USAT: Broncos Wire audio clip

USAT: Broncos Wire

Jan 19, 2022

In his first 2022 NFL mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has the Denver Broncos selecting Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean with the ninth overall pick in the first round (subscription required for link). - With Alexander Johnson, Josey Jewell and Kenny Young all scheduled to become free agents this spring, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver address the linebacker position this offseason. - Dean (6-0, 225 pounds) totaled 168 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown in three seasons (36 games) with the Bulldogs. He earned unanimous first team All-American honors in 2021 and won the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker. - Dean recorded two tackles in Georgia’s 33-18 win over Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship game in December. - Todd McShay, Kiper’s colleague at ESPN, sent Liberty quarterback Malik Willis to the Broncos in his first 2022 NFL mock draft last month. - Kiper’s mock has Denver passing on this year’s QB options, as he believes the team is more likely to add a veteran through free agency or a trade. Instead, Kiper has the Broncos selecting “the draft’s best off-ball linebacker” in Dean. - Four quarterbacks — Willis (No. 11), Kenny Pickett (No. 18), Matt Corral (No. 20) and Sam Howell (No. 28) — go off the board later in the first round of Kiper’s mock draft. - Last year, Kiper’s first mock draft had the Broncos selecting linebacker Micah Parsons. Denver ended up passing on Parsons to pick Alabama cornerback Pat Surtain II at No. 9 overall. - - List - - 7 key dates for Broncos fans to know this offseason - - - - - - - Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast: - Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts - - - List - - Broncos' 2022 schedule of opponents now known - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Broncos Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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