Uncertainty surrounds Malik Jackson‘s future with the Denver Broncos, because while Von Miller is guaranteed to stick around, the Broncos probably don’t have enough capital left over for Jackson, who will undoubtedly break the bank on the open market. If the Broncos are able to re-sign Jackson, then that makes it even more difficult to envision Danny Trevathan, who already seems like the odd-man out among the Broncos three big defensive free agents, playing for the team in 2016.
Although the USA Today’s Lindsay Jones tweeted that John Elway called Trevathan one of the Denver Broncos priorities in free agency, the harsh reality is that he’s most likely walking. ESPN NFL Nation’s Jeff Legwold passed along Elway’s most recent concession that Trevathan will “probably” reach free agency, and there will be an armful of suitors, whether it’s the rival Oakland Raiders or the Atlanta Falcons (from ESPN NFL Nation’s Vaughn McClure).
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The Falcons will be hunting for fast linebackers this offseason, and one of their best options is Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, who cemented his status as one of the top defensive prospects with a stellar combine performance. Many fans took to Twitter lamenting some of the subpar displays at Lucas Oil Stadium, but the speedy and explosive Lee was one of those standouts who only confirmed his athletic tools.
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Lee would be an excellent option for the Falcons at No. 17, and it seems like his 4.47 forty and killer shuttle time will lock him in as a top-25 pick.
Draft prospects have been known to slide, though, and that also goes for Combine warriors. Perhaps Lee holds the most value to a team running a 4-3 defense, but I would love to see his speed, range, and chase-down mentality on a loaded 3-4 defense like Denver’s. They might not have a chance to draft Lee, as they hold the final pick of the 31 first round selections in this draft, but if he does fall a few spots (again, this isn’t inconceivable), then I think they need to take a long look at him.
The Broncos biggest needs certainly aren’t on the defensive side of the ball, and if they were purely drafting on need, then an offensive tackle would make the most sense. Heck, if Cody Whitehair is there or if they are high on Josh Garnett, then I could even see them plucking a guard, especially since their top offensive lineman, Evan Mathis, is set to depart in free agency.
However, the Broncos are such an amazing organization because they don’t draft purely on need, and they have such a great roster that they are in a perfect position to go “BPA”. Taking the best available player is usually a great idea for teams picking late in the first, because these are contenders with less needs who are picking among a pool of non-blue-chip prospects.
Lee isn’t a blue-chip prospect, but he sure as heck moves around the field like one. His tackling is open for criticism and his coverage isn’t “there” yet. But it’s usually a good idea to bet on hyper-athletic, fast, explosive, and quick linebackers like Lee, and it almost seems like he would be like a tailor-made replacement for Trevathan.
In fact, I’d put the odds of Trevathan returning to Denver as lower than the odds of Lee making it to the Broncos pick at No. 31, and his range would only add another dimension to Wade Phillips’s defense. Lee’s upside is tantalizing, especially on a team as well-coached as Denver’s with plenty of talent on-hand, and we could see him make enough highlight-reel plays as a rookie to make up for some miscues and missed tackles.
This year, the Broncos will lose one or two stars on their defense, but they can replace one of them in this year’s draft by picking up Lee, who would most likely be the best prospect on the board. Of course, there’s a good chance a team like the Indianapolis Colts, Falcons, or even Buffalo Bills nabs him before then, and the Green Bay Packers are another contender that would love to pick up a potential game-changer like Lee. And don’t get me started on the Cincinnati Bengals.
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I’ve seen people mock Robert Nkemdiche to the Broncos, but why not take the prospect with less red flags who also fits the defense better (if available)?