Grading Broncos’ 2020 NFL draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on John Elway’s weekend
Mark Kiszla, columnist
Grade: B-minus
OK, what to make of this draft? I love it, I hate it and sometimes I just plain don’t get it. Yes, John Elway found some cool new toys for Drew Lock, but if either Garett Bolles or Elijah Wilkinson is expected to protect the young QB’s blindside, there are serious cracks in Denver’s offensive foundation. During much of Day 2, in the meat of the selection process, the Broncos strained way too hard to prove their scouts are smarter than everybody else in the NFL. The picks of KJ Hamler and Michael Ojemudia made no sense to me. Now, let’s get to the good stuff: Jerry Jeudy can be much more than a complement to Courtland Sutton. In fact, I expect the rookie from Alabama to begin breaking ankles of defensive backs and establishing himself as Lock’s favorite passing target in short order. What’s more, there’s reason to believe the penciling in of Lloyd Cushenberry as starting center can quickly be changed to etched in stone. And if that’s the case, this draft will be declared a success, even if it’s not going to scare Patrick Mahomes or upend the pecking order of the AFC West.
Sean Keeler, columnist
Grade: B-minus
Like the direction of the team itself, John Elway’s 2020 haul was good but … schizophrenic. Needed stud wideouts. Took two. Needed another starter on the interior of the offensive line. Took two. Ticked off boxes at cornerback and an inside linebacker on passing downs, but waited maybe a round too long to address either slot. Needed depth at tackle, or someone to give you a non-Bolles, non-James option in case one implodes and the other can’t go. Nada. This is a better team than four months ago, no question. On paper. It’s not complete, though, on either side of the ball, by any stretch. And you’re still an injury away at offensive tackle, cornerback or — Heaven forbid — quarterback from the roof potentially caving in. Again.
Kyle Newman, Broncos beat reporter
Grade: B
It was a solid draft overall for the Broncos, despite a couple of head-scratching picks on Day 2 (Penn State wideout K.J. Hamler at No. 46 overall and Iowa cornerback Michael Ojemudia at No. 77). But Elway’s last couple draft classes have proved fruitful… so, it’s fair to give him the benefit of the doubt on those surprising selections, in addition to drafting a guy like injury-prone Fresno State guard Netane Muti. The sixth-round pick has played just five games in the last two years. LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry was the steal of the third round, and he and first-round wideout Jerry Jeudy are a sure pair of plug-and-play starters. Plus, the selection of Wake Forest’s Justin Strnad in the fifth round shored up the team’s linebacking depth. Overall, one can nitpick Denver’s draft performance, but quarterback Drew Lock sure won’t be complaining.
Joe Nguyen, online editor
Grade: B
The Broncos came into the draft with one goal: Improve the offense. Well, mission accomplished. Of the 10 picks Denver had, six went to the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Drew Lock has a bevy of new weapons at his disposal in tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, a familiar target from his Missouri days, and receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. It’s hard to not be excited for Jeudy, who has the potential to be the standout in this stacked wideout class. The offensive line was bolstered by center Lloyd Cushenberry, who could be a Day 1 starter to replace Connor McGovern, and guard Netane Muti. The defensive additions look like they’re depth pieces in 2020.
Ryan O’Halloran, Broncos beat reporter
Grade:A-minus
That’s right — somebody had to step up and give John Elway and his crew a top grade for this draft. For the last several years, the Broncos’ offense was a horrible combination (boring and bad). Enter receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, two guys whose speed and route-running ability should immediately stress opposing defenses. Those two players and center Lloyd Cushenberry make up the core of this class. If they all work out, great. I would have drafted an offensive tackle early on Day 3 and then a safety later. Overall, the Broncos were patient and didn’t have to trade up for Jeudy or Cushenberry.
Matt Schubert, deputy sports editor
Grade: B-plus
If John Elway and the Broncos scouting department know what they’re doing, this offense is about transform from a Zippo into a weapons-grade flame thrower. They nabbed two receivers with their first two picks — the former an All-American and the latter a world-class burner. They added a tight end (yes, another) with wheels and a ready-made connection to quarterback Drew Lock. And then they picked up a center who was voted MVP of one of the most explosive offenses in college football history. Oh boy, someone hose me down. Of course, if Elway and Co. are wrong, they may have whiffed on a chance to make an already good defense elite at pick No. 46, or find someone who can push Garett Bolles, Elijah Wilkinson and Ja-Wuan James at the tackle spots. A gamble was made, and the rake could bring in one heck of a pot.