Tag: pre-draft visit

Broncos will have pre-draft call with DL Leki Fotu

The Broncos will have a pre-draft video call with Utah defensive lineman Leki Fotu.

The Denver Broncos have scheduled a pre-draft video call with Utah defensive lineman Leki Fotu, according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

Fotu (6-5, 330 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 5.15 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 21 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Fotu to Mike Pennel, who joined the Green Bay Packers as a college free agent following the 2014 NFL draft.

“His draft value could be capped because he’s an early-down player who offers no real rush value,” Zierlein wrote of Fotu.

Fotu was a run-stuffing nose tackle with the Utes, totaling 81 tackles, four sacks, three pass breakups and three forced fumbles during his final three years at Utah. He is the 13th-best interior defensive lineman in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s post-combine Draft Wire rankings.

Denver placed a second-round tender on nose tackle Mike Purcell earlier this offseason but that’s only a one-year deal and the Broncos will want to have more depth on the defensive line. Fotu will be among the prospects the team will consider during the draft (April 23-25).

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Broncos will have pre-draft call with LB Joe Bachie

he Broncos have scheduled a pre-draft video call with inside linebacker Joe Bachie.

The Denver Broncos have scheduled a pre-draft video call with Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. NFL teams are making calls instead of inviting prospects for pre-draft visits because of COVID-19.

Bachie (6-1, 230 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.67 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described Bachie as a prospect who “will struggle with man coverage but plays passing lanes from zone effectively.”

Bachie’s one red flag is that he failed a PED test while in college.

During his final three seasons with the Spartans, Bachie totaled 274 tackles, seven sacks, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups and four forced fumbles. He was a play-making linebacker who totaled 28 tackles in the backfield.

Bachie is the 16th-best inside linebacker in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s post-combine rankings for Draft Wire.

The Broncos will have 10 picks to use in the NFL draft (April 23-25).

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Broncos will have pre-draft call with OT Ezra Cleveland

The Broncos have scheduled a pre-draft video call with offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland.

The Denver Broncos have scheduled a video call with Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. NFL teams are making calls instead of inviting prospects for pre-draft visits because of COVID-19.

Cleveland (6-6, 311 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described him as a prospect who “has the athleticism to play swing tackle for a zone-based offense but needs to get much stronger to hold up as a starter.”

Cleveland is the 10th-best offensive tackle in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s post-combine rankings on Draft Wire.

Denver appears content to enter the 2020 season with Garett Bolles and Ja’Wuan James as the two starting tackles but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team draft and groom a young tackle prospect this year. Cleveland will be among the team’s options later this month.

The Broncos will have 10 picks to use in the NFL draft (April 23-25).

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Browns hold pre-draft visit with Auburn DT Marlon Davidson

Browns hold pre-draft visit with Auburn DT Marlon Davidson

The Cleveland Browns continue to try and get as much information on as many potential draft targets as possible. Even in this time of restricted travel and personal contact, the Browns are finding ways to “meet” with players.

The latest name to pop up on the Browns virtual meeting radar is Auburn defensive tackle Marlon Davidson. He has confirmed with Justin Melo of our brother site, Draft Wire, that he had a recent FaceTime visit with the Browns in advance of the 2020 NFL Draft later this month.

Davidson is generally projected as a third-round prospect, so the Browns meeting with the energetic Davidson makes sense. Cleveland has two third-round picks and a need for a gap-shooting tackle with some positional versatility. Davidson had an impressive turn at the Senior Bowl and offers a lot of personality.

Broncos will have pre-draft call with OL Matt Hennessy

The Broncos will have a pre-draft conference call with Temple center Matt Hennessy.

NFL teams won’t have pre-draft meetings with draft prospects this year due to COVID-19. In the place of in-person meetings, the Broncos will hold conference calls and video calls with prospects leading up to the draft.

One of the first prospects Denver will call is Temple center/guard Matt Hennessy, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Hennessy (6-4, 307 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 5.18 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 23 times at the combine. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Hennessy to Joe Hawley, who was a fourth-round pick in 2010.

“He has early backup, eventual starter potential,” Zuerlein wrote of Hennessy on NFL.com.

Hennessy can play both center and guard and he also played offensive tackle while in high school. He is the 11th-best interior offensive lineman in this year’s class, according to Draft Wire’s post-combine rankings.

The Broncos could use a versatile center/guard after losing Connor McGovern to the Jets during free agency. Denver signed Graham Glasgow last month but he is expected to start at right guard, leaving an opening at center.

The Broncos will have 10 picks to use in the NFL draft (April 23-25).

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Broncos will have pre-draft call with CB Kristian Fulton

The Broncos will have a pre-draft conference call with LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton.

NFL teams won’t have pre-draft meetings with draft prospects this year due to COVID-19. In the place of in-person meetings, the Broncos will hold conference calls and video calls with prospects leading up to the draft.

One of the first prospects Denver will have a call with is LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton, according to a report from Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

Fulton (6-0, 197 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds and ran a 20-yard shuttle in 4.36 seconds at the combine. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Fulton to Quincy Wilson, who was a second-round pick in 2017.

During his final two years with the Tigers, Fulton totaled 54 tackles, two interceptions, 20 pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Fulton is the second-best cornerback in this year’s class, according to Draft Wire’s post-combine rankings. Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah is the only cornerback ranked higher than Fulton.

The Broncos will have 10 picks to use in the NFL draft (April 23-25).

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Broncos will talk with draft prospects over the phone and online

With pre-draft visits no longer possible, Broncos will talk with draft prospects over the phone and online.

In a normal offseason, NFL teams attend college pro days and have draft prospects visit their facilities in the weeks leading up to the draft.

COVID-19 ruined any normality for this year’s offseason.

Pro days have been canceled and NFL facilities have been closed, which will prevent teams from hosting players on pre-draft visits.

The Broncos will still talk with prospects, but it will be over the phone (or via a video service) instead of in person.

“We’ll hold interviews with the players over the telephone or whether it be in Zoom instead of having the 30 visits that we’ve had,” president of football operations/general manager John Elway said during a conference call with reporters on Tuesday. “We’ll be able to get the coaches — [they will] be able to interview the players over the phone.”

Denver did not take assistant coaches to the combine, which allowed those coaches to spend time studying film of draft prospects.

“[That] helped us tremendously,” Elway said.

The draft is now less than a month away and the Broncos don’t know if they will be allowed back in their facility for draft weekend.

“We don’t know if we’re going to be back in our complex by the time the draft comes around,” Elway said. “We’re in the process now of making those preparations if we’re not able to get back into our complex and how we go about that. I actually feel pretty good about where we are.

“With the draft staying where it is, it is fine. We’ll just move ahead and deal with the hand we’re dealt.”

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Browns have not yet eliminated free agent or draft prospect visits

Browns have not yet eliminated free agent or draft prospect visits

While many other teams have eliminated them, the Cleveland Browns have not officially ceased organizational travel or pre-draft visits with prospects. The team did announce it is scaling back travel for scouts and coaches in light of the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Through a team spokesperson, the Browns announced their current plans:

“Wanted to let you all know we are taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our staff including the reduction of travel by air for scouts and coaching. Too early for us to determine free agent and 30 draft prospect visits. Obviously, situation is fluid and we will continue to monitor and heed the advice of our medical and public officials as circumstances evolve.”

Several NFL teams have completely stopped all pre-draft visit activity and will not attend any remaining pro days — many of which have been canceled by the colleges. As of now, the league has not formulated any official plan for teams to follow. The Browns are acting on their own.

Report: LB Shaq Quarterman to have pre-draft visit with Bills

Miami LB Shaq Quarterman to have pre-draft visit with Buffalo Bills.

The Bills will have a pre-draft visit with linebacker Shaq Quarterman, The Draft Wire reports. Quarterman also met with the Bills at the combine, furthering their interest in him:

Quarterman could be a mid-round pick at the upcoming draft and the Bills take their meetings very serious. In terms of their pre-draft visit last year, Buffalo met with Ed Oliver, Dawson Knox and Vosean Joseph, three of their picks.

The Bills do have a hole in their linebacker positions via Lorenzo Alexander’s retirement, but Quarterman was a mike linebacker in college, and in terms of the Bills, Buffalo has Tremaine Edmunds there in a starting position with Julian Stanford behind him, who also led the Bills in special teams snaps last season. The Bills could be looking to upgrade their special teams units with mid-to-late round picks at the upcoming draft as well. Quarterman was a four-year starter and a team leader for Miami, both things that will also be appealing to the Bills as well.

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Broncos spoke with WR Tee Higgins at NFL combine

Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins had an informal meeting with the Broncos at the NFL combine.

The Denver Broncos had an informal meeting with Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins at the NFL combine this week, according to a report from The Athletic‘s Nicki Jhabvala. NFL teams are allowed to have 18-minute “formal” interviews with 45 players at the combine — the conversation with Higgins was not one of those meetings.

Higgins (6-4, 215 pounds) caught 118 passes for 2,103 yards and 25 touchdowns during his final two seasons with the Tigers. He also had one rush for 36 yards and another score.

Higgins is the 36th-best player and sixth-best wide receiver in this year’s class, according to Luke Easterling’s 2020 NFL draft big board for Draft Wire. Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy (No. 8) and Henry Ruggs III (No. 12), Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb (No. 9), Colorado’s Laviska Shenault (No. 25) and TCU’s Jalen Reagor (No. 33) are the only WRs ranked higher than Higgins on Draft Wire’s big board.

Higgins is projected to be selected sometime between the first and second rounds of the draft, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com.

Denver is clearly interested in WRs this offseason. Broncos general manager John Elway noted earlier this week that he wants to build the roster around young QB Drew Lock. Giving him a weapon like Higgins to pair up with Pro Bowler Courtland Sutton would be a wise move by Elway.

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