Could the Broncos draft a tight end with a premium pick in 2021?
Mar 2, 2021, 6:43 AM
The Denver Broncos are working diligently to put together their board for the 2021 NFL Draft coming up at the end of April. New general manager George Paton must look at the current roster and determine which positions he needs to upgrade. Once that is done, he must then rely on his scouting staff – including his own film study – to find the best fits at each position from the college players available in the draft.
I believe that with his premium picks (rounds 1-3), Paton must find players at the biggest positions of need. Adding depth is for the third day of the draft. When you have a premium pick, you must hit on players where you need them the most.
With that being said, why are the Broncos looking at tight ends in this class? They have former first-round pick Noah Fant as the starter, and he’s a weapon who is developing into one of the most dangerous tight ends in the league. Behind him there are guys like Albert Okwuegbunam and Nick Vannett, who are interesting players for various reasons.
The Broncos have so many needs, most of them on the defensive side of the ball, it seems odd to be looking at tight ends who are graded in the first three rounds yet here we are. Could the Broncos draft a tight end with a premium pick? Let’s take a look.
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Trembling with Fear
The Broncos are holding Zoom meetings with college prospects coming into the league. It’s not a surprise given what teams around the league have to deal with due to COVID-19. We’re going to hear plenty of prospects have had virtual meetings with the Broncos as the offseason rolls on, but it’s always interesting when a position we’re not expecting comes up.
That’s why I made a note when it was revealed the Broncos had a virtual meeting with Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble. A redshirt sophomore, Tremble is an “F” tight end who works mainly as a super-sized receiver. Any team that is interested in Tremble will have to see him in that light as he’s not the type of player you want to stay in and block.
As a receiving weapon, Tremble can create mismatches with his plus athleticism. He’s got the speed to take it to the house on any throw and from anywhere on the field. Tremble not only has speed, but he moves well and makes breaks/cuts without losing much speed. This makes him dangerous after the catch, and that skill should easily translate to the pro level.
Another virtual meeting with the #Broncos here. Tremble is an 'F' TE (3rd-round grade) who can be a dangerous weapon due to the mismatches he can create. Interesting to note #Broncos meeting with him virtually given they have Fant/Okwuegbunam on the roster. #NFLDraft @1043TheFan https://t.co/KqqWgHlZy5
— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) March 1, 2021
Tremble is seen as a third-round pick with upside, much like his former college teammate Cole Kmet was (second round 2020, Chicago Bears), and there’s a chance Denver could get him at that point.
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Jordan Rules
Another tight end the Broncos should have their eyes on is Brevin Jordan from Miami. He’s a player who improved on the field each year he played for the Hurricanes. The junior prospect is likely to be an “F” tight end, but that’s not to take away from his blocking ability. He is an effort blocker who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty, but his forte is that of being a receiving threat in many ways all over the field.
I love how players like Jordan are changing the game. His athleticism makes him tough to cover, but even when defenders are close by you see fantastic “my ball” mentality from Jordan. He will use his frame to box out defenders and does a good job of catching the ball away from his body – making it tough for defenders to get to it.
He is also one of the most-versatile tight ends to come into the NFL this year. Jordan is best used when standing up as a receiver, but he can work with his hand in the ground. He can also line up in the slot, and there’s even been times when he’s lined up in the backfield to catch passes. A coordinator with a creative mind will be able to find numerous ways for Jordan to attack an opponent.
YAC leaders by position in 2020:
RB: Travis Etienne, Clemson: 646
WR: DeVonta Smith, Alabama: 953
TE: Brevin Jordan, Miami: 353 pic.twitter.com/ItjtL7ECbV— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 25, 2021
Jordan is one of the highest-graded tight ends in the draft this year. I believe there is a strong chance that he’s off the board before the Broncos pick in the second round, but he might be there when their pick comes up early on the second day of the draft.
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Senior Stud
He has a lower grade than the two previously mentioned tight ends, but Kenny Yeboah from Ole Miss has talent and should be on the Broncos radar. In fact, with the dirty little secret in the NFL being “fit” Yeboah may fit what Pat Shurmur wants to do to a tee.
Yeboah transferred from Temple and did not miss a beat against better competition in the SEC. I like his nose for the end zone and strong hands. Yeboah has a tractor beam for his concentration level and is not disrupted in the catch process by defenders draped all over him. He will grab and snatch the ball away from linebackers and does a lot of damage in the middle of the field.
I watched Yeboah during the week of practice for the Senior Bowl earlier this year and came away impressed. I liked what I saw on film leading up to the Senior Bowl, and I was not disappointed when scouting Yeboah in person. He is an imposing presence on the field and I love his fire for making plays – especially scoring plays.
WATCH: Arkansas QB Feleipe Franks connects with Ole Miss TE Kenny Yeboah for touchdown in Senior Bowl https://t.co/9a2dyCBnu7 pic.twitter.com/Svovj5C42e
— 247Sports (@247Sports) January 30, 2021
I have Yeboah graded as a third-round pick which some may think is a little high. I’m not going to get too cute and wait for the third day of the draft to come around and hope that Yeboah will be there in round four. Instead, I’ll use a pick – perhaps even a compensatory pick late in the third – to get a tight end with a ton of potential.
