother right there. He paved the way for me, doing what he did, coming from Colorado. I’m just glad he was able to help me out there doing that. We have the same agent (Mike McCartney) too, so I’m just completely blessed.”
The Broncos are expected to reach agreements with up to 15 undrafted college free agents later today. The rookies will show up for their minicamp that will be held May 9-12.
