The Denver Broncos entered the 2020 season with lofty expectations. Drew Lock was entering his second season as the starter, and the front office used the first two selections in the draft by adding Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. Unfortunately, Denver was hit by the injury bug early and often in the season, and it resulted in a 5-11 record and a top-ten draft pick. The Broncos have a pick in each round of the draft, including three in the seventh round. With plenty of holes to fill, here is a seven-round mock draft to try and fix those needs.
To help with this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Team Mock Drafts.
Round 1, Pick 9: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Denver had a massive need at the cornerback position, and that was before they released A.J. Bouye. Now, the Broncos need to invest heavily in the position. Michael Ojemudia is a good number two option, but adding Farley would improve both starting cornerback positions. Farley opted out of the 2020 season but is a perfect fit in Vic Fangio’s defense.
For more on Farley, read our scouting report on him here.
Round 2, Pick 40: Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
Unfortunately for Broncos fans, the reality of Von Miller not playing may be here sooner than expected. The superstar edge rusher has a team option that they could pick up, or if they don’t, he’s a free agent. Even if Miller remains on the roster, Denver has to start looking towards the future. Some have Perkins as their top pass-rusher in the class, and he is still available at the top of the second round. He is a steal at this point in the draft, and Fangio could use Perkins in a variety of ways.
Round 3, Pick 71: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
Fangio puts a lot of trust in his linebackers to cover running backs out of the backfield. For reference, the other running backs in the AFC West are Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Josh Jacobs, and Austin Ekeler. Those three aren’t easy to cover. Denver needs to add an athletic linebacker that can run step-by-step with the running backs that he is tasked with covering. Enter Surratt in the lineup, and that won’t be a problem. The former quarterback turned linebacker has a versatile skill set that allows him to also rush the passer along with playing well in coverage.
Round 4, Pick 114: Marvin Wilson, DL, Florida State
Shelby Harris, Sylvester Williams, and DeMarcus Walker are all impending free agents. Wilson would be a rotational piece during his rookie season with room to grow into a starter in his second season. He has shown flashes at his time during Florida State but needs to find more consistency.
Round 5, Pick 153: Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo
Phillip Lindsay is a restricted free agent, and Melvin Gordon had a DUI during the 2020 season. The running back position could use reinforcements if Lindsay isn’t brought back or is poached by another team. Patterson had an amazing 2020 season and was the talk of college football during that time. His compact frame and receiving ability are similar to Lindsay’s, but Lindsay has more top-end speed. In the fifth round, if Patterson is still available, Denver would be wise to select him.
Round 6, Pick 193: Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas
In this mock, all four of the top quarterbacks had been taken. Ehlinger has slipped into the sixth round, and taking him would at least put some pressure on Lock to start playing better. He showed out at the Senior Bowl, and while he may not be one of the top four quarterbacks in the class, he can play very well if he is thrown into action due to an injury or by poor play by the starter. Ehlinger will be in the league for a long time and provides more upside than Jeff Driskel, and would compete with Brett Rypien for the backup job.
Round 7, Pick 231: Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State
Even with a loaded receiver core, Denver can’t help themselves by dipping back into the receiver class. The 2021 receiver class is on par with the 2020 class. Johnson would give the Broncos another option out of the slot, as well as a returner in the seventh round.
Round 7, Pick 233: Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas
Rochell has elite ball skills. With 38 pass breakups and ten career interceptions, he gives Denver another young cornerback to develop under Fangio. Rochell could also be a safety due to his physical limitations at the line of scrimmage by some teams. Either way, getting a cornerback with elite ball production in the seventh round is a steal.
Round 7, Pick 248: Chris Rumph II, EDGE, Duke
Rumph is an interesting study. He was used all over the field for Duke, and Fangio will love his versatility. Denver doubles up on pass-rushers with Miller’s future in question and some question marks about the depth behind him and Bradley Chubb.
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