Finding Broncos: Linebackers to Watch Late in the NFL Draft

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with a group of day-three linebackers.

The Denver Broncos can use help at their linebacker position, as Josey Jewell has one year left in his deal. Even if Alex Singleton is brought back, as he is set to hit the free agent market, they still need to work on developing someone. Despite the linebacker class not being great, some day-three options could entice the Broncos. 

Dorian Williams | LB | Tulane

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Pros

• Has great lateral range. 
• Smooth and fluid with his movement. 
• Awareness is top-notch. 
• Looks natural in zone coverage. 
• Brings the violence as a tackler. 
• He was praised for his leadership on and off the field. 
• Has a good frame that carries his weight well, with room for more. 
• Immediate special teams player with plenty of college experience. 
• Has a great closing burst. 
• His motor always runs hot, and he doesn't slow as the game progresses. 
• Does well to keep his eyes on the ball carrier. 
• Showed off his ability as a blitzer in 2022, picking up 22 pressures on 95 snaps as a pass rusher. 
• Showed improvement in coverage in 2022 and ended with good ball production for a linebacker. 

Cons

• Needs to be quicker when closing against the run. 
• Has moments he seems to lag behind in pursuit. 
• Needs to be kept clean with issues getting off of blocks. 
• Tackling can be more consistent, with 32 missed tackles over the last three seasons. 
• His angles can be rough but has burst to hide it at times. 
• Hasn't shown he can deconstruct blocks. 
• Instincts seem to be lacking, and can see him guess on tape and get out of position. 
• When pursuing outside the tackles, he doesn't come to balance before going for the tackle, which leads to misses. 

Fit with Broncos

Williams would make a ton of sense with the Broncos looking to revamp their special teams. He can contribute right away while developing on the defensive side of the ball. There are plenty of traits that can translate into the scheme Vance Joseph is bringing with him. 

Jeremy Banks | LB | Tennessee

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Pros

• Has shown promise as a blitzer. 
• He plays extremely physical and bigger than he does. 
• He flies to the ball carrier. 
• Showed noticeable improvement in 2022. 
• Stays square to the line when working laterally. 
• Has some twitch and speed in his game. 
• He does have some versatility to be a pass rusher on third down. 
• He works well in zone coverage when he keeps his eyes in the backfield. 
• Has the traits to be a great spy. 
• Decently smooth and fluid with his change of direction. 
• Has some special teams ability to contribute right away. 
• Tackling technique is what you want. 
• Comes to balance before going for the tackle. 

Cons

• Many questions about maturity and self-growth after multiple incidents, including dismissal, in college. 
• Doesn't have an ideal size for the position in the NFL. 
• The size issues show up against offensive linemen, tight ends, and running backs. 
• Not overly experienced with less than 1,500 snaps over the last three years. 
• Missed tackles were an issue, with 18 in 2021 and 8 in 2022. The percentages were 12.9 and 12.1, respectively. 
• Doesn't play with good instincts. 
• Has to leverage his gaps, which is a consistent issue on tape. 
• May not have a full-time position in the NFL. 

Fit with Broncos

The biggest question is about the off-field stuff with Banks, but there are so many questions about his play on the field that need development. He can help the Broncos' special teams unit right away, but it might be a year or two before he is to a point he can see the field on the defensive side of the ball. 

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Jalen Graham | LB | Purdue

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Pros

• Instincts are great, leading to great ball production in coverage. 
• Picked up three interceptions and 14 passes broken up the last two seasons. 
• Trusts his instincts and finds himself in the proper position often. 
• A solid athlete who uses it well. 
• Has a good build on his frame with more room for mass. 
• Trusted and reliable tackling technique. 
• Does a solid job when getting off blocks between the tackles. 
• Has a great closing burst. 
• Fluid and loose hips help a smooth transition. 
• A high motor that runs hot. 
• Picked up 74 stops in college. 
• Does well when handling misdirection from the offense. 

Cons

• Significantly undersized for the NFL. 
• Going to need time to bulk up to be a full-time linebacker in the NFL. 
• Will likely need to be consistently covered up by the defensive line in the NFL. 
• Hybrid size, but not the play style or traits. 
• Will struggle in coverage against NFL tight ends. 

Fit with Broncos

If Graham were 10-15 pounds heavier, his transition to the NFL would be a lot easier. His play style and traits fit as a linebacker in the NFL, and he can get away with being a little light in college. The fit is there with Graham, who can be used in a few different ways by Vance Joseph; they only need him to be a little heavier. 

Aubrey Miller Jr | LB | Jackson State

© Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• Excellent production as a blitzer. 
• Smooth mover with solid fluidity. 
• He keeps his pad low into contact. 
• Will punish ball carriers with his tackling. 
• Great range laterally. 
• Takes good angles in pursuit. 
• Compact, well-built frame. 
• Instinctive in coverage and against the run. 
• Can sort through the trash to get to the ball. 
• Has showed good skills working in select zone coverages. 

Cons

• Missed tackles are significant, with 17 in 2022 alone and 31 in three years. 
• Lacks the ideal speed to hang with tight ends and running backs in coverage. 
• Traits and play style might limit him to a two-down defender. 
• Can get caught on fakes or double moves. 
• Will often lunge for the tackle when in space, especially in pursuit. 
• Doesn't always bring enough oomph into contact when taking on blocks. 
• Can lose insight on the ball through the trash. 
• Gets caught on the second level by climbing blocks. 

Fit with Broncos

During his time as the defensive coordinator in Arizona, Joseph has liked to have more versatile linebackers. Miller has some limitations in coverage that might make him a downhill player that is off the field or blitzing on obvious passing downs. He is a fun run defender, but the Broncos need more than that. 

Isaiah Land | LB/Edge | Florida A&M

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Pros

• Has excellent production as a pass rusher. 
• Has great agility and fluidity with his movement. 
• Excellent instincts. 
• Has good bend as a pass rusher. 
• The motor runs hot, and won't see him take plays off. 
• Plays tough and plays bigger than he is the best he can. 
• Had 19 sacks and 55 pressures on 356 pass rush snaps in 2021, then 35 pressures and seven sacks on 202 pass rush snaps in 2022. 

Cons

• Is he an edge, linebacker, or a hybrid? 
• Significantly undersized to be an NFL edge defender. 
• In eight games played in 2022, Land had five or more pressures in five of them. 
• Limited exposure in coverage with 44 career coverage snaps. 
• Going to be a liability against the run at his size, no matter where he lines up. 
• May not have enough room on his frame to add as much mass as he would need for the NFL. 
• Doesn't have a lot of pass-rush moves in his arsenal. 
• Going to need a couple of years to develop the frame and technique. 
• Missed tackles were an issue, with a career 28.4
• Limited exposure on special teams, which is understandable, but needs to show it to last in the NFL. 
• Liability against the run and gets toppled when trying to set the edge. 

Fit with Broncos

There isn't a lot on tape, due to limited reps, for Land to transition to linebacker with his play in coverage. However, many translatable traits are better suited for an off-ball linebacker spot when it comes to working as a run defender and blitzer. Vance Joseph has consistently liked to have this hybrid type of player in his front seven. 

The Broncos don't currently have the most picks to work with, so they need to do their best with what they have. 

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