Finding Broncos: Top-5 2020 NFL Draft Prospects at Each Position | Defense
Vic Fangio’s defense is really starting to click with the Denver Broncos players. The Broncos are a banged-up unit, missing Bradley Chubb and Bryce Callahan, both of whom were set to be big pieces this year, as well as De'Vante Bausby.
There is a lot of youth seeing significant playing time on defense as a result.
Denver is getting a lot of tape to evaluate the players on the defense, and they got a chance to see how some of the depth can perform. The Broncos' starters are good enough, but a lot of them can be upgraded and their depth is a mess. There are a lot of holes on defense, especially with what the new league year will bring free-agent-wise.
Thankfully, the 2020 NFL Draft is replete with quality prospects for the Broncos to keep an eye on and restock the cupboards. With Denver needing help all over, who are the top-5 players at each position on the defense?
Interior Defensive Line
1. Derrick Brown, Auburn
Brown has been a nightmare for interior offensive linemen this year, and some of them are highly thought of draft prospects. He is a force against the run, and very capable of getting pressure up the middle.
2. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
He has the length, athleticism to be deadly in the NFL. Watching his college tape I see a lot of similarities to Kansas City's Chris Jones. Improve Kinlaw's technique, and weaponize those hands, and you'll have a great defensive lineman.
3. Marvin Wilson, Florida State
A fast riser up draft boards, Wilson is a true nose tackle that exhibits the proper strength against the run. That isn’t what has him rising up boards with such alacrity, but also the surprising quickness he has to get after the quarterback.
4. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
The top defensive lineman entering the season, Davis has failed to show the improvements as a pass rusher that were needed. He is a great run defender, but right now, that is all he is.
5. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
There was inconsistency throughout Gallimore’s tape a year ago, and this year is a little better. He still has issues on later downs, and later in the game, but he is flashing his potentially more consistently.
Edge Defender
1. Chase Young, Ohio State
Hands down the best pass rusher in the draft, and the best prospect overall. Young is so talented and gets after the quarterback in multiple ways.
2. A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
A bigger edge, Epenesa had a great 2018-19 season, but his impact this year hasn’t been seen in the stat sheet. His best fit may be as a base end in a 3-4 front.
3. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Okwara wins with athleticism and speed, but get hands-on him and he struggles. There is a specific way to use the edge that is going to have some teams out on him.
4. Curtis Weaver, Boise State
The Bronco seems to be the forgotten man of the edge class. Weaver has been having a great year as a pass rusher and a run defender.
5. Alton Robinson, Syracuse
Probably the second-best first step in the class behind only Chase Young. Robinson has so many tools to win with, and is helped with his athleticism.
Off-Ball Linebacker
1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Great in coverage, and very good against the run. Simmons’ career is going to be in a very specific role for defenses, but that is a role he can do very well. He isn’t a traditional off-ball linebacker.
2. Dylan Moses, Alabama
Moses would have a good chance to be the top linebacker, if it wasn’t for the injury. He had a lot of hype around him, but a lot of that was betting on the flashes he showed a year ago.
3. Monty Rice, Georgia
A good run defender, Rice needed to show improvements in coverage and there have been tremendous strides. He still has a tendency to bite on play-action, which will remain a concern.
4. Markus Bailey, Purdue
Bailey had a chance to really rise up boards and contend for the top linebacker spot. His injury put a damper on that, and now medicals will be a concern going forward.
5. Willie Gay, Mississippi State
The best pure coverage linebacker in the draft, Gay has issues against the run. Those issues can be covered up if he plays behind a great line. That coverage ability is easily translatable to the NFL level.
Safety
1. Grant Delpit, LSU
Delpit is a great playmaker at safety, but his tackling issues are very concerning. He is very smart and looks excellent when he keeps the play in front of him. Clean up the tackling and he would be an elite prospect.
2. Xavier McKinney, Alabama
There aren’t many warts to the game of McKinney, and what concerns there are in areas he's still solid. He is tough to separate against in coverage.
3. Brandon Jones, Texas
One of the safer prospects at safety. Jones isn’t extremely athletic, but he is reliable and plays the game with his smarts.
4. Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
If you want a hybrid chess piece, then Nasirildeen is the safety you want. The way he is used, his athleticism and just his physical gifts make him quite the prospect.
5. Ashtyn Davis, California
A versatile safety that brings it against the run and as a tackler. He has good range and athleticism to hang as a single high safety.
Cornerback
See the video above for my top-5 cornerbacks in the 2020 draft. We know the Broncos are likely to have a need here.
Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel and @MileHighHuddle.
