Stokley: Broncos can’t pass up on drafting potential three-down ILB
Feb 20, 2019, 5:57 PM | Updated: Feb 21, 2019, 8:16 am
“Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley on Wednesday said among the roster needs the Denver Broncos must address in the NFL draft, the most important might be the offensive line, cornerback, and inside linebacker.
But given the depth at cornerback in this year’s draft class, Stokley said the Broncos need to pounce on LSU star linebacker Devin White if he’s available at the team’s No. 10 draft slot.
“I think if he’s there you’ve got to take him,” Stokley said.
Stokley said with the depth at cornerback, the Broncos can circle back to the position later in the draft. But it’s hard, he said, to find three-down linebackers who can stay on the field the whole time.
“You’re there every single play. And not only are you graded against the run, but you’re also graded against the pass, which you need,” Stokley said. “To have that flexibility and be able to be a two-way linebacker when it comes to defending the run and the pass in today’s game, those guys are at a premium. Just like these hybrid safeties are.
“If you have a chance to get a guy like that, to me, you can’t pass on him.”
The comments follow those of “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Cecil Lammey, who also championed the Broncos selecting an inside linebacker at No. 10 on Monday.
“There are many more cornerbacks out there, if you want to wait until the second, third, and maybe even into the fourth round to find that quality talent that could step in and start for the Denver Broncos. At inside linebacker, there’s only one or two,” Lammey said. “So, in my opinion, the Broncos might be leaning that way, especially if they can’t get a free agent like C.J. Mosley because the Ravens, now with some extra salary cap space from getting rid of Joe Flacco, might go ahead and franchise tag him.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
