Finding Broncos: Two Stanford Prospects to Better the Depth of the Roster

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with a talented cornerback and a developmental quarterback.

Stanford University has produced a lot of NFL talent over the years, and the Denver Broncos should be looking closely. The program has put forth premium players like Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey to later-round bloomers that became elite, like Richard Sherman. There are a couple of prospects this year that can potentially improve the depth on the Broncos roster on both sides of the ball.

Kyu Blu Kelly | CB | Stanford

Pros:

• Prototypical size for a press-man coverage player with good length.
• Patient back pedal that is smooth and measured.
• He stays in phase easily and rarely gets beat with double moves in close quarters while playing man coverage.
• He opens his hips to turn and run reasonably well with decent fluidity.
• Active hands at the catch point and knocks a lot of footballs away.
• The punch placement is nice and firm.
• He is not scared to stick his nose in and hit in run support.
• Mirror ability in man coverage is above average.
• Uses the sideline well, squeezing receivers with ease.
• Four-year starter with a lot of experience.

Cons:

• Zone coverage awareness is lacking.
• Off-coverage anticipation and recognition need refinement.
• He needs to get more aggressive in using his hands at the line of scrimmage.
• Short area quickness and change of direction agility are lacking.
• Long speed can be an issue against explosive receivers.
• The tackling technique is lacking, leading to many missed tackles on the boundary.
• Slot versatility is a projection, but he has some experience there based on offensive alignment.
• He was sometimes overly patient in his backpedal, allowing receivers to stack and separate going down the field.

Overview:

Kyu Blu Kelly is a long, physical cornerback that projects best on the boundary in press-man coverage. Though he has the versatility to play off the ball and in the slot, Kelly appears uncomfortable in open spaces where his eyes can deceive him, and his decision-making is lacking.

A four-year starter that has seen a lot of top-level competition at wide receiver, Kelly has the upside to be a starter on the outside as he develops better recognition. Still, he figures to be a solid backup early in his career. His physicality and willingness to get dirty and lay the wood as a tackler can translate into special teams' versatility at the next level.

Fit with the Broncos:

Kyu Blu Kelly fits perfectly with what Vance Joseph likes to do with his cornerbacks on the outside, especially in third-down situations. As a true press-man cornerback, Kelly could see the field early and often for the Broncos, especially if Damarri Mathis struggles to open his sophomore campaign. In addition, with a projection to special teams early, Kelly could become a solid gunner on punt and kick coverage, boosting a unit that has been at or near the bottom of the league for several seasons.

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© John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Tanner McKee | QB | Stanford

Pros:

• Tall build with a prototypical frame for a pocket passer.
• Enough arm strength to make any NFL throw.
• Accurate enough for basic success at every level of the field.
• Ball comes out of his hand nicely with good velocity.
• More mobile than credited for.
• His Footwork is primarily clean in the drop and gets his front foot pointed toward the target.
• Anticipation into second-level throws is nice.
• Works well over the middle of the field.

Cons:

• Clunky mover In the pocket.
• Not a great athlete. Mobility is better than credited, but it is not a reliable tool in his bag.
• Quirky and unorthodox throwing motion.
• He doesn't generate through his hips to drive the ball.
• Ball placement is consistently erratic, leading to missed run after the catch opportunities.
• Pocket presence is lacking, leading to a lot of sacks.
• Arm talent in creative arm slots is practically nonexistent.

Overview:

Tanner McKee is a developmental quarterback prospect with immense size and enough ability to become an average backup at the NFL level. However, McKee lacks the athletic prowess needed to succeed at the NFL level as a full-time starter, especially when plays break down and he needs to escape the pocket and create with his legs.

As a passer, McKee distributes the ball with accuracy and relatively nice timing to all levels of the field. While he doesn't have immense arm talent, he has enough arm strength to push the ball downfield easily and drive into tighter window throws. There is enough to work with to have him see the field and manage the game, with enough upside to carve out a solid career as a backup.

Fit with the Broncos:

The Broncos brought in Jarrett Stidham to upgrade the backup quarterback position over Brett Rypien, so McKee would have to play better than a four-year veteran with a couple of starts if the Broncos were to take him. However, he fits decently in the Sean Payton offense from a mental makeup and throwing the ball over the middle of the field. Still, his lack of mobility and athletic ability will probably ward the Broncos away due to the higher volume of moving pockets.

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