The Denver Broncos used a sixth-round pick to select Boise State safety JL Skinner last month. Landing him that late in the draft could prove to be a steal.
Broncos general manager George Paton said the team liked Skinner’s size (6-4, 209 pounds) and physicality. Skinner stood out to Paton and head coach Sean Payton on film, but he fell in the draft due in part to a pectoral injury.
“Sean and I have watched a lot of tape on him, and he’s a fun watch,” Paton said after the draft. “I think the injury did impact where he was drafted. We felt very fortunate to get him where we did.”
Even without participating in drills at the combine, Skinner was projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick by NFL.com. He instead slid to the sixth round — but Skinner believes it was meant to be.
“I tore my pec before the combine — about two days before the combine,” Skinner said. “That’s the reason why a drop may have happened, but I don’t really consider a drop. I consider it me being placed into the correct hands. The Denver Broncos are the correct hands for me and I’m excited to be out there.”
Skinner said he is ahead of schedule in his recovery and he expects to be fully cleared for football activity by minicamp in June.
“I’m running and doing everything right now — lifting and doing all that stuff,” Skinner said. “So, not too far. I’m about a month out from my full expected recovery to be fully cleared, but I’m back doing all my normal activities — my normal things every day. It’s been good.”
Skinner is expected to contribute primarily on special teams as a rookie while competing for rotational playing time in the secondary.
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