Since John Elway took over as the Denver Broncos general manager in 2011, the Broncos have drafted just two players that played in that year’s National Championship game.
The first was cornerback Bradley Roby, who was a member of Ohio State Buckeyes who won the National Championship over the Oregon Ducks in 2014. Elway selected Roby with the 31st overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Roby spent five years with the Broncos before signing with the Houston Texans this past offseason.
The second of those selections came in 2017 when Elway selected wide receiver, Isaiah McKenzie in the fifth round. McKenzie was a member of the Georgia Bulldogs team that lost to Alabama in the National Championship game. McKenzie now plays for the Buffalo Bills.
Based on the history of his drafts, it’s likely that Elway won’t be drafting many LSU Tigers or Clemson Tigers when April rolls around. However, there are a number of players on both sides that could help the Broncos in the secondary, on the offensive line and at wide receiver. We spoke with Jake Schyvinck, a writer for FanSided.com, about six players to watch during the NCAA National Championship Game.
1. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
The sticky man to man cover corner is a very realistic option for the Broncos when they are on the clock with the 15th overall pick. Fulton has 13 pass breakups this season and one interception. Schyvinck said that Fulton is at his best in man coverage.
“Kristian Fulton’s biggest strength is in man coverage,” Schyvinck said. “He has a great understanding of mirroring receivers and understand how they want to beat him. He plays well at the line of scrimmage with great quickness and discipline. Fulton also recovers well by changing direction and has enough speed to hang with defenders down the field.”
2. Grant Delpit, DB, LSU
Delpit, like Fulton, is another possible option for Elway and company when they are on the clock with the 15th overall pick. Delpit is a versatile defensive back that can be deployed at safety or as a nickel cornerback. Delpit was the recipient of the 2019 Jim Thorpe award winner (given to the best defensive back in the NCAA).
“The biggest question mark around Delpit is his tackling issues in 2019,” Schyvinck said. “They weren’t there in 2018, so do the Broncos believe 2019 was a bit of a fluke? Delpit could go a long way with a good performance in the National Championship.”