3 IDL to Bring Immediate Impact to Broncos Defense

The Broncos need immediate help on the defense, and one of these defensive linemen could be a missing piece.

Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro (33) pressures Louisville quarterback Evan Conley (6) during / Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Denver Broncos are grappling with the pressing issue of being able to win in the defensive trenches consistently. This was a significant concern in the 2023 season, with only Zach Allen displaying some consistency. The Broncos need immediate help on their defensive line, a situation that should raise concern among the fans. 

They did bring in Malcolm Roach, a quality run defender, but they have to enhance their ability to generate pressure from the inside. While this isn’t a standout class for help on the interior defensive line, promising options could be acquired on the second day of the draft, offering a glimmer of hope for the Broncos. 

Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Braden Fiske (55) sacks / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Braden Fiske | Florida State

• Height: 6-foot-4
• Weight: 292 pounds
• Arm Length: 31 inches
• Hands: 9-3/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.89

Pros

Fiske had excellent production at Western Michigan, and it carried over to Florida State after he transferred there for teh 2023 season. With over 2,200 snaps played over six seasons of collegiate football, Fiske has plenty of experience and picked up 131 pressures and 21 sacks. While he doesn’t have the ideal length for the NFL, his motor never runs cold, and he is so explosive off the snap. 

He has quick and light feet that allow him to shoot gaps and generate interior pressure. His hand technique is sudden and clean, and he does a good job keeping blockers from latching on. There is a good punch to engage, with plenty of strength to bench blockers off his frame. 

There is good burst and quickness to work stunts and twists and move around the defensive line. When defending the run, Fiske brings an attacking physicality to get after the ball carrier, making it hard to clear the lane at the point of attack. He has good stack-and-shed technique to stand up tackles and then break off to make the play. 

Cons

The length concerns can lead to him getting caught on longer-armed blockers.  He must improve his hand technique and develop ways to break free. There are issues of general power and holding up consistently at the point of attack. When dealing with double teams, Fiske will easily be cleared out. 

If Fiske doesn’t win off the snap, he will likely lose the rep as there isn’t great recovery ability. There isn’t the versatility with the scheme up front, and asking him to work as a two-gapper sets him up to fail. He will need to be used as a gap shooter to get the most out of him and pair him up with high-quality defenders to help cover his issues. 

Fit With Broncos

Fiske would be a great fit for the Broncos to add some pass-rush ability to their defensive front. Adding Roach could help cover Fiske's issues against the run and allow him to work as an attacker on the unit. The Broncos need more pressure ability from the inside, and Fiske would bring that and pairs quite well with Zach Allen. 

Big Board Position: No. 32 overall.

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Oct 28, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USANorth Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback MJ Morris (7) is / Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Ruke Orhorhoro | Clemson

• Height: 6-foot-4
• Weight: 294 pounds
• Arm Length: 34 inches
• Hands: 9-3/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.92

Pros

There is solid experience, and Orhorhoro had to grow and develop behind some talented defensive linemen during his time. He has a great build and length for the NFL and is also a high-quality athlete. His get-off is quick, and he uses good force and leverage to get blockers on their heels from the start. When he gets under blockers' pads, there is solid strength and power to continue to drive them back or shed them to make a play. 

Orhorhoro has all the tools and traits that NFL coaches love to have and develop. He is a decent enough run defender to hold up at the point of attack, and he has the athleticism to work as a pass rusher, though there is room for more in both aspects. When he gets near the quarterback, or the quarterback works out of the pocket, there is enough burst to close on the quarterback and change his escape path. His lateral quickness and agility help him stay in phase when the play goes laterally. 

He has good technique with his hands and feet and uses them together quite nicely to side-step blocks laterally. A lot of growth is still needed, but he can work as a role player as a rookie, especially in the right defensive scheme. With the versatility to play multiple techniques on the defensive line, Orhorhoro needs to be in a single gap or gap-and-a-half defensive front to take advantage of his skill set the most. 

Cons

A lot of technical work needs to be done, as well as cleaning up the technique that he has developed. He is a tools and traits player with so much to work with, but he has to get the football aspect down. His pass rush relies on athletic ability and quickness instead of a mixture of moves and having a plan. 

He has moments where his instincts and awareness are lacking, so development is also needed in the film room. While he can stack blockers, he must develop consistent techniques to shed blocks. If he can learn how to turn his explosive get-off into power better and consistently, it would make him an even more significant threat. 

Fit With Broncos

While Orhorhoro isn’t an immediate starter due to the amount of development he needs, he can still see the field as a rookie. The Broncos have the pieces to allow him to be a rotational piece and focus on developing him. It would be a high-ceiling pick and place a lot on Jamar Cain to develop him.

Big Board Position: No. 39 overall.

Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) passes against / Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Kris Jenkins | Michigan

• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 299 pounds
• Arm Length: 34 inches
• Hands: 9-3/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 8.99

Pros

Jenkins is another legacy player, as his father was a Pro Bowl defensive lineman in the NFL. There is good experience, and in big moments, Jenkins stepped up consistently throughout his career. On the big stage against Alabama and Washington, he picked up five of his 20 pressures in the 2023 season. 

He is exceptionally quick and powerful with his hands and often gets his hands on blockers before they can get their hands on Jenkins. His length helps him engage quickly, and he can bench blockers off his frame. With his strength, he can control blockers and clutter running lanes, and he works well when moving laterally to keep lanes messy for the ball carrier. 

There are some decent moves as a pass rusher, including a well-developed spin counter. While his production as a pass rusher isn’t great, he does offer a good ability to contribute there in the NFL. He can work in multiple alignments and gap-type fronts, including as a two-gapper. 

Cons

When working as a two-gapper, he will need more sand in his pants to consistently hold up. Double teams can push him off the line, limiting his work inside. There are balance issues, and he can get top-heavy, allowing blockers to get under his pads and control him. 

The production isn’t what you want as a pass rusher, and some teams could see him as a run defender with limited pass rush potential. Improving his power and use of leverage could help his effectiveness as a pass rusher by giving him a bull rush in his arsenal. 

Fit With Broncos

Kris Jenkins is a good fit with the Broncos, and with the type of player he is, he can work as a potential D.J. Jones replacement in 2025. There is enough as a run defender to improve the Broncos front as a rookie, and there are tools to develop as a pass rusher. 

Big Board Position: No. 41 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

Each of these three prospects would fit with the Broncos in different ways. Fiske can provide a more immediate impact as a pass rusher, but there are more concerns as a run defender. Jenkins is the opposite of Fiske, with more as a pass rusher but needing to develop as a pass rusher. Of the three, Orhorhoro might have the highest ceiling of the three but requires the most work of them to reach it. 

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