Denver Broncos: 7-Round 2018 mock draft after free agency

In Derek Wolfe, Domata Peko and Adam Gotsis, the Denver Broncos currently have a strong starting defensive line unit to build around. However, Peko is entering a contract year, Gotsis is dealing with some serious off-field issues and Wolfe has consistently struggled with injuries throughout his career. The Broncos have a lot of talent up front, but they also severely lack security at the position.

After snagging Nelson in the first round, the Broncos add a talented defensive line prospect with their second-round pick.

Da’Ron Payne is a big and powerful defensive lineman who could easily end up being a first-round selection. However, in this mock draft, Payne slips to the early second round where the Broncos happily add him to the mix.

Payne is an impressive run defender who can absolutely dominate at the point of attack. He has long arms that allow him to keep opposing offensive linemen at a distance and two-gap at a high-level. Payne consistently keeps blockers off of his linebackers, freeing them up to range around and make plays in the run game.

Payne’s game is built on power, but he is also a sneaky good athlete who shows the ability to penetrate on the inside. At Alabama, Payne was usually asked to two-gap and keep his linebackers clean, but when he was unleashed as a one-gap run defender, Payne showed the ability to make some big plays in the backfield. He is not much of a pass rusher, but Payne has shown some ability in the bull rush, and has a lot of upside in that area at the next level.

Make no mistake about it, Payne is a rock-solid defensive line prospect who is going to be very good in the NFL. He would help fix the Broncos’ short and long-term depth issues up front.