2021 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos wish list for next offseason

1. Linebacker

Many Denver Broncos fans are going to be screaming for offensive tackles to be the primary focus of any 2021 NFL Draft projection, but I’m here to tell you I don’t know with any level of certainty that John Elway is going to prioritize that spot with the team’s top pick.

Why? How?

Since Vic Fangio became the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2019, the team has had five selections in the first two rounds of the 2019 and 2020 NFL Drafts. All five of those selections have been used on the offensive side of the ball.

That doesn’t mean the Broncos won’t use another top pick on offense in the 2021 NFL Draft, but the pendulum will eventually swing back to the defensive side and the Broncos have a substantial need at inside linebacker with Todd Davis hitting free agency in 2021 and mostly uncertainty behind him.

There’s also the fact that in 2019, the Broncos came this close to pulling the trigger on drafting Devin Bush themselves before they traded the 10th overall pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers who made an offer John Elway couldn’t refuse.

That trade turned into Noah Fant, Drew Lock, and Lloyd Cushenberry.

Then, in the 2020 NFL Draft, Elway tried to trade back into the first round for LSU linebacker Patrick Queen.

The Broncos have identified a ‘type’ at the linebacker position and they want someone fast. Really fast.

The 2021 NFL Draft class is pretty loaded at the linebacker position, starting with Penn State’s Micah Parsons and Alabama’s Dylan Moses. Missouri’s Nick Bolton is not far behind those guys, and there are potential day two and mid-round gems to be found with someone like North Carolina’s Chazz Surratt as well.