Finding Broncos: Two Under-the-Radar Prospects on Offense

The Denver Broncos have built up their offense through free agency, but they still need to improve their depth along the unit. While the 2023 NFL Draft isn't great on the offensive side of the ball, some quality options can still help where help is needed.

Jake Haener | QB | Fresno State

Pros

He is a decent athlete.
He has a good football IQ and does well when reading defenses.
There is plenty of experience, and his production is great.
He protected the football well, with 18 interceptions over four seasons and 33 total turnover-worthy plays.
There is no doubting his toughness, and he will take a hit to deliver the ball.
His accuracy and touch are consistent and reliable under the 20-yard mark.
He has good anticipation on throws and excels with rhythm passing.
There is a smooth process when going through his reads.

Cons

There isn't ideal size for the position in the NFL.
He is older for a rookie, having turned 24 years old recently.
His overall arm strength is modest, and the nose of the ball dips when attacking deeper.
There is a need to speed up his mechanics and quicken the release to help make up for velocity issues.
There is a bad habit of staring down his receiver and giving things away to the defense.
He isn't overly elusive in the pocket and allowed over 1/5th of his pressures to turn into sacks.
When he faced tougher defenses, his production and play dropped some.
Sometimes he doesn't throw off a good base, and his placement will be erratic.

Overview

Haener is an undersized quarterback who doesn't have an ideal arm or build for the NFL. Despite that, he is tough and competitive who excels at working with timing and taking what the defense will give him. His football IQ and quick processor are what teams look for in a backup quarterback, which is where Haener projects best.

Fit with Broncos

The Broncos went out and signed Jarrett Stidham to back up Russell Wilson. Haener is a good fit for what Sean Payton looks to do on offense. However, with the few picks and where Haener is projected to go, the value isn't there for Denver.

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Israel Abanikanda | RB | Pittsburgh

Pros

Well-built compact frame.
Good athlete with plenty of burst and explosion.
There is that extra gear to make big plays happen.
There is plenty of tread left on the tires, with a little over 400 touches on offense.
He held onto the ball well, fumbling three times in college.
He became the guy in 2022 and carried the ball for 1,426 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Over the last two seasons, he picked up over 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns while forcing 86 missed tackles.
He had nine games over 100 yards rushing, with one over 300 yards.
He has a quick one-step cut to get upfield quickly.

Cons

He isn't overly elusive as a runner and likes to work through defenders.
There wasn't much opportunity as a receiver, but there were flashes in limited usage, though he will need to show more and be more reliable with his hands dropping five of 50 targets.
There isn't a great change of direction.
He will need to be more reliable when coming to the end of his runs.
The value on third down is limited, and he must make significant steps in pass protection.
He can be overly pressed as a runner and doesn't play with a consistent tempo.
There needs to be more patience with his runs and not outpace his blockers.

Overview

Abanikanda is a physical runner with a compact build and good mass on his frame. While he isn't the most elusive runner, he does have a good one-cut jump. There isn't much there on third down, but there is room for development to make him a more dangerous weapon in the NFL. His athleticism is easy to see, and he has all the tools you need in a running back.

Fit with Broncos

The Broncos need a running back, someone who can provide big play ability, and Abanikanda brings that. He has enough speed to be a home run threat, with good burst and power to be an all-around threat. Of course, they would need to develop him more for third-down versatility, but the tools are there for Sean Payton and his coaching staff to work with and develop.

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