The Denver Broncos don't have much draft capital this year, but these players have already done visits to Denver.
No one knows what the Denver Broncos are going to do in the upcoming NFL draft now that they’ve sent their top pick to the Miami Dolphins as part of the trade for receiver Jaylen Waddle, but their pre-draft visits could provide some viable clues. Luca Evans of the Denver Post took a run at what he called some “sleeper names” of players who have already done pre-draft visits with the Broncos.
TE Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M
Coach Sean Payton certainly does love his big tight ends, so Boerkircher represents a viable possibility based on that alone. Boerkircher caught just 38 passes across five seasons at Texas A&M and Nebraska while working as a blocking tight and, but Evans added that he has some untapped upside as a pass-catcher at 6’2”, 245 pounds, and he graded out well as a run blocker last year.
Evans likes him as a seventh rounder if he’s still available, but Boerkircher would face some stiff competition to make the roster. Payton has signed every available tight end, and if the Broncos do decide to draft a tight end it would likely be a receiver type to give Evan Engram competition in that role.
T Paul Rubelt, UCF
Like big tackles? Want to see the Broncos go really big? Rubelt’s your guy. At 6’10” 310 pounds, the native of Frankfurt, Germany is big enough to block out the sun, and he’s started at both left and right tackle at UCF, where he played for six seasons. The Broncos already know a lot about him, having drafted running back RJ Harvey out of UCF in last year’s draft.
G Josh Gesky, Illinois
Gesky wasn’t invited to the NFL combine, but he did show out at his pro day at Illinois, where he ran a 4.94 40-yard dash, according to Evans. He was a left guard in college, and Evans likes him as a possible developmental fit behind guard Ben Powers, who was out for a good chunk of the season with a torn biceps and is approaching the final year of his deal.
Another reason to keep an eye on these players is the Broncos’ history with players at this level. Their success stories include the likes of linebacker Alex Palczewski and offensive lineman Frank Crum, both of whom went undrafted, and they had similar success on with players like star linebacker Jonathan Cooper and Que Robinson, the latter of whom could be used in a pass-rushing role this season.