Denver Broncos select Shane Ray No. 23 in 2015 NFL draft

The Broncos traded up to grab Shane Ray, whose draft-night slide following a recent citation for a traffic violation and marijuana possession ends at the perfect time.

Doug Farrar | Apr 24, 2015

Denver Broncos select Shane Ray No. 23 in 2015 NFL draft /

The Broncos moved up to the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 draft, moving up to Detroit's spot to take Missouri defensive end Shane Ray. In return, the Lions get offensive lineman Manny Ramirez, a fifth-rounder this year and a fifth-rounder in 2016. Ray was regarded by many as one of the best—if not the best—pure pass rushers in this class, but his recent citation for a traffic violation and marijuana possession was surely going to drop his draft stock.

Ray grades out as a top-15 pick on tape, but this fall could be good for him. The Broncos are switching to an aggressive one-gap 3-4 base defense under Wade Phillips, and they'll need a long-term pass-rushing partner for Von Miller. Ray can slip in for DeMarcus Ware over time, as Ware will be 33 years old in August. Ray led the SEC with 14.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in 2014, and he has a ridiculous first step. He'll be a perfect fit in the Phillips defense -- if he can keep his act together.

• 2015 NFL draft grades: Pick-by-pick analysis and scouting reports

Strengths: Freakish athlete who has unofficially been clocked at under 4.5 in the 40-yard dash at 6'3" and 245 pounds. Moves the pocket quickly off the snap, with a dynamic first step and excellent burst around the edge. Will occasionally get past a tackle before the tackle can set his feet. When asked to read at the line, maintains a disruptive presence, moving to the ballcarrier and working to deflect passes. Resets well from a pass-rushing position to redirect and run downfield with top-level closing speed. Works to cross the face of the tackle and could be a real weapon on stunts and inside counters. Has the lateral quickness to switch to an inside gap in a big hurry. Gets his sacks too often on pure speed, but has that skill in abundance. Can generate pressure from the tackle position on passing downs. Good in coverage with potential to grow in this area. Good run-tackler who has to use recovery speed too often to mask awareness issues.—DF

Weaknesses: Ray uses a rip and swim move occasionally, but more consistency with his hands would be a real benefit—he's pretty unstoppable when he coordinates his speed with technique. Gets too high in his stance and loses leverage pretty quickly, and that's when blockers who shouldn't be able to move him out of the play can do just that. Needs to develop his speed at the turn, the "dip-and-rip" that makes the best pass-rushers so lethal to the tackle's outside shoulder. Foot injury prevented him from doing drills at the scouting combine, though he did some at his pro day, including linebacker drills, which may indicate where NFL teams could be considering him.

Player Comparison: Bruce Irvin

Grade: B+

GALLERY: SCENES FROM THE NFL DRAFT

2015 NFL Draft in Pictures

The stage prior to the start of the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Don Juan Moore/Characterlines for Sports Illustrated

Jameis Winston takes the call from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who made him the first pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans react after their team drafted former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick during the NFL draft party in Tampa, Fla.

Jameis Winston posed for SI in his new team's jersey after he was taken No. 1.

Marcus Mariota at his draft party in Honolulu.

Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton picks up NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he celebrates after being selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 12th pick.

Fans cheer after Kevin White of the West Virginia Mountaineers was picked seventh by the Chicago Bears.

Bears fans cheer Chicago's selection of Kevin White of West Virginia Mountaineers.

Dante Fowler with commissioner Roger Goodell after being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Stanford offensive lineman Andrus Peat, right, talks to Deion Sanders after being selected by the New Orleans Saints as the 13th pick in the first round.

Green Bay Packers fans cheer during the first round of the draft.

A look at some of the NFL team representatives at the draft.

Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree celebrates after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 22nd pick in the first round.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans Keith Kunzig and David Miller are excited to have traveled from Florida to be at the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Shane Ray checks out his threads.

Leonard Williams is interviewed outside the draft venue before being taken by the New York Jets.

Jameis Winston waiting for the call.

The scene inside the Jameis Winston draft gathering.

X159534_TK1_174.w.JPG — Kent Nishimura for SI

Marcus Mariotta in Hawaii before the first round began.

img_54cc-3ada.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Two Patriots fans in Chicago.

Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly arriving at the NFL Draft.

img_c019-5024.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Chicago mounted police before the first round commenced.

img_3bf6-3442.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Dante Fowler's shoes on draft night.

Chicago welcomed the NFL Draft with open arms.

The view from outside Roosevelt University Auditorium Theatre.

NFL prospect Trae Waynes of Michigan State talks to pediatric patient Alec Cabacungan while doing a mock interview during the NFL PLAY 60 activities at Shriners Hospital for Children on Thursday, April 30 in Chicago.

Published Apr 24, 2015

DOUG FARRAR

SI.com contributing NFL writer and Seattle resident Doug Farrar started writing about football locally in 2002, and became Football Outsiders' West Coast NFL guy in 2006. He was fascinated by FO's idea to combine Bill James with Dr. Z, and wrote for the site for six years. He wrote a game-tape column called "Cover-2" for a number of years, and contributed to six editions of "Pro Football Prospectus" and the "Football Outsiders Almanac." In 2009, Doug was invited to join Yahoo Sports' NFL team, and covered Senior Bowls, scouting combines, Super Bowls, and all sorts of other things for Yahoo Sports and the Shutdown Corner blog through June, 2013. Doug received the proverbial offer he couldn't refuse from SI.com in 2013, and that was that. Doug has also written for the Seattle Times, the Washington Post, the New York Sun, FOX Sports, ESPN.com, and ESPN The Magazine. He also makes regular appearances on several local and national radio shows, and has hosted several podcasts over the years. He counts Dan Jenkins, Thomas Boswell, Frank Deford, Ralph Wiley, Peter King, and Bill Simmons as the writers who made him want to do this for a living. In his rare off-time, Doug can be found reading, hiking, working out, searching for new Hendrix, Who, and MC5 bootlegs, and wondering if the Mariners will ever be good again.