The Denver Broncos have already made their big move by trading for Jaylen Waddle, so this should be a quiet draft.
The Denver Broncos have done a fantastic job of frustrating draft experts so far. Most of these so-called “experts” are always on the lookout for the big scoop or a hot take that resonates, but the Broncos aren’t providing much of this sort of thing so far in their draft talk.
GM George Paton is continuing that pattern, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, as she supplied some local comments made by Paton that reinforce the notion that this won’t be a splashy draft for Denver.
“We like to draft high-trait players and maybe they lack a little polish, and it’s going to take some development,’’ Paton said yesterday via Mike Klis of 9News. “Sure, we’d like someone to come in and start right away, but that’s not always realistic for first-, second-[round picks], no matter where they’re picked. It’s just hard,, and with the way our team is built now it’s going to be hard to come in and start Day 1.”
It certainly does make it easier to control the media buzz, especially given that the Broncos have already made their big move. They traded the 30th overall choice along with their third round pick to get receiver Jaylen Waddle, and as Williams noted, the Broncos believe that Waddle will help them more than two rookies selected in the first 94 picks of the draft possibly could.
Last year’s draft provided evidence of how this works. The Broncos’ top pick last year, cornerback Jahdae Barron of Alabama, played in just 30 percent of Denver’s defensive snaps last year as he got to watch Ja’Quan McMillian establish himself as something of a playmaker.
Paton also provided more information about what the Broncos might do with the No. 62 pick, but it wasn’t all that revealing, as Williams said the Broncos were looking at prospects they expect to land somewhere in the 45-75 range.
“There’s six players we’re kind of focused on that could be there at 62,’’ Paton said. “We feel good about those players. We’re going to keep working through them.”
Paton also said it’s “unlikely” that the Broncos will trade back into the first round, but a trade is probably the only way Denver will make a big splash in this draft. The Broncos have plenty of depth at multiple positions, so Paton and coach Sean Payton will likely be taking a lot of calls to see who might be available.
The Broncos probably won’t bite on a possible deal, but that’s the one thing to keep an eye on as this draft unfolds.