Tag: draft picks

Broncos projected to receive 3 compensatory 2020 NFL draft picks

Broncos are projected to receive three compensatory 2020 NFL draft picks.

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway is about to have a busy offseason. In addition to likely having nearly $80 million worth of salary cap space, Elway could have 12 picks in the 2020 NFL draft.

Denver currently has nine selections in the draft but the league could award them several more this offseason. Each year, the NFL awards compensatory picks to teams who essentially lost more than they gained during free agency the previous offseason.

Nick Korte of OverTheCap.com has predicted that Denver will receive a fifth-round selection for offensive lineman Billy Turner, a seventh-round pick for offensive lineman Max Garcia and a seventh-round selection for cornerback Tramaine Brock.

If the Broncos do receive three compensatory draft picks as Korte has projected, this is what the team’s 2020 draft order will look like:

Round 1: Own pick (15th overall)
Round 2: Own pick
Round 3: Own pick
Round 3: via Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 3: via San Francisco 49ers
Round 4: Own pick
Round 4: via San Franciso 49ers
Round 5: Compensatory pick
Round 6: via Washington Redskins
Round 7: via New England Patriots
Round 7: Compensatory pick
Round 7 Compensatory pick

With so much draft capital to work with, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Elway make several draft day trades.

Last year, Denver traded down in the first round to select tight end Noah Fant before selecting guard Dalton Risner in the second round and then trading up in the second round to also land quarterback Drew Lock. All three of those players were key contributors in 2019.

The 2020 NFL draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25.

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Broncos’ updated picks for 2020 NFL draft

The Broncos currently have nine selections in the 2020 NFL draft, including seven picks in the first four rounds.

After finishing the 2019 season with a 7-9 record, the Denver Broncos are scheduled to select 15th overall in the 2020 NFL draft. Because the league has not yet announced compensatory selections, we don’t know the exact order of the team’s remaining picks, but we do know the rounds.

Here’s when Denver is scheduled to select in April’s draft:

Round 1: Own pick (15th overall)
Round 2: Own pick
Round 3: Own pick
Round 3: via Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 3: via San Francisco 49ers
Round 4: own pick
Round 4: via San Franciso 49ers
Round 6: via Washington Redskins
Round 7: via New England Patriots

The Broncos have nine picks — including seven in the first four rounds — and that number could increase after the league hands out compensatory selections later this offseason. Denver might receive a late-round comp pick for losing offensive lineman Billy Turner during 2019 free agency.

Broncos general manager John Elway will also have plenty of 2020 salary cap space so the looming offseason could be an exciting time in Denver.

The 2020 NFL draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25.

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Saints sign pass rusher Noah Spence, former Bucs second-round pick

The New Orleans Saints signed ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-round draft pick Noah Spence, a pass rusher they’ve been monitoring for a while

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The New Orleans Saints are marching on without starting defensive end Marcus Davenport, whose season is over with a foot injury. That loss prompted the team to work out several free agent pass rushers on Tuesday, including NFL veterans Noah Spence, Shane Ray, and Chris Smith.

Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Saints liked what they saw out of Spence enough to sign him. He’s been on their radar for a while now, going back to the months before the 2016 NFL Draft, when the former Ohio State star transferred to Eastern Kentucky after his Buckeyes career turned south. The 6-foot-5, 251-pound sack artist showed teams plenty to like in his game tape (picking up 20.5 sacks between his stops at two schools), and by all accounts impressed teams in pre-draft interviews.

New Orleans wasn’t able to draft him, however — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Spence with the 39th overall selection, just ahead of the Saints’ first pick in the second round. They went on to draft two of his former Buckeyes teammates in wide receiver Michael Thomas (at No. 47) and safety Vonn Bell (at No. 61), so Spence will now get to play alongside them again, as well as former Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple.

Shoulder and wrist injuries limited Spence to just 34 game appearances in his three-year stint with the Buccaneers and eventually ended his tenure there, though he was able to make plays in the pass-rush rotation with 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. The Saints have to hope he can contribute in their own defensive ends lineup behind Cameron Jordan, Trey Hendrickson, and Carl Granderson. Defensive tackle/end hybrid Mario Edwards Jr. can also step in as needed.

The corresponding move to Spence’s signing is up in the air for now, but with both Davenport and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins on the mend, it’s likely one of them lands on injured reserve to open a spot on the 53-man roster for him.

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