Denver Broncos Mock Draft: Let Russ Cook and give him some groceries
Damone Clark is the first player taken in this Denver Broncos Mock Draft
TRADE: Denver sends their 2022 second-round pick from the LA Rams to the Cleveland Browns for a 2022 third-round pick and two fourth-round choices.
1. Third Round: Damone Clark, LB, LSU
Nathaniel Hackett needs a young defensive leader alongside Bradley Chubb to put the Broncos’ highly ranked defense a step above what they played at from a year ago. With their first and second-round picks tied into Russell Wilson, they choose to complete their defensive puzzle by going with LSU linebacker Damone Clark.
Likely to play a role as an inside linebacker in Denver’s scheme, Clark is a tall, instinctive, and powerful linebacker that comes from a school known for producing quality linebackers. Additionally, that position on Denver’s defense is the group that needs the most attention, even though the unit was very highly rated.
Denver has several offensive weapons, so by going with Clark, they take the best player available on the board at the time. It’s a win-win situation for the team, and it solves a need by adding a talented player to an already talented group. The Mile High City is off to a good start.
2. Third Round via trade with CLE through LA: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
Noah Fant is gone. The Tight End position is vital. The Draft has the prospect that can change it all. Three clues, so let’s head to the thinking chair and figure it out. The solution? Trey McBride from Colorado State. You can’t dance just yet; you have to get him on the field and see it first.
McBride was named to the 2021 All-Mountain West Conference first team and received the 2021 Mackey Award. Additionally, McBride holds several school records. Last season, he caught 90 catches for 1,121 yards, the first tight end in school history to have a 1,000-yard season. In other words, he’s pretty good and very reliable in the passing game.
For Denver, he plays a role in helping replace Fant and giving Russell Wilson a potential security blanket to throw to in case his wideouts are jammed or neutralized by opposing defenders. You can’t cover them all no matter how good our defense is. Denver gets to teach that lesson on the field with this move.
3. Third Round via LAR from Von Miller Trade: Luke Goedke, OT, Central Michigan
In case people have forgotten, the Seattle Seahawks were not that good in their offensive line, at least not recently. Hence, Russell Wilson needed to run for his life several times to make plays. But not this time, not when they have the opportunity to make a pick to change that.
By using the pick acquired from the Von Miller trade, the Broncos take Luke Goedke, a tackle that fits the scheme of Nathaniel Hackett and a player that, if developed properly, has the potential to become one of the best guards in the league.
Goedke is quick, shifty, and agile. For an offensive tackle, that helps when running a zone-blocking scheme. His strength cannot be questioned either, which is why Denver would love to have him.
Given how Wilson likes to have offensive linemen that move and play at a high level, despite the name recognition, Denver seems like the ideal fit for Goedke. Though he may need to bulk up just a bit to secure a starting job, he has all the traits necessary to flourish in Denver’s offensive system.