Editor’s note: Seventh of a series of NFL draft previews as it relates to the Broncos. Previously: running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and offensive line. Today: edge rusher. Broncos’ in-hous…
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter pass rushes against Washington offensive lineman Kahlee Tafai during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in State College, Pa.
Really depends on what Denver’s plan is here. The Broncos have one of the best defensive-line and sack-artist cores in the league … but Bonitto, Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, and even Tillman will be free agents after this year. Re-signing all of them would be a heck of a pretty penny, and it’s quite possible George Paton and company looks to this year’s draft to find a couple of faces who can wait in the wings. This isn’t a position of need in the short term, per se. But if the Broncos are planning to replace any of the above names, look for them to look to the edges in April.If this league weren’t so quarterback-driven, Carter would probably be the No. 1 pick. He rampaged with 13 sacks last year for the Nittany Lions and led the FBS in tackles for loss, a bona fide run-stuffer. His size doesn’t exactly blow you out of the water — not exactly the biggest dude at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds — but the natural talent is special.As versatile as they come. Walker spent about 40% of his snaps last year at Georgia against the run, about 31% in pass-rush and 29% in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. He lined up everywhere from mike linebacker to will to the outside, and is solid both as a tackler and in the pass-rush. The size, at 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds, is a concern as a full-time edge rusher, but Walker will play in a variety of packages.Let’s just toss both the Georgia boys in here. Williams was a consistent force racking up pressures for the last three seasons at Georgia, and is a powerful 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. The raw production, though, doesn’t exactly leap off the page, with 14 sacks total in three years. He’s an upside guy.Green led the FBS with 17 sacks in 2024 at Marshall but faces a slew of character questions after confirmingA lightning rod off the edge, Pearce Jr. racked up 43 quarterback hurries last year at Tennessee and is scary quick at a 4.47 40-yard dash. Once thought of as a blue-chip stock, though, Pearce’s status has fallen somewhat across the past couple of yearsYeah, fine, there are size concerns here. Stewart stands 6-foot-1, and doesn’t project as a typical starting edge rusher. But the motor popped last year at Michigan, with 8.5 sacks, and Stewart’s capable of simply overwhelming overmatched enemy tackles. Broncos draft preview: Denver’s DL is loaded for 2025, but a critical future need worth addressing early Once a JV kid at Cherry Creek High, NFL prospect Gunnar Helm wants to “leave a blueprint on football”Broncos mock draft: Sean Payton finds three-down running back in unexpected place If the Broncos wanted to reach higher, Stewart is a high-upside swing. He had exactly 1.5 sacks last year at A&M in 521 snaps; toss that out the window. Beneath that, quietly, he racked up 33 quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus — and the sheer athleticism shows signs of dominance, clocked at a 4.59 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical at the NFL combine.Beyond the Bo Nix tree, Burch could be a fit for another key reason: The Broncos’ only classic power-rush guy at edge in sheer body type is Tillman. Burch could fit as an OLB in a 3-4 scheme or a DE in a 4-3, at 6-foot-4 and 279 pounds, and racked up 8.5 sacks last year at Oregon.In a pretty deep edge class, Swinson’s going rather underdiscussed relative to his profile. He’s got size at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, and he was a monster last year at LSU, showing year-over-year improvement and finishing with a whopping 60 pressures, tied for sixth in the FBS, per PFF. He’sAgain, let’s contend it’s never a bad thing to select four-year guys from national-championship-winning programs. Sawyer improved every year with the Buckeyes, has great size at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, and was consistently praised for his leadership on Ohio State’s run to a natty. Suburban Denver city, the latest flashpoint in Colorado's housing affordability saga, feels squeezed by density pressuresNuggets playoff scenarios, explained: Western Conference seeding, tiebreakers, first-round matchupsNuggets to face Clippers in NBA playoffs as No. 4 seed after beating Rockets in regular-season finale Michael Bennet: I'm running for governor because Washington D.C. is too broken to answer Colorado's needs Gun-control measure signed into law, a Trump defense fund and more from the Colorado legislature this weekJudge orders owner, tenants barred from Lakewood home over meth-contamination concerns
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