2015 NFL Draft: Shane Ray’s fit with Denver Broncos

In one of the most surprising moves of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos decided to ship two fifth-round picks and formerly touted run blocking interior offensive lineman Manny Ramirez, who performs best at center, to the OL-needy Detroit Lions in order to move up from the 28th overall pick to the 23rd pick. The Broncos ammunition netted them Missouri Tigers edge rusher Shane Ray, and their decision to trade up for a player whose stock plummeted following a recent marijuana arrest was definitely an aggressive one.

But the Broncos rarely miss on draft prospects, and they are especially keen on drafting players at important positions when they decide to burn a first-round pick. For example, they spent a first-round pick on raw-but-athletic CB Bradley Roby last year, netting a high-upside player at one of the NFL’s most coveted positions. They’ve done the same this season, overlooking risk and drafting a player who could be a high-impact playmaker for the team’s pass rush.

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I mean, it’s not like the Broncos need edge rushers with Von Miller, who is one of the best players in the game, and veteran DeMarcus Ware as key cogs in Wade Phillips’s defense, but you can’t have too many impact edge rushers either. The Broncos are a contending team with few needs, so it’s not unreasonable for them to aggressively move up for a guy they really like at an important position that can have a big impact in games.

Ray’s stock fell not only because of his citation for marijuana, but also because he didn’t have the best pre-draft process with a 4.68 forty. That said, he consistently showed up on film last year for Missouri as a productive pass rusher and has a renowned motor. He’s also better than most pass rushing prospects in this class at playing the run, and that also goes back to that oft-praised motor of his.

It will be interesting to see how often Ray is worked into the Broncos pass rushing rotation, but he should have ample opportunities. Not only is the Broncos surprising and interesting decision to trade up for him a sign that they really want to get him involved soon (and not just as a successor to Ware), but Phillips is a notoriously feisty defensive coordinator who loves to throw pressure at opposing quarterbacks; he could definitely get creative with Ray.

All told, I actually think the Denver Broncos got themselves a nice value pick here, even if trading up and packaging two fifth-rounders and a potential starting lineman hardly constitutes “value”. And yet, if the Washington Redskins took Vic Beasley instead of Brandon Scherff, Ray could have even been taken by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick.

I think Shane Ray is one of those guys who will be criticized too much for his poor performance in the pre-draft process. Athleticism vs. production is an important argument for pass rushers, and it’s one that actually doesn’t favor Ray, since some might think he’s not athletic enough to be successful. I think the Broncos beg to differ, and their track record with pass rushers is exceptional. I really want to see how they get the most out of him, and he could end up flourishing as Ware’s long-term replacement across from Miller. I’m not sure he’ll be a game-changer, but he should be a solid edge rushing presence in Denver.

Next: Day 1 Analysis and Grades

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