• Spencer Rattler joins the Broncos in Round 3: He has adequate arm talent for the NFL level, though his velocity isn't the top tier, and possesses clean fundamentals, especially in his lower half.
• Laiatu Latu bolsters Denver's edge group: He was the most productive pass rusher in college football over the past two seasons. His hand usage is fantastic — fast, precise and, most importantly, with purpose.
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As the 2024 NFL Draft nears, our seven-round team mock draft series continues with the Denver Broncos.
Round 1, Pick 12: EDGE Laiatu Latu, South Carolina
Latu, who suffered a neck injury in 2021 that almost ended his football career, was the most productive pass rusher in college football over the past two seasons. His hand usage is fantastic — fast, precise and, most importantly, with purpose. He has a wide variety of pass-rush moves and counters that appear second nature to him. He is also a versatile edge defender, playing a near-even split of left- and right-side snaps with a good mix of two- and three-point stances. He is just an adequate athlete with sub-50th-percentile arm length. He could also stand to add some density and strength to improve anchor ability and tackling.
Round 3, Pick 76: QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Rattler's time at Oklahoma was a roller coaster of high and low plays, but he became a more mature player at South Carolina. His preferred style comes in a shotgun system (over 85% of his snaps) with spread formations. He has adequate arm talent for the NFL level, though his velocity isn't the top tier. He has clean fundamentals, especially in his lower half. His protection was terrible in 2023, as he was pressured on almost 40% of his dropbacks. Despite that, his pocket presence is at an NFL level. Though he sees coverage well, he does struggle to see secondary defenders (LBs and safeties).
Round 4, Pick 121: CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri
Abrams-Draine started his career at Missouri as a receiver. The three-star recruit even played quarterback in high school as a senior. He moved to defensive back as a sophomore at Missouri and started on the outside in each of the past two seasons. He has a ton of ball production — seven interceptions and 34 forced incompletions — since 2021. Abrams-Draine is a good overall athlete with adequate long speed and recovery speed, fluid hips and an explosive first few steps out of a change in direction. His weight is on the lower side, which is why you won't see him in press coverage much. But he does great work in off-coverage from zone.
Round 5, Pick 136: EDGE Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
Kamara is an outlier for an edge player in his measurables. At 6-foot-1, he's below the fifth percentile for all NFL edge rushers, which comes with natural pros and cons. The pro is that he can really explode out of a low, loaded stance with good pad level to fuel his preferred move: a bull rush. The con is a lack of length, which makes it more difficult for him to press offensive linemen in his bull rush. It also holds him back from being able to get off blocks. He's a strong player, though, and has a motor that is always running hot.
Round 5, Pick 145: TE Theo Johnson, Penn State
Johnson brings plus size to the tight end position, ranking above the 70th percentile in height and weight. His long arms are an advantage when he is blocking edge rushers and hauling in passes. He has decent build-up and long speed when getting vertical up the seam, but he lacks the difference-making change-of-direction ability, which limits his route tree. He makes his money from an inline spot as a versatile blocker and pass catcher in heavier formations. He is a strong blocker when he targets defenders between the shoulders, but he can sometimes get crossed up (another area where his limited lateral ability shows).
Round 5, Pick 147: T Christian Jones, Texas
Jones started his high school athletic career playing soccer and didn't start football until his junior season, where he played defensive end before offensive tackle. He played at Texas for six years and started 48 games. That experience is evident in his understanding of leverage, angles and hand placement. His long arms/wingspan can engulf on- and off-ball linebackers. He is a good linear athlete who can function in zone-blocking schemes. However, he will bend at the waist in pass protection with slower footwork, which will get him in trouble in the NFL. His power profile is adequate but not difference-making.
Round 6, Pick 203: S Beau Brade, Maryland
Brade's biggest issue is his tackling, as he's missed at least 19.0% of his tackle attempts over the last two seasons. He'll have to improve that if he wants to stay in the NFL.
Round 6, Pick 207: RB Jase McClellan, Alabama
McClellan is a solid athlete with above-average contact balance. He can be a potential committee back in the NFL.
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