Don't be Shocked if Broncos Wait to Pick Offense in 2020 Draft; Here's Why
The Denver Broncos have a quarterback of the future in Drew Lock and the team just brought in Pat Shurmur to work with him as offensive coordinator. The Broncos are doing all they can to give Lock every chance to succeed and finally secure that elusive long-term quarterback that can compete for a Super Bowl.
However, Denver's offense is lacking talent at key positions and these roster holes need to be addressed. Right now, the Broncos' wide receiver corps is lacking with Courtland Sutton the only viable option.
Tim Patrick is a solid depth guy, but he is so similar he might as well be called 'Sutton-lite', which is problematic. DaeSean Hamilton has a shot to compete for the No. 3 receiver spot in 2020, but he lacks speed and explosiveness, while his issues with spacing are even bigger.
The Broncos need a wideout who can help stretch the field and complement Sutton. Being able to take the top off the defense can open up things underneath for tight end Noah Fant, as well as Sutton — and perhaps even Hamilton if he wins the WR3 job. However, to really take advantage of the spacing in Shurmur's offensive scheme, adding a yards-after-the-catch monster can also elevate the Broncos to another level.
This offense also needs a complementary in-line blocking tight end to counter Fant’s athleticism and blocking issues. However, that is a niche when it comes to the big picture, so while it is needed in a perfect world, it isn’t critical.
Adding a running back who can balance out and complement Phillip Lindsay should be high on the team's list as well. Royce Freeman isn’t cutting it and looked terrible this past season.
Denver needs a more explosive and reliable running back behind Lindsay. Securing one will make the Broncos' offense even more potent, especially if the team gets a receiver that can stretch the field.
None of this makes mention of an offensive line that needs reinforcements from basically top to bottom. Multiple starters will need to be acquired with the depth of the unit needing to be overhauled.
Spacing is the name of the game for the NFL and although Shurmur's scheme answers taht bell, the Broncos are lacking the personnel options to take it from the whiteboard to the grid-iron. Fortunately for Denver, there are plenty of options in the 2020 NFL Draft with how deep the class is on the offensive side of the ball.
With the draft being so deep on offense, and not so much on defense, the Broncos can sit back and wait to fill those needs Shurmur and Lock will have. Showing restraint won't necessarily mean that the Broncos are avoiding building that nest around Lock. Denver recognizes its roster needs and knows it can wait to draft offense without having to reach.
In the video above, I break down specifically how waiting on offense might be the smartest approach for the Broncos in the 2020 draft. As always, leave your thoughts on the issue in the comment section below.
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