Denver Broncos Draft Grades

How did the Broncos do in the 2021 NFL Draft? Let’s give the Denver Broncos draft grades for every pick they made.

Round 1, Pick No. 9: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

The Broncos surprised just about everybody and took Patrick Surtain II. Surtain was the best corner in the draft, so this is a fantastic value pick. Denver now finds itself with an embarrassment of riches at the cornerback position. I expect Ronald Darby to start out the season as the number two cornerback, though Surtain will overtake him at some point during the season. Surtain can play the slot, learn the NFL game, and develop into the shutdown corner we expect him to be. Grade: A-

Round 2, Pick No. 35: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina

One of us thought Javonte Williams was the best running back in the 2021 NFL Draft. This guy has all sorts of talent, and he’s taken less punishment than his peers, though I don’t like that Denver took a running back here. They paid Melvin Gordon, they drafted Royce Freeman early, that’s a one two punch at running back already on the roster. Denver needed an offensive tackle, I can forgive them passing in round one, but there were some nice options available here. Grade: B-

Round 3, Pick No. 98: Quinn Meinerz, OG/OC, Wisconsin-Whitewater

Quinn Meinerz went way too late, he should have been drafted 40 picks earlier, so well done Denver. Meinerz is an absolute athletic freak, he dominated every workout at his pro day. His lack of quality competition is a concern, but he had a great Senior Bowl. I love this pick. Grade: A+

Round 5, Pick No. 152: Caden Sterns, S, Texas

Another banger for the Broncos. We wrote about Caden Sterns and his athleticism and talent. Texas didn’t put Sterns in a position to succeed enough the past two years, but he was First Team All Big-12 as a freshman and won the defensive freshman of the year award. This is going to be a nice surprise for Broncos fans. Grade: A

Round 5, Pick No. 164: Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana

Jamar Johnson is tall and athletic, but he’s raw. He’s also really poor against the run, as he misses tackles often. Johnson has played in the slot and as a deep safety, so you like that versatility. He’s a good coverage safety, but hopefully the Broncos put him through as many tackling drills as possible. Grade: B

Round 6, Pick No. 219: Seth Williams, WR, Auburn

Seth Williams is a big, physical receiver with powerful legs. Williams has steady hands, he’s not going to be dropping balls. He’s also excellent at breaking tackles and running over corners. Williams isn’t the best athlete, which is why he fell to the 6th, but I’ll take a receiver who can catch any day of the week. Grade: B+

Round 7, Pick No. 237: Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU

Kary Vincent is a small, fast corner well suited for the slot. Vincent put in two solid years at LSU before opting out of the 2020 season. He’s a good slot corner, but I wouldn’t put him outside. Vincent could also improve his tackling. Maybe that speed helps him make the roster on special teams coverage. Grade: B

Round 7, Pick No. 239: Jonathan Cooper, DE, Ohio State

Cooper is an undersized edge who may move to a stand up outside backer for Denver. He’s strong, fast and quick, but he’s got pretty short arms. Cooper had a great season this past year as an all around defensive end for Ohio State. He looked strong against both the run and the pass. Cooper is polished, but his size and overall athleticism dropped him down to the seventh round. He’s an interesting player to keep an eye on. Grade: A-

Round 7, Pick No. 253: Marquiss Spencer, DE, Mississippi State

Ooof, those workout numbers are not pretty. 12 bench press reps and no speed or quickness? That’s scary. He’s the weight you want to see in a 3-4 defensive end, but you also like to see strength with that size. I get that it’s a seventh round pick, but I would have gone a different direction. Grade: C

Analyst-Jonah Anderson

Overall Grade A-