Lammey: Broncos may have to move up in draft for Devin White

Top players entering the NFL showcased their skills to a national audience last week at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the Denver Broncos spent the week interviewing players, watching drills, and looking over player measurements.

A player they interviewed at the Combine, and the one I had them taking in my first mock draft, is linebacker Devin White from LSU.

White had arguably the best performance at the Combine of any player at any position. He topped all linebackers with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash

With that timed speed and outstanding performance in other drills, White has almost certainly cemented himself as a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. In fact, there’s a good chance White won’t be on the board when the Broncos pick at No. 10 overall.

An NFL executive I talked to at Indianapolis told me there’s “no way” he expects White to be available when Denver is on the clock. People around the league expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 5 overall) to perhaps be the first team tempted to take White in the draft.

White is a perfect fit for the Broncos and a Vic Fangio defense for many reasons. First, the speed is there, and he doesn’t need to come off the field on passing downs. Second, White is a smart player who can find the ball quickly and does a good job of “scraping and flowing” to the ball-carrier. Finally, White is known as a leader on the field, and his play can certainly inspire his teammates around him.

Going with inside linebacker is a good call for the Broncos in the draft. This is a thin class at the position, with two inside linebackers (White and Devin Bush) who should go in the first round.

If the Broncos want White, they may have to trade up to get him after his performance in Indianapolis at the Combine.

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