By Jordan Long
The NFL Draft as we all know completed the 1st-round last night. NFL teams were forced to do their selections from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I enjoyed this years’ format. The best part is fans were able to see into the homes of the general managers and coaches. Some even had their kids participate. When an athlete was selected, players could celebrate more and enjoy the moment with their family. Denver picked a wide receiver at #15.
I knew heading into this draft Denver wanted to update the offense. They needed to give quarterback Drew Lock another weapon on offense. This draft was loaded with wide receivers. Most draft experts, thought that Henry Ruggs was going to be the pick. I believed there wasn’t a chance that CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy would still be on the board.
Once the draft started, it was anybody’s guess on how it was going to go. After the Las Vegas Raiders took Ruggs at #12 there was still a chance for Denver to either pick Lamb or Jeudy. When Tampa Bay selected offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs at 13, who some say might be the best offensive lineman in the draft, that left the 49ers who could have taken a wide receiver. They passed and drafted defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw at 14. There was no doubt in my mind Denver was going to go wide receiver. I would have been excited about both.
Jeudy is the better player than Lamb. Jeudy went to the University of Alabama. Alabama is known for running a pro-style offense similar to the Denver Broncos. Jeudy faced some of the best defenses in all of college football playing in the SEC Conference.
Lamb attended the University of Oklahoma. The Sooners run a spread offense so it would have taken more time for Lamb to understand the concepts of an NFL offense. The Big 12 Conference defenses aren’t as talented as SEC defenses.
In the end, Denver selected Jeudy. Jeudy is going to give quarterback Drew Lock a tall target to toss the ball to besides Courtland Sutton. Jeudy is 6 feet 1 inch. He may not be the fastest wide receiver in the draft, but he will run routes to be open for Lock. He could be the best route runner in the draft.
Denver’s offense seems to be more dangerous with this move. Right now, Denver has Sutton and Jeudy lined up at wide receiver. Then there is tight end Noah Fant who is going to be open for passes. In the backfield, Melvin Gordon and Philip Lindsay can both run the football to gain yards to open up the passing game. They can also run out for passes. Defenses are going to have to guess if Denver is going to run the football or pass it to one of these players.
On paper, Denver’s offense is improved from last year. The NFL draft continues tonight at 5 PM Mountain Time with rounds 2 and 3. Assuming Denver doesn’t trade away their picks, they have 4 tonight. Elway should focus on the offensive line and defense. They could also use more depth at the linebacker position.
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