NFL Combine: Broncos Scout Draft Replacements

0:00On February 27th, the first day of the NFL Combine is done, and the Denver Broncos spend it eyeing interior defensive linemen, linebackers, and edge. Rushers. Those are spots where free agents could leave holes, so the team scouted hard for draft replacements. A bunch of prospects disappointed though, stumbling in measurements, speed tests, and position drills. Measurements raise early flags across the board. Several defensive linemen clocked in short and heavy, like under 6-foot-1, with short arms, boxing them into run-stopping rolls only. Edge rushers faced bigger heat, with arm links dipping below 31 inches, something no top 100 pick has had in 20 years. Linebackers also trended small, some under 225 pounds. Fans and scouts reacted with caution, noting these flaws could drop guys in the draft, even if college tape shines. For the Broncos, it means extra homework on borderline talents who might fit value rounds. Not every week showing kills a guy's stock, but it sparked debates on NFL fit.

1:02Athletic testing added fuel, as interior linemen lag behind bench marks, and a few linebackers barely scraped average. Edges and linebackers shown unevenly in drills too, with some teammates combining for standout numbers, but individually missing marks. Drills exposed movement woes, like stiff hips on edges, hinting at interior shifts and clunky steps for taller linebackers. As combine weak rolls on, the Broncos keep watching how tape weighs against these live looks, to shape their draftboard.