Round 1: Pick 31:
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
I expect the Broncos to pick up Connor Cook with their first round pick. Besides Jared Goff, who will most likely be gone by this pick, Cook is the most NFL ready quarterback available. He had an extremely good record at Michigan State, going 34-4, and John Elway loves guys who win. In terms of fitting into the Broncos system, Cook played in a professional type offense at MSU where he rarely threw screens or took bootlegs. Cook is a great athlete as well, securing a top 5 finish in the vertical jump (4th), and a top 10 finish in both the 40-yard dash (6th) and the broad jump (9th) in the combine. He does struggle with accuracy at times and isn’t a great leader, but the Broncos won’t be needing a tremendous quarterback to win games. Many doubt that Cook is a first round talent, but the Broncos hold the last pick in the first, and need to fill their Qb position first. Cook is a solid guy who shouldn’t be a huge risk for Denver.
Round 2: Pick 63:
Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois
I have the Broncos selecting Jihad Ward in the 2nd. In some mock he's said to go later in the 3rd round, but I think Ward has too much potential to drop that far. After losing Malik Jackson to Jacksonville, the Broncos will look to fill the void he left behind. They wont have to look any further than Jihad Ward out of Illinois. Ward is extremely versatile, something that Wade Phillips loves. He can play inside, or on either outside spots of the defensive line, and he can do it well too. One of the more athletic players for his size, Ward had the 10th most reps in the bench press, and tied for the 3rd best vertical jump in the combine. Ward is truly a force, standing at 6”6 and closing in on 300 pounds. He could be a great fill in for Malik.
Round 3: pick 94:
Christian Westerman, OG, Arizona State
With the 94th pick in the draft, I have the Broncos taking Christian Westerman out of Arizona State. Westerman is extremely athletic, and has great footwork. He was an honorable mention for the All-Pac-12. Westerman posted the highest amount of reps in the bench press at the combine, showing his strength. His size may be a bit of a concern, as he is just under 300, and will have to go up against much bigger guys. He could be switched to center if it becomes a true problem.
Round 3: pick 98:
Miles Killebrew, SS, Southern Utah
With this pick, I think the Broncos will take Miles Killebrew, the safety out of Southern Utah. The Broncos have virtually no depth at the safety position, and they should address it in this years draft. Much like TJ Ward, Killebrew is an extremely hard hitting safety who consistently is making tackles. Killebrew is average at coverage, but the Broncos should be confident in taking him as their 3rd or 4th string safety. If available, the Broncos could also take Scooby Wright with this pick who could compete for the potentially un-filled linebacker spot.
Round 4: pick 136:
Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas
The Broncos will likely be without Ronnie Hillman for the 2016/17 season, and have average depth at the running back position. Williams could potentially make a run for the 2nd or 3rd string back with Denver, as he had a great career at Arkansas. Williams has extremely fast footwork, and is a true craftsman when it comes to making guys miss. He knows how to explode through gaps and has good size. Williams didn't take enough snaps in a swarmed backfield, and also had a tremendous offensive line ahead of him, which is why he's dropped so far.
Round 5: pick 144:
Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky
I expect the Broncos to take Higbee with their 5th round pick. The Broncos released Owen Daniels earlier in the offseason, and will most likely be without Vernon Davis as well. Enter Tyler Higbee. Higbee was a former wide receiver, and therefor has tremendous hands. Higbee is a great route runner and can accelerate quickly. He struggles mainly with blocking and can slip up on some shorter routes, he also suffered a bad knee injury earlier in the year which could make scare some teams out of taking him, but the Broncos need a tight end and should look for him with this pick.
Round 5: pick 157:
Joe Dahl, OL, Washington State
The Broncos will continue to add depth at what seems like their biggest positional problem: the offensive line. It will be important for the Broncos to have a big group of guys to look at up front, and Dahl will be someone who can compete for a job. Dahl had a strong showing at the combine, where he finished top 10 in the broad jump, and top 15 in the 40 yard dash, bench press, and the 3 cone drill. Dahl is a great run blocker, and has tremendous work ethic. His injury history is a concern, and one of the reasons he falls to the later rounds.
Round 7: pick 228:
DeAndre Washington, RB, Texas Tech
These last few picks shouldn't make a huge impact for Denver, so don't be surprised if the Broncos take another running back here to add some depth and provide competition for the Broncos main guys. Washington's style of running is not similar to the typical NFL runner, so teams are very cautious about him. He also played in an offense where passing comes first, so Washington wasn't the star at Texas Tech. He is a great pass catcher out of the back field however, and could be a threat in that department.
Round 7: pick 253:
Luke Rhodes, LB, William & Murray
The Broncos may be worried about their depth at the linebacker, so I see them taking a practice squad type linebacker to compete with one of their late picks. Rhodes also could provide help in terms of special teams, something the Broncos strived at this year. Rhodes had an impressive college career, collecting just under 100 tackles in 2013 and 2014. Rhodes should be mainly used as a special teamer, but he has potential to compete for a job as an inside linebacker.