Broncos seem to be set at edge rusher, but they could add depth there late in draft

The Broncos seem to be good at edge rusher. Jonathon Cooper is re-signed. Nik Bonitto could be next. Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman don’t hit unrestricted free agency for another three years.

Still, you’re always looking for edge rushers.

OK, let me add a word to that sentence.

You’re always looking for YOUNG edge rushers.

If you think you have enough, you don’t. Find a way to stash one or two on your practice squad if you can. Because if you have a surplus, you can always make a trade.

Just look at the Broncos last year. When Tillman exploded late in the Week 3 blowout at Tampa Bay, he officially had the attention of team decision-makers.

The decision to trade Baron Browning just before the deadline had as much to do with Tillman’s emergence as it did with Nik Bonitto proving that he had the strength against the run to be an every-down presence, and not primarily a sub-package pass-rush specialist.

It’s unlikely the Broncos will add an edge rusher early. However …

LIKELY BRONCOS RANGE:

DAY 3

The basic problem here is roster construction; there likely isn’t room on the game-day active roster for one unless they are a special-teams wizard who can justify having a fifth edge rusher get a jersey. The current quartet of Bonitto, Cooper, Elliss and Tillman can likely be written in Sharpie, barring injury, as the Broncos want to see what leaps Elliss and Tillman can take in their second NFL seasons after the promise of their rookie campaigns.

Thus, if you see one added via the draft, it’s probably a sixth- or seventh-round flyer who will not have a 53-player spot guaranteed.

POTENTIAL BRONCOS FITS:

Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly: One of the Broncos’ 30 visits at their facility was with the 6-foot-3, 251-pounder who accumulated 17 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. He uses a powerful, quick first step to his advantage, and already has a plus move with his twist. Far stronger attacking the quarterback than setting the edge, he’ll need polish to become an every-down player.

Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech: He exploded after transferring back to his home-state school from Florida, using an array of moves to his advantage as he accumulated 33.5 tackles for loss and 25.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

He’s a finisher; among 226 edge rushers with at least 200 pass-rush snaps, he ranked 11th in total hit rate last year, getting to the opposing quarterback once every 9.6 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus data. Powell-Ryland isn’t a plus player yet against the run and will have to improve there, but his energy and effort should translate to special teams.

NAMES TO KNOW:

DAY 1:

Abdul Carter, Penn State
Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Jalon Walker, Georgia

DAY 1/2

Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Mykel Williams, Georgia
Mike Green, Marshall
Landon Jackson, Arkansas

DAY 2:

JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Jordan Burch, Oregon
Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Barryn Sorrell, Texas
Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi
Ashton Gillette, Louisville
Bradyn Swinton, LSU

DAY 2/3:

David Walker, Central Arkansas
Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
Savion Jones, LSU

DAY 3:

Elijah Roberts, SMU
Jared Ivey, Mississippi
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
Jah Joyner, Minnesota
Fadil Diggs, Syracuse
Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly
Que Robinson, Alabama
Johnny Walker Jr., Missouri
Ahmad Hassanein, Boise State
Steve Linton, Baylor
Ethan Downs, Oklahoma

SLEEPER TO WATCH:

Elijah Roberts, SMU: Part of a havoc-generating front seven that powered the Mustangs to the College Football Playoff, Roberts’ pass-rush win rate of 36.8 in a true pass set ranked sixth among 478 FBS edge rushers with at least 100 pass-rush snaps last season, per data compiled by Pro Football Focus. In all pass-rush snaps, his win rate was 10th — one spot behind Penn State’s Abdul Carter.

At 285 pounds, Roberts’ frame likely projects him more to the inside, which could give some teams pause — but he’s proven to be a quick study and he diagnoses blocking schemes rapidly, has a nice blend of speed and power and brings oodles of intangibles. Roberts doesn’t fit neatly into a box, and you might have to fiddle around to find the right spot for him, but he’s someone you want in your locker room. One of my favorite prospects this year.

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