2020 NFL Draft Preview: A mid-round guard could fill a void in Denver
Mar 26, 2020, 6:32 AM | Updated: Apr 10, 2020, 10:27 am
The NFL Draft is slated for April 23-25, providing seven rounds for the Broncos and other teams to find their stars of the future. At this point, Denver is slated to have 11 total picks, five of which will fall within the first 95 selections. In other words, John Elway will have plenty of assets to work with throughout the weekend.
What will he do with those picks? That’s anyone’s guess. But in the coming weeks, 1043TheFan.com will provide an overview of the best prospects.
Today, we continue by looking at a position where the Broncos may be looking to upgrade – guards. Obviously, Denver is set on the left side, where Dalton Risner will be entering year two of what many will believe will be a decade at that spot on his hometown team’s offensive line. But on the right side, a replacement for Ron Leary isn’t as set in stone. Yes, Graham Glasgow was signed to fill that spot, but he could be moved to center. If that happens, it’s Elijah Wilkinson’s job to lose, a scenario that seems like a stopgap measure at best. So if the Broncos want to fill that hole via the draft, here are the players to consider for the job:
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Top Five on the Board
1. Netane Muti – Muti is the top-rated guard on the board because of his physical dominance. He tosses defenders like ragdolls at times, allowing him to be a road grader in the running game and a brick wall in pass protection. The only worry is his injury history. At Fresno State, he tore and ACL in 2018 and had shoulder issues last season; that’s a concern.
2. Jonah Jackson – Scouts rave about his balance, which is a trait that allows him to be really good in pass protection. He’s never out of position, so he rarely gets beat. Those who study film debate whether or not he gave up a sack during his college career, both at Rutgers and Ohio State. Regardless, he’s a solid player, one ready to step in and start right away.
3. Damien Lewis – Lewis looks the part, like he was sent from central casting to play guard in the NFL. He’s a massive human being, checking in at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds. As impressive as that is, however, it’s the way the LSU product carries the size that is intimidating; he just looks natural and comfortable, which makes him an imposing figure.
4. Nick Harris – Are teams going to watch the game film or go off of what they saw in workouts? That’s the question for Harris. At Washington, he was a very good player, one worthy of being picked in the first three rounds. But at the Senior Bowl, he got dominated in one-on-one drills, which caused his stock to plummet.
5. Robert Hunt – There are two red flags for Hunt. One, his level of competition in college; Louisiana didn’t exactly line up against the SEC every week. And two, his injury history, as his senior season was cut short and he was forced to miss the Senior Bowl. But scouts love his size (6-foot-5 and 335 pounds) and his athleticism, which will make him a day-two pick.
