Broncos Predicted to Draft UCLA Edge Rusher at Pick 12
As the playoffs roll on and April inches closer, prognosticators and analysts all over the media landscape are throwing around player profiles, mock drafts, and potential team fits for prospects in this year's NFL draft class.
The Denver Broncos have a plethora of needs across the roster, and for the first time since 2021, they're armed with a first-round draft pick — No. 12 overall for the time being. Several recent mock drafts — including a couple of different ones from top analysts Dane Brugler and Daniel Jeremiah — have the Broncos taking Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold Jr at pick 12, pairing Patrick Surtain II with another incredibly athletic boundary corner to form one of the league's most talented duos.
However, The Draft Network's Justin Melo has a different idea for the Broncos, as he tabbed them as one of three ideal landing spots for UCLA edge defender Laiatu Latu. Melo writes:
The Broncos recorded a 23rd-best 36.0 sacks in 2023. The once-promising pairing of Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory is no longer in town. Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto experienced breakout seasons, but better snap-to-snap consistency is required if they're to be considered long-term solutions.
The Broncos have undergone a ton of change at the position in recent years. General manager George Paton must continue adding talent to a room that remains in transition. If the Broncos don't draft a quarterback like Bo Nix or J.J. McCarthy with the No. 12 overall selection, I believe it'll be because a pass rusher took priority. Latu is the type of game-wrecker a roster requires if they hope to compete for the division title in the AFC West.”
Melo's analysis of the Broncos edge room as it currently stands is spot on. Despite using a pair of top-100 selections on Browning and Bonitto over the past three draft classes, as well as wading a quality rotational player in Cooper, the Broncos dramatically need a player that can be a dominant force as a pass rusher coming off of the edge.
Latu is a high-motor defender with incredibly technical hands. Despite having less-than-ideal arm length, he does well to create separation between himself and the blocker in front of him, and he has just enough bend to run around the arc as a pass rusher.
He can attack the inside gap across the face of the tackle using a great burst in his lower half and has a wide arsenal of pass-rush moves with a plan of attack to utilize them. Latu's a solid run defender and does well to hold a firm edge with his effort, though some functional strength is lacking, and he can get pushed around at times.
With the Broncos' consistent struggles to create pressure and get home, adding a pro-ready pass rusher like Latu could be the shot in the arm this team needs in a drastic way. There are some injury concerns with Latu, however, due to him missing two full seasons with a neck injury in his past, so medical evaluations are going to be a huge factor in his draft stock this cycle.
But in terms of his play on the field, Latu could end up being the top edge defender in the class over players like Alabama's Dylan Turner and Florida State's Jared Verse. The question is whether taking an edge rusher, despite the Broncos' clear need at the position, is in the best interest of the team so long as a void at quarterback persists.
The first round of the 2024 NFL draft is Thursday, April 25.
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