Finding Broncos: Two Edge Defenders to watch on Day 2

The Denver Broncos have a handful of needs they desperately need to address this upcoming season, including bolstering the depth coming off the edge. With Randy Gregory and Baron Browning having injury concerns and the slow development of Jonathan Cooper and Nik Bonitto, adding a high-upside pass rusher that is strong against the run makes a ton of sense.

Isaiah Foskey | Edge | Notre Dame

Pros:

All time sacks leader in Notre Dame history.
First step explosiveness is special.
Solid build in the upper half with enough length to add more mass at the next level.
He is a linear athlete with a ton of power in his lower half to bull rush easily.
Speed-to-power conversion is intense.
The long arm technique is incredibly effective.
Does a great job of creating separation and leverage to keep linemen out of his chest plate.
Strong enough in the run game to not get washed out, but nimble enough to break contact and make plays.
Great recognition skills and reaction time to shoot gaps to make plays in the backfield.
Ghost move effectively gets under blockers and changes direction to penetrate the interior.
Pursuit is relentless when chasing players downfield.
Has special teams versatility from his early college years.

Cons:

Stiffness in his hips and lack of bend cause concerns about coming around the arc.
Change of direction skills is lacking.
Not a dynamic pass rusher that has a sophisticated pass-rush plan.
Lack of counter moves due to lesser active hands.
Hands sometimes come late on the initial punch, making them seem less effective.
Hand placement and technique in the running game need refinement to help keep better contain on the edge.
He was a two-year starter, with most of his production coming in his junior and senior years.
Wasn't tasked often with coverage assignments, so questions loom about versatility in that aspect.

Overview:

A four-year starter for the Fighting Irish, Foskey is a high-quality pass rusher that knows how to win despite not being an overly versatile player in the technical aspect. His best trait is his 34-inch arms, which he uses at will to keep blockers at bay from his pass-rush path. While some technical flaws keep him from being a dominant run defender, there is a solid foundation to work with as a gap penetrator that recognizes and reacts early in the down.

Fit with the Broncos:

As a high-upside pass rusher that is still learning how to develop a more versatile arsenal, Foskey would make a lot of sense for the Broncos if he were available in the third round. Foskey fits well enough in the Vance Joseph defense as a player that can play with his hand in the dirt as a 7- technique defensive end or as a standing edge rusher. While adding some bulk in his lower half would be needed moving forward, Foskey could step in as a contributor in a rotation from day 1.

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Byron Young | Edge | Tennessee

Pros:

An incredibly explosive athlete that flashes on tape frequently.
Insane first-step burst to put blockers in conflict early in the rep.
23 career tackles for loss
Great twitch to peel back towards the middle on tackle/end stunts and twists
His change of direction ability constantly flashes as he jumps into gaps easily.
Powerful punch that helps dictate the rep.
Relentless motor and hustle to finish plays that get extended outside of the pocket.
Enough bend and flexibility to succeed as a speed rusher around the arc.
Two-year starter with solid production after transferring from JUCO.

Cons:

Will be a 25-year-old rookie with a lack of polish.
More of an athlete than a football player.
He can be late to react to the snap.
Footwork is sloppy off the snap, with a lot of wasted movement.
A slower processor in the running game and often seems to guess where the play is going.
Hand usage and counter moves are lacking in his pass-rush plan.
He needs to add thickness to his lower half to anchor better in the running game.
Hand placement is a concern.
He will sometimes allow blockers into his chest plate and wash him off the edge.

Overview:

A high-motor player with high character, Young figures to be a rotational pass rusher early in his career as he finishes finalizing his repertoire. He is an absolute freak show of an athlete that still needs to learn the technical aspects of playing the game at a higher level, but coaches will love this moldable ball of clay with incredible upside as he continues his career. Young will need to learn fast as he is an older player, but his tools are elite, making him a viable option moving forward.

Fit with the Broncos:

Young's athletic upside should be enticing to every NFL team, but the rawness of his game at his elevated age should see him fall a bit down the draft board. High-motor players with upside like Young are nice to have on your roster, and Young would be a major contributor to the special teams' units immediately as he builds strength in the lower half against the run. Young may not make it there, but he would be a heck of an addition for the Broncos early in the 4th round.

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