Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Just Stole the PERFECT Fit at Running Back in the 4th Round

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Denver Broncos just added the perfect running back to their room. And they ended an NFL draft streak that's been going on for way too long. You are locked on Broncos. Your daily Denver Broncos podcast. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Broncos general manager, George Payton, said that his fourth round picks were going to define this year's draft class for the Denver Broncos. And now we know who they are.

Starting point is 00:00:34 Broncos used the 108 selection in the fourth round on Washington running back, Jonah Coleman, who I believe to be the perfect fit for this team at the running back position. And we've been saying that for some time. So you never know when you're going to get a pre-draft prediction, right, Broncos country. But also, the team ended a very long streak of not drafting an offensive tackle. Boise States cage Casey is now officially in the building. Welcome into lockdown Broncos. We're going to be breaking down these fourth round picks for your Denver Broncos, starting off with Jonah Coleman.

Starting point is 00:01:08 But I want to quickly say thank you to all you every dayers out there. Thanks for making lockdown Broncos your first listen of the day. Every single day, we appreciate you so much for rocking with us all throughout the NFL draft season and the off season, which it was boring. Now it's taking a big turn for the better for everyone in Broncos country. Everybody's got their favorites going into the NFL draft, right? but Jonah Coleman was arguably, in my opinion, the best possible fit for the Denver Broncos at the running back position and for a number of different reasons, right? I mean, we've kind of gotten used to watching how Sean Payton and George Payton work together

Starting point is 00:01:45 and what they value, what they prioritize, but they're pretty unpredictable when it comes to the draft. But I think Jonah Coleman was as predictable as it gets, and it starts with his leadership traits. I mean, a captain at Washington. And you certainly draft guys for, you know, more than just being captains, but he's somebody that you see in scouting reports all the time that coaches talk him up. He transferred, obviously, with the coaching staff from Arizona over to Washington. So he's somebody who's well liked by his coaches there and a trustworthy player for a number of different reasons, right? I mean, obviously, as a person, he's valued highly. But why is he trustworthy for the coaches as a player?

Starting point is 00:02:25 Two reasons. Ball security and pass protection. He only had two fumbles in his entire college career. and he's known for his ability to pass protect. And if you look it up, he actually had a really great quote at the scouting combine about, you know, quarterbacks getting paid $100 million and running backs getting paid $2 million.

Starting point is 00:02:43 So, you know, he understands his role, essentially. He understands his role as a running back in terms of how important pass protection is, not just that you got to be good at it to play in the NFL, but how critical it is. And I think he's going to slot in perfectly as the third running back behind J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey. Harvey. We knew when the Broncos re-signed J.K. Dobbins, they had to get some insurance at the position, right? They had to get insurance. And frankly,

Starting point is 00:03:10 they had to upgrade their depth because Jolil McLaughlin, Tyler Badegh, those guys didn't cut it this past season. The Broncos running game really tapered off and sort of died out there in the postseason. Having somebody who's physical between the tackles like Jonah Coleman is absolutely essential for this team. I wanted to rattle off some stats here. from Warren Sharp, who pointed out some amazing context to what makes this the perfect running back pick for the Denver Broncos. A first down or touchdown on 35% of his runs, which was number one in this year's class at the position. 71% of his rushing yards came after contact, which was also number one in the class, 12.4 yards per catch, number one in the class. And when he was hit

Starting point is 00:03:55 behind the line of scrimmage, number one in yards per carry and number one in first down rate. So there's a lot to like about this guy. One fumble, excuse me, some sites have enlisted as two fumbles, some have one. Warren Sharps has one fumble. Dane Bruegler says two. So we'll have to do some more digging and see which one of them is right. But he only had one drop on 123 career targets. And so you combine all these different things together, right? Pass protection, leadership traits, the ability to make plays in the passing game, which, by the way, he was number three in all of college football FBS level this past season in terms of 20-plus yard receptions.

Starting point is 00:04:36 He had six of those for Washington this past year. So he's a big guy, 5 foot 8, 222 pounds. He brings the size to the table, pass protection, leadership traits, three down abilities, between the tackle abilities, after contact abilities. So you might be thinking yourself, well, wait, why wasn't he drafted higher then? Well, it's just the way things go in the NFL draft sometimes. This year's running back class historically low number of running backs taken in the first two days. So the Broncos made sure they got their guy.

Starting point is 00:05:07 I love the fit. I love the pick. I think that honestly, I think we did an entire bonus episode on Jonah Coleman. So I know a lot of folks like to say, well, you just react to the picks and you know, you like whatever the Broncos do. This is one of those ones that, you know, we've been banging the drum for Jonah Coleman for quite some time. I even thought that maybe the Broncos might like him so much that they would value him as a potential second round player. So love, love, love this pick from my vantage point Broncos country, very interested to hear your opinions on this selection as well. I know a lot of fans wanted Mike Washington.

Starting point is 00:05:40 A lot of fans wanted the Penn State guys. Some fans wanted Emmett Johnson, but ultimately, in my opinion, with what Jonah Coleman brings to the table on third down especially, I think he's going to be that Tyler Badee replacement right away. and I think he offers you better insurance in the running game than either Biday or Joliel McLaughlin. But how about the guys in front of the running backs? The offensive lineman. I mean, we saw the Broncos go after a defensive tackle with their top pick in this draft. Tyler Ognettam being picked there with their third round selection.

Starting point is 00:06:09 And now they've gone to the trenches on the offensive side of the ball. And like I said in the show open, they've ended a streak that's been going on for way too long in Broncos country. We're going to talk about that coming up on today's episode, Locked on Broncos. Today's show is brought to you by Cali. The NFL draft is going on right now as we speak, and every single pick is a tradable moment on Calci. As a matter of fact, the Broncos have the Mr. Irrelevant pick this year, number 257 overall, and what position they pick is tradable on Cali.

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Starting point is 00:08:58 FanDuel, play your game. The Denver Broncos ended one of the longest, craziest streaks you'll ever see in the NFL draft. I'm pretty sure. I don't know that for a fact. I don't think anybody keeps track of these sorts of things, but I'm going to just give it away right now. The Broncos, they have not drafted an offensive tackle since 2017 when they selected Garrett Bulls in the first round. that is officially done. That streak is over.

Starting point is 00:09:23 Nearly a decade since the Broncos selected an offensive tackle. And Cage Casey is the guy to break the streak. We're going to tell you about the Boise State starting left tackle. Coming to the Broncos with a fourth round pick. But quickly, we want to just shout out the everydayers one more time. Thanks so much for making lockdown Broncos your first listen of the day. Thanks for making us part of your day-to-day, however you choose to do so. It means the world to Cody and I that we get to do this together alongside of you

Starting point is 00:09:48 that you include us in your Broncos fandom means the world. So let's talk about Cage Casey. He's going to be a Bronco once again. He was a Bronco at Boise State. He's staying a Bronco. Now he's a Denver Bronco. I don't know that he's necessarily going to be a Denver Broncos left tackle, although he did say in his conference call with the media that he models his game

Starting point is 00:10:08 after Garrett Bulls. And it's kind of funny how things come full circle here because, of course, the Broncos, they don't necessarily need a starting tackle right now. But they went into day three of this draft believing that they wanted to invest in guys who have the traits to be future starters, can provide them some depth. And the Broncos have a lot of swing players on the offensive line. And I think Cage Casey is going to be another one of those guys. Depending on who you ask, he projects either as a swing tackle in the NFL or somebody

Starting point is 00:10:39 who's going to have to go inside to the guard position due to his 33 and a quarter inch arms, which, I mean, he can play the tackle position. and he's played it well. I mean, he was a freshman All-American, started 41 straight games, first-team all-conference at Boise State this past year. But he's going to have to really work on some things, which is why I think the Broncos waited probably until this point to take him. He's going to have to work on some things in terms of just his overall anchor

Starting point is 00:11:05 and ability to get out there against NFL caliber players. And what better unit to have to go up against some practice than this Denver Broncos defensive line. But I, you know, in terms of the player, Cage Casey, you're getting somebody pretty low or medium on the Rass scale. I think that, you know, when you talk about investing in guys who have traits, that's what George Payton said after the Tyler-owned yetam pick. And ultimately, Cage Casey doesn't necessarily have those traits that you would say,

Starting point is 00:11:34 wow, I mean, he's got just like the size, the speed, the length, the quickness. That doesn't necessarily pop off when it comes to his athletic testing number. So we'll have to hear what the Broncos had to say about him in terms of the athleticism translating to on-field stuff because remember Pat Bryant was another guy who didn't exactly test well in the pre-draft process in terms of his speed and things like that, but you see the quickness and you see the ability to get open by playing fast. And so we'll have to hear them kind of riff on Cage Casey and that selection and what they envisioned for him because ultimately, I mean, yes, on paper as a full-time starter at the left tackle position for 40 plus games at

Starting point is 00:12:13 Boise State. He has effectively broken the Broncos tackle streak, but could he be the heir apparent to Ben Powers at the left guard position? That might be the vision for him. And I wouldn't be surprised by that by any stretch. And you can have that tackle guard versatility that the Broncos and every NFL team covet so much. You don't have to be able to play all five positions necessarily, although Cage Casey said that he would do whatever it takes, you know, to get on the field for the Broncos. But when you look at the depth chart and you kind of stack it up for the next two to three years, the clearest path for Cage Casey to getting on the field is probably that left

Starting point is 00:12:51 guard spot. And so maybe that's where the Broncos are going to envision him long term, although for the time being, he can be a swing tackle for you. He can be depth that left tackle. He can be depth that left guard. Who knows what they're going to envision there. But ultimately, I think that I like the investment in the trenches. I like going after a defensive lineman early, an offensive lineman early.

Starting point is 00:13:13 It's been four years since Sean Payton. It's crazy to even think about. I mean, 2023, 2023, 2024, 2025. This is his fourth year with the Broncos. His first offseason with the team, remember the first two moves that he made in free agency, essentially, maybe not literally the first two, but two of the biggest ones that he made was going out and getting Mike McGlinchy at the right tackle spot and getting Ben Powers at left guard. we know the trenches matter.

Starting point is 00:13:39 And they followed that up, I think the next day or, you know, shortly after that by signing Zach Allen to a big money contract on the D line. The trenches matter to Sean Payton. The Broncos obviously don't have a ton of high draft capital that they're working with these days. So an investment in somebody like Cage Casey is substantial, given the context of what George Payton had to say in terms of, hey, we believe that these fourth round picks are going to define this draft. So I think that the Broncos are going to view him as a future starter.

Starting point is 00:14:06 and the most likely path seems to be at left guard, although Mike McGlenge's contract is also an interesting thing to watch here as we go forward. He could be something in the 27 offseason that we're discussing, depending on what happens there. But then again, the Broncos also have Alex Palchesey under contract, and he's shown some starter chops at the right tackle spot. So I'm excited to see the Broncos investing in the trenches. I love that they broke the streak of drafting offensive tackles,

Starting point is 00:14:35 even if Cage Casey does end up going inside to guard. But I think that ultimately when you get a player like this, you feel like you can be comfortable knowing that, hey, if your offensive line coach saw something, if your scouting department saw something, and you believe that he can be a starter at one of those spots or even a valuable depth piece, that's a great use of a fourth round draft pick.

Starting point is 00:14:57 And yet the Broncos, they still haven't taken a linebacker. That's going to be something that I'm fascinated to see as we sit here. As we record this show, the Broncos have yet to take a linebacker. They have yet to add anybody at the tight end position. So we'll see what happens there. Broncos country will be sure to be bringing you analysis of all those

Starting point is 00:15:14 remaining selections as the Broncos have five more picks now here on day three as of the time we're recording this. But do you like the Cage Casey selection? Do you love the Jonah Coleman selection as much as I do? Are you higher on somebody else? Let us know we're so appreciative of all of you rocking with us every day here. Once again, lockdown Broncos. Make sure you're here for the next episode of.

Starting point is 00:15:34 the show.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos Just Stole the PERFECT Fit at Running Back in the 4th Round

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