3 LSU Play-Makers to Boost Broncos Offense

The Broncos need more explosive play-making from their offense and any one of these LSU play-makers can add that element.

Nov 18, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) hauls in a / Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos offense needs help. They don’t have a starting quarterback and lacked explosive plays from their playmakers last season. Fortunately for them, LSU has a trio of prospects entering the draft who can help them out in those two areas. There is a good chance two of them will be drafted before the Broncos get on the clock, but the third one could still be there. It is always good to do your due diligence if the unexpected happens. 

Malik Nabers 8 fights for extra yards as the LSU Tigers take on Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium in / SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA

Malik Nabers | LSU

• Height: 6-foot-0
• Weight: 200 pounds
• Arm Length: N/A
• Hands: N/A
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.67

Pros

Nabers is a true weapon for offenses, as he can play from multiple spots and attack every level of the field. He has good speed, burst, and quick acceleration but also knows how to vary his speed through his routes. His movements are smooth and fluid, and he glides through his routes. When he sees the opportunity, he can turn on the burners to blow by receivers and make himself a target. 

There is solid physicality with Nabers, but good hand fighting to keep defenders' hands off him and work through challenging press coverage. He has good body control and uses his body well to protect the catch point. His hands are reliable and consistent, and he looks to pluck the ball from the air. He had a combined nine drops over the last two seasons for a 5.3 drop percentage each season. 

He is always a threat to take the ball to the house with his speed and quickness. His ability to make defenders miss, with 51 missed tackles forced over the last two seasons, is excellent and helps make him an even bigger threat. The explosiveness that Nabers has is second to none in this class, and he can make an immediate impact in any style of offense. 

Cons

While he will vary his speed through his routes, the overall route technique needs to be developed. One of those issues is consistency with sinking into his breaks to help make those breaks more crisp and sudden instead of rounded. He can do that but doesn’t do it consistently, which is what needs to be corrected. 

Another nuance issue with his route running is wasted motion and movement. He will put an abundance of fakes and slow down his route timing, which can be a more significant issue at the NFL level. Nabers has everything to be an elite NFL receiver, but cutting down the inconsistencies will go a long way. His cons are nitpicky and consistency issues, which isn’t bad for a prospect. 

Fit With Broncos

Nabers would be an outstanding fit for the Broncos. He can fit in any scheme, and what he brings would be an excellent fit for Payton's offense. Everything the Broncos are still missing in their receiving room can be filled with Nabers. 

Big Board Position: No. 7 overall.

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LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels looks to throw during his team's game against Texas A&M in Tiger / Scott Clause / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jayden Daniels | LSU

• Height: 6-foot-4
• Weight: 210 pounds
• Arm Length: N/A
• Hands: N/A
• Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

There are few quarterback prospects to enter the NFL with five years of starting experience like Daniels has. He commands the offense and is a leader on the field with a fearless trait. His football IQ is up there, and he shows good reads pre-snap, especially when diagnosing the pass rushers. 

Daniels has shown he can handle a full field of reads and works through them relatively well. He goes from his first to second read smoothly and with a rhythm. There is a toughness to him when taking hits, both in the pocket and when he uses his legs to take off. 

There is good speed and running ability with Daniels to keep defenses honest, as he is a threat to take off and pick up chunks of yards as a runner. He is willing to work from the pocket and has a good sense of pressure to get out and extend plays. Daniels has good footwork in and out of the pocket and worked to improve his footwork consistently. 

He has good arm talent to make all the throws in the NFL and throws with reasonable anticipation. When he has to move around in the pocket, he sustains a good base that is always ready to plant, reset, and throw instantly. There isn’t much fear in his game as a runner or passer when challenging tighter window throws.  

Cons

While Daniels has good height, he has a slender build on his frame. There are severe durability concerns with the hits he is willing to take, especially as a runner, along with the punishment he has already taken. Can his body hold up at the NFL level? 

There is enough arm to make all the throws in the NFL, but there are some velocity concerns where the nose of the ball will dip on those outside throws. His placement when driving the ball down the field can be sporadic, sometimes requiring a little extra juice to land. 

When he gets out of the pocket, his placement will drop, and he will not keep his eyes downfield. There is a panic to his play in the pocket, and sometimes he will look to get out before he needs to, from what seems to be ghost pressure. Daniels quickly looks to run and give up on the pass, and he takes some punishing hits instead of protecting himself. 

Fit With Broncos

Sean Payton and the Broncos are looking for a specific type of quarterback, and Daniels may be different from that type. There are similarities to Russell Wilson's play style, such as how Daniels works in the pocket and uses his legs. Those similarities make the fit messy. 

Big Board Position: No. 11 overall.

Nov 25, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (11) catches a / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Thomas Jr. | LSU

• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 209 pounds
• Arm Length: 32-3/4 inches
• Hands: 9-3/4 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.84

Pros

There is a good build and frame with Thomas, and his speed and overall athleticism are super appealing for NFL teams. His technique of stacking defenders and carrying them deep down the field is all there is to be an immediate deep threat in the NFL while developing other aspects. Even though he looks like a boundary receiver, he can also work in the slot. 

The production in 2023 was outstanding, with 17 touchdowns on 68 catches, or 25% of his catches resulted in a touchdown. There is an extra burst of speed from Thomas to get underneath deep shots that may not have been the best placed. His ball-tracking is elite and consistent when working vertically. 

Thomas does well to sink his hips into breaks and snap them off crisply instead of rounding them out. What helps him challenge vertically is that he doesn’t get slowed down by press coverage and can get off the line quickly and consistently. On top of that, he quickly eats up cushions from off-coverage and has the extra burst to blow by the defender. Defenses will always have to rotate a safety over the top to help defend Thomas.

Cons

The route running is messy and needs to be cleaned up when working anything but go- deep corner- and deep post-routes. With his speed, you want him to improve the short routes to catch the ball and take off. His hands are also inconsistent, and there will be drops, especially when working short and intermediate routes. 

There isn’t much physicality with  Thomas, and he can get bullied through his routes and at the catch point. When corners can stick with him, he will struggle to break free and open up the needed separation to make a clean catch. The lack of physicality also shows up when he is tasked with blocking, where the effort is also lacking. 

Fit With Broncos

The Broncos need added explosives from their receiving corps, and Thomas can bring that. However, the lack of physicality and early limitations as a route runner can hurt that fit. Thomas can be an excellent receiver at the NFL level, and there is a path to make an immediate impact, but it will take a year or two before he cements himself as that possible #1 or #2 receiver in the NFL. 

Big Board Position: No. 22 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

The best fit for the Broncos is Nabers. He can be an immediate #1 receiver and add a vital element to the Broncos offense that they are missing. Thomas can also be a good fit with his ability to add explosives, but his lack of physicality may be a deal breaker. While Daniels could be a great starting quarterback in the NFL, the fit with the Broncos isn’t the best. It comes down to where his strengths are and how they don’t match what Payton has said he is looking for. 

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