3 OLBs with Potential to Lead Broncos' Room

Could the Broncos find a top-edge rusher among one of these three prospects?

Nov 4, 2023; Pullman, Washington, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Justin Lamson (8) is hit while / James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

While the Denver Broncos have some talented pass rushers, they are missing a clear top guy. They have been rumored to be looking for someone to fill out the room, and the draft has good class to get some help. Maybe their answer is Brennan Jackson, Xavier Thomas, or Eric Watts.

Let's dive into their respective scouting reports to find the answer.

Nov 19, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Jayden de Laura (7) is rushed by / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Brennan Jackson | Washington State

• Height: 6-foot-4
• Weight: 264 pounds
• Arm Length: 32-3/4 inches
• Hands: 9-3/4 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 8.53

Pros

Jackson's effort and motor are off the charts. He is a relentless pass rusher with outstanding energy on every play that infects his teammates. He checks the intangibles boxes on and off the field that you want checked. The production that you want to see from Jackson is there, with 132 pressures and 22 sacks in four years, with his sack total increasing each year. 

When he faced tougher matchups, he didn’t disappear and had some of his better games against that tough competition. His use of leverage is exceptional, and he keeps his pad level low and works to get into and under the chest of blockers. He also possesses clean footwork with a decent spin counter that can easily be improved. 

There is good power throughout his frame, which helps him set and sustain his hold on the edge against the run or even at the point of attack. The strength is also consistently used to get off blocks with good stack and shed technique. 

Cons

The athletic testing he showed at the combine isn’t there on tape consistently. NFL coaches will want to tap into that athleticism more than he did in college. He is also on the older side as a sixth-year senior than you typically want for incoming rookies. 

His run defense needs to be more disciplined, as he will give up gap integrity to make a play. He doesn’t have the best short-area agility and can get skunked by agile ball carriers when he goes to make the tackle. That agility issue can also be problematic with more maneuverable quarterbacks in the pocket. 

As a pass rusher, there isn’t much in the arsenal outside of the effort and relentlessness. Teams will have to completely develop a set of pass rush moves that capitalize on the power he works with, as well as develop more counters and continuing development on his spin move. There is also a decent explosion, but work must be done to help him convert that into more power as a rusher. 

Fit With Broncos

While he isn’t a Batman-type pass rusher the Broncos need, he can still work with the unit. He would be a tremendous upgrade to the run defense from the edge position for the Broncos and give them a developmental pass rusher, with Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper entering the final year of their deal. Jackson can contribute as a rookie in certain situations, provide depth as a pass rusher, and contribute to special teams. 

Big Board Position: No. 81 overall.

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Nov 25, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Xavier Thomas (3) breaks / Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Xavier Thomas | Clemson

• Height: 6-foot-2
• Weight: 244 pounds
• Arm Length: 32-7/8 inches
• Hands: 9-1/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 7.78

Pros

Despite not playing much, Thomas has been relatively productive during his collegiate career. He has picked up 148 total pressures, 22 sacks, and 74 stops.

Thomas's motor and effort are non-stop, and he often wears down blockers when getting after the quarterback. His motor skills and effort are coupled with some good hand techniques. He uses his hands to keep blockers hands off of him and work his way through them. There is also a well-developed ghost move that is executed consistently.

There is a good explosion off the snap, and he does seem to have a high football IQ based on how he reads plays as they develop. He stays disciplined to screens and doesn't give up the backside edge on runs going away from him.

Cons

Thomas spent six seasons with Clemson and never played more than 500 snaps in a season. His season high was 484 snaps this last season. He never caught on or lived up to the hype around him when he started in college. There are severe issues with his play against the run, and he can struggle against the power of tackles and keep them off of his frame.

When working as a pass rusher, he doesn't have many tools in his toolbox. He also lacks counters, so he will struggle to get off them and into his next move when blockers engage. When he rushes, he doesn't maintain a bend and will get upright, making it easier to stall his rush.

There isn't an ideal size with Thomas, but he isn't undersized by any means. His length is alright, but sometimes he doesn't use it or can get caught by longer-armed tackles. He does have some extra room on his frame, but not much. Thomas's lack of versatility might limit him as a pass-rush specialist.

Fit With Broncos

The Broncos already have players who are of this mold. They need to find a capable top guy, and with that comes the need to handle the run game. Thomas will make sense if they want another pass rusher with severe run-game concerns. Outside of that, it should be a pass.

Big Board Position: No. 92 overall.

Nov 18, 2023; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies defensive lineman Eric Watts (95) / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Watts | Connecticut

• Height: 6-foot-6
• Weight: 274 pounds
• Arm Length: 35-3/4 inches
• Hands: 9-3/4 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 8.18

Pros

Watts is an intriguing edge rusher prospect with his blend of size and athleticism. There is good versatility to work from multiple spots as a pass rusher. While he isn't a great run defender, he knows how to use his size and length to hold his own.

Four years were spent at Connecticut for Watts, where he picked up 103 total pressures and 12 sacks. One big area of improvement he showed in the 2023 season was getting his hands up when his rush was stalled to clutter-throwing lanes. When working the arc, Watts knows how to use his length to threaten the ball and force fumbles if the quarterback isn't protecting it. 

There is an attitude to his play, and he doesn't back down from challenges. With his size and athleticism, there is a lot to work with and develop, and during his week at the Senior Bowl, his growth and willingness to take coaching were noted. He also understands leverage well and keeps his pad level low. 

Cons

There is a lot of development needed to weaponize his length and athleticism. He is extremely raw with his attack and doesn't have that one go-to pass-rush move in his arsenal. The lack of a developed arsenal will make it difficult for him to have an immediate impact as a rookie. 

On top of developing the moves, Watts must learn the importance of a pass-rush plan. He will often go and do whatever, but having a plan and being able to chain moves together could go a long way. During his time in college, Watts did well to generate pressure, but finishing with sacks was hard to come by. 

He must maintain proper balance when he works as a pass rusher or run defender. He can get his shoulders too far ahead of his feet, making it easy for blockers to control his movement. There is also a chance some teams will want to add bulk to his frame and move him inside as an interior defensive lineman. 

Fit With Broncos

There is a lot of upside with Watts as he is such a raw prospect with the physical traits and size you want. That could work for the Broncos, as they have two edge rushers entering the final year of their deal. They could use his rookie season to develop and look for a more prominent role for the 2025 season. 

Big Board Position: No. 95 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

The Broncos need help in their edge room. They need to be better able to win with four upfront so they don’t have to rely on blitzing and short-cutting their pass coverage. They also need to improve their run defense from the unit, which was a significant issue in the 2023 season. 

While all three of these pass rushers can help the Broncos room, Watts would be the best fit with more of a pass rusher than Jackson and a better run defender than Thomas. That would also be the order for the Broncos, with Watts first, then Jackson, and finally Thomas. The Broncos have too many players already who are of the same mold as Thomas. 

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