ENGLEWOOD – John Elway has turned the Denver Broncos from riff-raff to royalty in just three years.
He had the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft and chose Von Miller. He has the second-to-last selection this time around, and that could prove an enviable position, too.
Four quarterbacks are expected to hear their names called in the first round Thursday night. If Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, Derek Carr and Johnny Manziel all go before the Broncos make their pick, prime players at other positions will be pushed down the board, giving Denver added value at No. 31.
If even one of those four quarterbacks, or maybe even a guy like Jimmy Garoppolo, remains available, Elway can expect some phone calls.
Because teams have a fifth-year option on first-round draft picks nowadays – a factor that’s especially enticing when it comes to quarterbacks and the millions of dollars a franchise can save if it hits the jackpot on a signal-caller – a late first-rounder could become a big bargaining chip.
“I think it makes the end of the first round more inviting than waiting and taking him in the second round, because it is a benefit for you to have that extra year,” Elway said.
In that case, it would be no surprise if Elway trades out of the first round for the second time in three years.
Of course, Elway rather would be in Seattle’s position and be picking dead last.
“I will say this, we’re proud, we’re thrilled to be picking 31. I wish we were picking 32, but we’re picking 31,” Elway said. “It’s not necessarily the best spot to be, but that means you’re a pretty good football team.”
Five things to keep in mind as Elway engineers his fourth draft and tries to find the right ingredients for a team intent on atoning for that 35-point loss to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl:
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The Broncos didn’t re-sign Paris Lenon or Wesley Woodyard. Elway insisted that doesn’t mean the Broncos will target that position in the draft.
“I don’t know that it’s necessarily a need. We feel pretty good about Nate (Irving), especially on first and second down,” Elway said. “When we look at it, we’re more concerned on third down, the nickel backer on third down.”
And he mentioned safety T.J. Ward, saying the recently signed free agent “can step down in the box, does a tremendous job in the box, so he could be that nickel backer.”
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Orlando Franklin tweeted last month he’s moving from right tackle to left guard. He had a poor performance in the Super Bowl, Zane Beadles left via free agency, and Ryan Clady is returning from a foot injury. So it appears Chris Clark will be moving to right tackle.
Elway praised Franklin’s overall play last season, but the fourth-year pro and 2011 second-round pick might find himself fighting for snaps this season.
“If there’s an offensive tackle or an offensive guard that’s on the board that’s the best player up there, we’ll take him,” Elway said.
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The Broncos have a solid stable of wide receivers in Bubba Caldwell, newcomer Emmanuel Sanders, Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker. But they’re sure to take a long, hard look at this year’s crop of college pass catchers.
Elway said it’s a deep draft, and “the wide receivers are really what makes it deep.”
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Elway said it takes two to three years to fairly evaluate a draft, but he said the proper barometer isn’t All-Pros or Pro Bowls.
“I’d rather look at it as, ‘Have they been productive for us? Have they helped us win football games?’ and ‘What has the organization done over those years that he has been a part of it, and what has been his contribution to it?’” Elway said.
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Elway said moving the draft back into May this year didn’t adversely affect the Broncos.
“It kind of helped us because our season went so long,” he said. “It pushes everything back. So with the two extra weeks, it allowed us to really kind of catch up. So we’re fine with the extra two weeks.”
Denver Broncos
The Pick: 31. Denver was 12-4, beat San Diego and New England in the playoffs, then lost to Seattle in the Super Bowl.
Free Agency: GM John Elway once again filled his most glaring holes with free agents so he can spend draft weekend looking for the best players regardless of position. He focused on defense, committing $66 million in guaranteed money to four players: WR Emmanuel Sanders, CB Aqib Talib, S T.J. Ward and DE DeMarcus Ware.
Needs: LB, especially MLB so they don’t have to move Danny Trevathan inside. G, CB, WR.
Strengths: QB, DE, DT.
Possible First Pick: OG Xavier Su’a-Filo, UCLA.
Associated Press
Denver Broncos
2014
x-subject to change
Sept. 7 – Indianapolis, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 – Kansas City, 2:25 p.m.
Sept. 21 – at Seattle, 2:25 p.m.
Sept. 28 – Bye
Oct. 5 – Arizona, 2:05 p.m.
Oct. 12 – at N.Y. Jets, 11 a.m.
x-Oct. 19 – San Francisco, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 23 – San Diego, 6:25 p.m.
Nov. 2 – at New England, 2:25 p.m.
Nov. 9 – at Oakland, 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 16 – at St. Louis, 11 a.m.
Nov. 23 – Miami, 2:25 p.m.
x-Nov. 30 – at Kansas City, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 – Buffalo, 2:05 p.m.
Dec. 14 – at San Diego, 2:05 p.m.
Dec. 22 – at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 28 – Oakland, 2:25 p.m.
Associated Press
