With apologies to the Johnsonville Cornhole Championships that recently aired on The Ocho, Thursday night marks the return of live, meaningful sporting events.  The NFL Draft will commence as scheduled despite the lack of medical examinations, face-to-face interviews, and private workouts of year’s past.  The Denver Broncos have 10 picks in this year’s draft, including the 15^th spot in the first round where many are guessing wide receiver. But unless John Elway gives up some equity and moves up the draft board in order to grab a CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy, I see an offensive lineman instead, and a draft board that looks something like this.

• Cincinnati – Joe Burrow/QB/LSU The first pick in the draft is a done deal as the Heisman Trophy winner, National Champion, and local kid from Ohio goes home again.
• Washington – Chase Young/DL/Ohio State The Redskins have to be thinking about Tua Tagovailoa just a little at this spot, but Young is too good to pass on, and quarterback Dwayne Haskins is too young to give up on.
• Miami – Tua Tagovailoa QB/Alabama Without a quarterback, the Dolphins have no choice but to trade with Detroit at this spot and take the talented, but often injured Tagovailoa before another team moves up the board.
• New York Giants – Isaiah Simmons LB/Clemson The Giants could opt for the best lineman in the draft to protect their young quarterback, or improve their secondary by going for Jeff Okudah, but Simmons is the right fit here.  His versatility and athleticism are unmatched.
• Detroit – Jeff Okudah/CB/Ohio State The Lions look brilliant as they grab the lock down cornerback who they would have taken at the third spot anyway.
• LA Chargers – Justin Herbert/QB/Oregon It’s obvious that the Chargers need a quarterback after letting Phillip Rivers go.  But watch out for the possibility of LA trading down and rolling the dice on Utah State’s Jordan Love.

• Carolina – Derrick Brown/DL/Auburn Carolina needs help in every position, but the defensive line will be much improved with the selection of Brown.
• Arizona – Tristin Wirfs/OT/Iowa The word was that Kyle Murray was really pushing for the Cardinals to draft former teammate and WR CeeDee Lamb at this spot, but Wirfs is a physical freak of an offensive lineman and perfect for protecting Murray all over the field.

• Jacksonville – Javon Kinlaw/DL/South Carolina With Derrick Brown off the board, the Jaguars take the next best defensive lineman available.
• Cleveland – Jedrick Willis Jr/OT/Alabama With three solid offensive lineman to choose from, picking one from Alabama is usually a safe bet.
• New York Jets – Jerry Jeudy/WR/Alabama The Jets were surprised that the best receiver in the draft fell all the way to this spot.

• Las Vegas Raiders – CeeDee Lamb/WR/Oklahoma There were some good players on the board at this spot, but wide receivers sell jerseys.

• San Francisco – Henry Riggs III/WR/Alabama It’s a run on wide receivers as the 49ers do their best to replace Emmanuel Sanders and add some playmakers.
• Tampa Bay – Andrew Thomas/OT/Georgia The obvious choice for the Buccaneers is to select anyone that Tom Brady desires.  Thomas gives Brady the extra time he needs.
• Denver – Mekhi Becton/OL/Louisville If you think the Broncos solved their offensive line problems by adding Graham Glasgow in the off-season, you are mistaken. Connor McGovern is gone, Ja’wuan James is unreliable, and Garrett Boles is Garret Boles.  Justin Jefferson (LSU) is a possibility at wide receiver if Denver is in love with him, and cornerback CJ Henderson (Florida) would be a valued pick at this spot to bolster the secondary, but assuming Becton’s failed drug test at the combine isn’t more than it is, Becton will be a Bronco.

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Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship.