2017 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos Early-April 7-Round Mock Draft

Round 3, Pick 18: Derek Rivers, EDGE – Youngstown State

Again, when you think about the Denver Broncos, their defense is the first thing that comes to mind. Specifically, you probably think about Von Miller coming off of the edge and making tackles and quarterbacks generally have a rough go of it. And yes, they have a young prospect in Shane Ray opposite of Miller who, at the very least, has shown flashes of being able to have an impact. However, they need depth on the edge to keep their defense thriving.

Derek Rivers can certainly help with that, or should be able to down the road. Obviously playing at Youngstown State raises the cliched level-of-competition questions about Rivers. However, he’s proven throughout the pre-draft process and on tape that he has the tools and mentality to be a factor. He’s slight of frame for a 4-3 end, so standing him up on the edge of a 3-4 is a more natural fit.

While playing at Youngstown State, Rivers proved that he has a relentless pursuit as a part of his game. His technique isn’t exceptionally refined and he can be thrown off his attack at times. However, he’s never going to stop coming. He plays until the whistle with the intent of getting after the quarterback. If you take that and factor in nice explosiveness and athletic traits, Rivers could benefit from being molded in Denver’s defense and could be a factor as a pass rusher sooner rather than later.