Why LSU linebacker Devin White, not a QB, should be Broncos’ first-round draft target By Mark Kiszla Denver Post March 3, 2019

Yes, are sexy. But resist that temptation. LSU inside linebacker Devin White is the guy for Denver. If the Broncos target any other player to select 10th in the NFL draft, they’re nuts.

White can bench press 225 pounds like it’s nothing, but his real strength is athletic arrogance.

What’s athletic arrogance? By the definition of new Broncos coach Vic Fangio: “A guy who is confident, willing to take risks because he knows he’s good. He’s not cocky or rubbing it your face. That’s athletic arrogance.”

At the NFL combine, I watched Heisman winner strut like such a rock star and heard San Francisco general manager John Lynch declare the Niners are willing to trade the draft’s No. 2 overall pick to a -needy team.

But make no mistake. , the man entrusted with rebuilding the Broncos from the rubble of consecutive losing seasons, is not only satisfied with as the team’s quarterback in 2019, I strongly suspect Elway is genuinely excited about the prospect of a 34-year-old veteran with a big arm and a chip on his shoulder leading the Denver .

When I suggested what the Broncos intend to do offensively seems like the same stale stuff favored by former coach Gary Kubiak instead of the new-fangled philosophies sweeping the league, Elway chuckled and said: “What did we do the last time we used that stale offense? We won the . Remember that?”

Whether the restless fans of Broncos Country like it or not, Denver is going to try to win in 2019 with the defensive genius of Fangio and a quarterback that takes snaps from under center in a balanced, ball- control offense.

White is the perfect fit for that plan.

It would make absolutely zero sense for Denver to take Missouri quarterback Drew Lock at No. 10, much less trade up to select Ohio State’s . I have a mancrush on Murray, who might stand only hair over 5-foot-10 but has athletic arrogance that’s bulletproof.

After a lone season as the starter at Oklahoma, Murray not only walked away from a seven-figure bonus with the Oakland A’s, he sneered at the big, free-agent contract signed last week by star outfielder Bryce Harper, saying a star NFL quarterback can earn a more lucrative annual salary.

“I’m always the smallest guy on the field,” said Murray, his admission backed by this piece of confidence: “I feel like I’m the most impactful guy on the field. I’m the best player on the field at all times.”

Elway, however, shot the swagger of Murray full of holes, dismissing undersized quarterbacks as generally limited to shotgun duty in the NFL. For better or worse, under center is where Elway wants his quarterback because he believes running plays are more effective with the QB under center and play-action passes can expose wider windows in the defensive secondary.

You might say: So what about Lock or Haskins? Well, they have almost zero experience under center.

Get the picture? Unless Elway goes counter to everything he has done and said of late, the Broncos won’t take a quarterback until the middle rounds of this year’s draft, then will wait until 2020 to re-examine Justin Herbert, , and the opportunity costs involved in pursuing a young franchise QB.

At the combine, Fangio said the Broncos need help at all three levels of the . There is no shortage of defensive linemen and that merit a first-round grade.

But White, the winner from LSU, is the plug-and-play defensive prospect that not only could be an impact player for the Broncos from the first game of his rookie season, he also possesses the tackling ability and the coverage speed to quickly become a three-down linebacker that earns regular invitations to the .

There’s no guarantee White will be on the board when the Broncos are on the clock with the 10th pick. With the rise in intrigue for what once was regarded as a weak quarterback class, however, it now appears Murray and Haskins will both be taken among the top nine selections, pushing White down toward Denver, in much the same way Elway was surprised and delighted to discover Bradley Chubb available with the fifth choice in 2018.

During his career, LSU coach Ed Orgeron previously had the pleasure of working in the college ranks with long before he became a Hall of Fame linebacker and prior to any of his seven Pro Bowl seasons with the Niners.

How does White compare?

“I’ve been part of Ray Lewis, I’ve been part of Patrick Willis, and he’s right in that group,” Orgeron told reporters that cover LSU. “No question, one of the best I’ve ever been a part of, as far as a middle linebacker, and I still think he’s going to get better.”

If White is available to the Broncos with the 10th pick, it’s a no-brainer.

Broncos expecting a jump from running Royce Freeman in Year 2 By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post March 3, 2019

Cleaning out the Broncos- and NFL-related notebook from a week at the Scouting Combine:

Counting on Freeman. Phillip Lindsay became the Broncos’ no-doubt No. 1 after Royce Freeman sustained a Week 7 ankle sprain. Lindsay rushed for 1,037 yards before sustaining a wrist injury that required surgery.

The Broncos need Freeman, last year’s third-round pick, to take a jump. He had six explosive rushes (gains of at least 12 yards) in the first five games, but only one thereafter.

“We feel really good about both of them,” general manager John Elway said. “I think they’re a good combination and change of pace. We have big plans for Phillip as well as Royce to get them both involved in the passing game as well as the run game.”

Lindsay had 35 catches and Freeman 14 last year.

Elway on Scangarello. Elway and the Broncos moved on from Gary Kubiak as an option for offensive coordinator but stayed in the Shanahan coaching tree by hiring Rich Scangarello, who worked three years with and for Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta and San Francisco.

“I like the system; it’s a system I’m familiar with,” Elway said. “Mike (Shanahan) started it and Kyle has taken it to the next level and evolved it. The success Kyle’s had wherever he’s been and to have Rich studying underneath Kyle is excellent.”

Cravens’ future. Safety Su’a Cravens missed the first half of 2018 (knee surgery) and was a healthy scratch for the final three games. Does he have a future with the Broncos?

“It’s up to him,” Elway said. “He’ll have a chance to make the football team so we’ll see what he does.”

The Broncos have Justin Simmons, Darian Stewart and Will Parks — the three safeties who ended last year in the primary sub-package — under contract for 2019.

Adding help. Kubiak was a senior personnel advisor for the Broncos in 2018; does his departure mean the Broncos are in the market for a replacement?

“We evaluate that after the draft so we have not looked at filling that position at this point in time,” Elway said.

The contracts of most NFL scouts/front-office types run through the of the draft season. But minus Tom Heckert, who passed away last summer, and Kubiak, now with the , adding a set of veteran eyes could be beneficial.

Helping out. Among the NFL coaches assisting with the on-field drills Saturday was Broncos receivers coach Zach Azzanni.

Around the NFL Impressed with Risner. Kansas State running back Alex Barnes delivered high praise for teammate Dalton Risner, the right from Wiggins, Colo.

“Toughness. Smarts. Grit,” Barnes said. “Everything you want in a football player. He’s the toughest o- lineman in this class. That’s for sure.”

Risner, who could be a late first-round choice, lifted the 225-pound bar 23 times. A center (one year) and right tackle (three years) in college, Risner was moved around the line during Senior Bowl Week.

“I felt like the Senior Bowl was a (heckuva) week for me,” Risner said. “I did some great work down there in terms of meshing with the o-line, being a leader and going against the top talent in the nation.”

Popular player. Colorado State receiver Bisi Johnson (Bear Creek High School alum) was available to the media Friday at the same time as Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. But Johnson still drew a crowd to his table. reporters wanted to ask Johnson about new receivers coach Alvis Whitted, who was Johnson’s at CSU.

“Great dude, great coach,” Johnson said. “He really taught me a lot of life lessons and how to ball on the field. He’s not only a coach, he’s also there to coach you in life. He’s not your friend. He knows the difference between being your friend and your coach.”

Switching positions. Teams can request players at the Combine work at a second position. Per the league, this weekend’s list: Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (asked to work at ), quarterback Trace McSorley (), running back Devin Singletary (receiver), receiver (tight end), Ed Oliver (linebacker) and defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones (linebacker).

Oliver is the headliner. By doing linebacker drills, teams with a 3-4 defensive front can see how he drops into coverage and rushes from the edge. Oliver will be a first-round pick. Jackson on the block. ESPN reported Saturday that Jacksonville is shopping defensive tackle Malik Jackson and running back .

Hyde has no value. Jackson, though, remains a productive player in a 4-3 scheme. But he has a $15 million salary-cap this year (the Jaguars can create $11 million of space by trading Jackson). A member of the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl team, Jackson should be attractive for a Day 3 pick contingent on him re-working his contract.

Scouting the AAF. Many executives were asked if they were monitoring the new AAF for talent. The best line came from the Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin.

“It’s football so we’re going to look at it,” Tobin said. “We’re going to determine if there’s anybody there that can help our team. (Scouts) are going to evaluate it like they do any other player. They’re going to evaluate the traits and the production.” John Elway set for ninth Broncos draft with a new coach, quarterback already in place By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post March 3, 2019

A non-free agent, non-Joe Flacco question has loomed over Broncos general manager John Elway during this week’s scouting combine.

Can the Broncos sustain the momentum they felt was created by their 2018 draft class as they set their 2019 board?

The Broncos believe a new foundation was poured when they made 10 picks, nine of whom remain under contract and as many as four could be Week 1 starters.

“Sure,” Elway said. “With what we’re looking at (this year), remember what we looked at last year. We’ll continue to do that.”

That model: Every Broncos draft pick last year was a college senior.

They felt older was wiser and more experienced equaled better-prepared.

“We went a little older (with) team captains and we had a good draft so I’m sure we’ll lean that way again this year,” Elway said.

That baseline would suggest Missouri quarterback Drew Lock instead of Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins. It would lean toward Georgia instead of Washington’s or LSU’s . It would point to TCU linebacker (a fifth-year senior who said he had a meeting scheduled with the Broncos) instead of State’s Brian Burns.

Depending on how free agency develops, the Broncos’ home-grown cupboard could be bare later this month. A look at how many of Elway’s picks remain on the roster:

2011: One of nine picks remains — outside linebacker . That worked out.

2012: One of seven — Derek Wolfe. One of the few remaining players from the Super Bowl-winning defense in 2015.

2013: None of seven.

2014: Two of six — center Matt Paradis and cornerback are free agents. Paradis could return if his market dries up and Roby isn’t expected back.

2015: Three of nine — outside linebacker Shane Ray, tight end Jeff Heuerman and guard . Ray is as good as gone, Heuerman has battled injuries and Garcia lost his starting job after 2017.

2016: Six of eight — two are 2019 projected starters (defensive end Adam Gotsis and safety Justin Simmons). Both could be players who receive second contracts.

2017: Four of eight — one is a projected starter (left tackle ). Bolles, selected ahead of the more experienced and , has battled inconsistency.

2018: Nine of 10 — three are projected starters (receiver Courtland Sutton, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and inside linebacker Josey Jewell). Running back Royce Freeman could also start.

Miller and Wolfe are the only two remaining homegrown Broncos draft picks who have signed a second contract with the team.

Choosing Bolles, who had one year of experience at Utah, may have forced a change for Elway and his personnel cabinet. Projecting upside should be occasionally discarded for college production. The tape doesn’t lie.

The less-than-desirable track record of his drafts from 2013-15, in particular, has created dual importance for Elway this year. He must find immediate starters and he must unearth back-of-the-roster talent that can provide depth and be special teams contributors.

In an NFL world where the salary cap rises every year, allowing teams to re-sign their players, drafting has become even more important. The only way to truly win at free agency is to avoid free agency, save for mid-range signings. That means drafting and developing well. The Broncos’ nearly constant coaching changes — fourth head coach in six years, third in four years and fourth offensive coordinator in as many years — produces a moving target.

“That’s a problem for any team, always changing up,” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said on Saturday. “Not the same head coach, not the same philosophy, not the same formula. Everybody wants to consistently say, ‘This is who we are,’ and draft to that.”

To characterize this year’s draft as make-or-break for Elway is an exercise in tomfoolery. His status is envied by all of his makes-the-final-decision colleagues. He has a Super Bowl title on his team-building resume. He has no boss. He has supreme job security.

But if Elway wants to show he can build a second perennial playoff contender — the first run was 2011- 15 — stacking up on solid drafts is the only route.

“We learn from the good moves that we made and we also evaluate the bad moves that we made and why we made the mistakes,” Elway said.

Kickin’ it with Kiz: Would anything less than a championship make Nolan Arenado a $260 million mistake for the Rockies? By Mark Kiszla Denver Post March 3, 2019

At $260 million, Nolan Arenado’s contract averages out to $8 per game for every seat sold at Coors Field over the next eight years. If the Rockies don’t win a World Series, it will be the biggest mistake in franchise history.

B.K., doing the math

Kiz: The median household income in Colorado is a little over $69,000 per year. Arenado will make more than $200,000 per game. Beats working, don’t you think? But I would rather see $8 of every ticket I buy at Coors Field go to Arenado than pay $8 for a beer at the ballpark. Fearless prediction: If Arenado plays out the entire eight years of his contract in Colorado, he will win a ring with the Rockies.

Should the Broncos take a quarterback with the 10th pick in the opening round of the NFL draft? No! They gave up a fourth-round choice for Joe Flacco and are paying the man $18 million this year. So that sounds to me like a commitment to Flacco. If we’re in a “win-now mode” like John Elway says, a rookie quarterback isn’t going to help us win now. The Broncos must go after an offensive lineman, linebacker or cornerback.

Ryan, bleeds orange

Kiz: The last significant act of Gary Kubiak as a member of the Broncos organization was to sell Elway that Flacco can be more than a temporary fix for the team’s quarterback problem.

The real question is whether Flacco is the best we can do. Seems to me Flacco is cheap insurance. Ultimately, I think Elway wants to find a franchise quarterback but realizes that could take years. It has already taken years.

W.K., kinda snarky

Kiz: At the combine, San Francisco general manager John Lynch effusively praised new Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello as a quarterback whisperer. So in addition to revitalizing Flacco, I would suspect Denver will let Scangarello tutor and polish a young QB in the rough, taken late in the draft, somebody like Brett Rypien of Boise State.

The Broncos should trade Elway for a higher draft pick.

Tom, very snarky

Kiz: Ouch. Has Broncos Country turned on its favorite son?

Wake me when the Broncos get halfway good again. You should be asking: Will the Nuggets hold the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference standings?

B.C., got a basketball jones

Kiz: I understand the obsession with the No. 2 seed. But here’s a much more compelling question for me: Can coach Michael Malone whittle his rotation to eight or no more than nine players for the playoffs, and if so, will Isaiah Thomas be in it?

And today’s parting shot is a lament for ’ departure from the No. 1 sports-talk radio station in the Denver market.

Big Al is a huge loss for The Fan. The chemistry between him and Darren McKee was great and something that will not be matched. I don’t think I will tune in as much now. The Fan blew this one big time! Maybe DMac should leave too once his contract is up and follow Williams over to KOA.

D.M., sports junkie

Broncos’ search for tight end help started at the NFL Combine By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post March 3, 2019

The Broncos remain in the Tight End Evaluation Game during the pre-draft season.

“We’ve been trying to address that every year,” general manager John Elway said.

The Broncos have selected a tight end in three of the last four drafts, but it remains a priority.

Elway may want to re-sign Jeff Heuerman and believes (ACL) and Troy Fumagalli (sports hernia) will be at full strength for next season, but there are no guarantees.

To that end, the Broncos were busy this week meeting with tight ends.

Washington’s Drew Sample, Utah State’s Dax Raymond, Iowa’s and Mississippi’s all said they had formal (15 minutes in a private setting) interviews with the Broncos. Stanford’s said he had met informally with the team.

“I can find you tight ends in every round of the draft,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “It’s a really, really good group.”

The struggle for NFL teams is finding a tight end who can combine pass-catching ability with just a little bit of blocking snarl that can be developed at the pro level.

“That’s a tough position now, especially when you’re talking about an in-line guy that is a blocker but can also be a good pass receiver,” Elway said. “We don’t have a lot of in-line guys coming out of college like we used to because of what they’re doing in college ball opening things up.

“It’s much more difficult finding the in-line tight ends than it’s ever been.”

In the last 10 drafts, only eight tight ends have been selected in the first round. The Broncos haven’t taken one in the first round since Riley Odoms in 1972 (fifth overall). Odoms played 153 games for the club.

That streak figures to continue this year, but once the draft reaches Day 2 and 3, tight end may be — perhaps, should be — a consideration.

The Iowa duo of Fant and T.J. Hockenson are expected to be first-round picks. But Alabama’s Irv Smith, Texas A&M’s , UCLA’s , Stanford’s Smith and Washington’s Sample could be options.

A Day 3 pass-catching tight end could be Wilson. He started his college career at USC, where his father, Chris, was an assistant coach, but transferred to UCLA and played three years there. In 2018, he averaged an impressive 16.1 yards per catch (60 receptions for 965 yards). Saturday, he ran the 40-yard dash unofficially in 4.50 seconds.

Sample, who had 25 of his 46 career catches as a senior, would check the blocks-more-than-catches box.

“I think one of my biggest things is my versatility,” Sample said. “I was able to do a lot of different things at UW — blocking, pass-catching, pass protection. That’s definitely something I can use to separate myself from other guys.”

Broncos shopping in free agency for cornerbacks By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 3, 2019

What the Broncos really need from is to halt the rigmarole of his Hall of Fame process and come play cornerback for Vic Fangio.

The Broncos’ new head coach has been known to play more zone coverage than Denver has in recent years.

"Champ was arguably the best zone cornerback to ever play in the ," Bill Romanowski, the former Broncos’ linebacker, said during Super Bowl LIII week. "He just had an awareness of the field that was second to none."

As Champ retired five years ago, he can proceed with preparing for his task as Keynote Speaker at the Denver-area Boys Scouts breakfast on April 9 while the Broncos get busy trying to find their own cornerbacks. They are so depleted at the position, they probably need to pick up two – one in free agency and one high in the draft.

The Broncos’ only proven corner with plenty of game left in him is Chris Harris Jr. But their next two cornerbacks, Bradley Roby and Tramaine Brock, are unrestricted free agents. No. 4 cornerback, , will miss much of the offseason practices because of shoulder surgery.

The buzz at the NFL Combine is the Broncos are expected to sign a starting corner from the free-agent market. Here are the top candidates:

Ronald Darby, 25, 5-11, Eagles

A second-round draft choice of the , he made the Pro Football Writers’ All Rookie team in 2015. But after his second season as a starter, Darby was traded to the for receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick.

Darby has since been injury prone, suffering a dislocated ankle in the Eagles’ 2017 opener, although he returned at midseason and played well in their postseason run to the Super Bowl 52 title.

He was the Eagles top corner in 2018 until he suffered a torn ACL in game 9 against Dallas. Still, Darby is a taller corner and he just turned 25 so he is expected to get a nice contract with expectations he’ll be ready to go by the third preseason game.

Bryce Callahan, 27, 5-9, Bears

Problem here is he’s a good slot corner, and the Broncos already have the best slot corner in the NFL in Harris. If the Broncos plan on keeping Harris outside – which is his preference – Callahan would make sense as he played for Fangio since he was an undrafted rookie in 2015.

Bashaud Breeland, 27, 5-11, Packers

He began his career as a four-year starter for Washington, then was supposed to be a top free-agent prize last year. His three-year, $24 million agreement with Carolina, though, was voided because he flunked his physical.

He signed an inexpensive, one-year deal with the Packers a couple weeks into the 2018 season and he played well in the final two months, recording a pick six against Matt Ryan.

He’ll try again to strike it rich in 11 days.

Pierre Desir, 28, 6-1, Colts

A former Cleveland fourth-round pick, the Haitian-born product of Lindenwood (Saint Charles, Mo.) University was unimpressive in four seasons with the Browns, but he was a 12-game starter for the Colts and had an eye-popping 79 tackles – third among NFL cornerbacks.

Fangio has said tackling is a non-negotiable characteristic in his secondary.

Steven Nelson, 25, 5-11, Chiefs

A third-round pick in 2015, he had the first four of his career in his fourth season of 2018. He is a legit outside corner.

Kareem Jackson, 31, 5-10, Texans

A first-round draft pick in 2010 and a nine-year starter, Jackson has played well enough long enough to earn a third contract. He averaged $8.5 million a year in his previous deal.

Bradley Roby, 26, Broncos

A first-round pick in 2014, the Broncos picked up his fifth-year option of $8.526 million in 2018. He played well at times, not well at other times.

The Broncos would like him back at a reduced average annual rate, but he will seek a deal of at least $10 million a year. If his market isn’t what he’s hoping for, the Broncos could come back into play.

Others: , Bengals; Justin Coleman, Seahawks; , Chargers; Tramaine Brock, Broncos; Kevin Johnson, Texans.

Broncos notes: Tight end Matt LaCosse to move on By Mike Klis 9NEWS March 3, 2019

The Broncos informed tight end Matt LaCosse they will not tender him a salary, thus releasing him to free agency, a source told 9NEWS.

LaCosse was eligible for restricted free agency, but the lowest tender, a $2.025 million salary for 2019, is a little rich for a player who has primarily been a No. 3 tight end. After injuries to Jake Butt and then Jeff Heuerman last season, LaCosse did start the final four games for the Broncos.

He had just three catches in his first three NFL seasons, but broke out for 24 receptions for 250 yards last year. LaCosse is a fine receiver, but at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, he does not have the build to be a power blocker.

And in the zone-blocking run scheme that new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello is bringing back to Denver, a plus-blocking tight end is a necessity. The Broncos will try to add a “blocking” tight end through free agency.

Kreiter, Shelby, "Sunshine" updates The Broncos are also not expected to tender two other notable restricted free agents: and receiver Jordan Taylor.

Kreiter is coming off a Pro Bowl season, but long snappers all make close to $1 million a year – the NFL’s highest-paid long snapper is the ’ Jake McQuaide, whose average salary is $1.175 million a year. The lowest RFA tender is nearly double that at $2.025 million.

The Broncos assuredly won’t tender Kreiter that kind of salary so the only way the team would keep him is if they can work out a multiyear deal worth about $1 million or so a season.

Taylor was nicknamed “Sunshine” during his rookie practice squad season of 2015. He first drew notice for his spectacular catches during training camp and for becoming Peyton Manning’s personal rehab receiver.

Taylor made the Broncos’ 53-man roster in 2016 and had 16 catches and two . He added 13 receptions while bringing much needed stability to the Broncos’ punt return position in 2017. But he underwent surgeries on each hip last year and he never recovered in time to play next season, all but eliminating the chance of the Broncos tendering him a $2.025 million salary as a restricted free agent this season.

One restricted free agent the Broncos are expected to tender is defensive lineman Shelby Harris. The question is whether to give him a low, or original-round, tender at $2.025 million or a second-round tender at $3.095 million. Harris was originally a 7th-round draft pick by Oakland, so an original-round tender would mean any team trying to sign Harris away would have to give the Broncos a 7th-round pick as compensation.

It’s unknown whether the Broncos will tender backup quarterback Kevin Hogan, although his case it wouldn’t hurt as restricted free-agent salaries are not guaranteed.

Paradis not gone yet During NFL Combine week, the Broncos met with the agent of starting center Matt Paradis, who is less than two weeks away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. The meeting was characterized as “productive” by one source.

Although at this point it appears Paradis will hit the market on March 13, Broncos general manager John Elway has said he would like to retain him if the price is right.

Superlatives from the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com March 3, 2019

Here are the best of the best by the numbers at the Scouting Combine through Saturday morning's work:

OFFENSIVE LINE 40-yard dash: Erik McCoy, Texas A&M -- 4.89 seconds

At 303 pounds, McCoy is the first 300-pound offensive lineman to break 4.90 seconds in the 40 since Michigan's in 2014 (4.87 seconds).

Bench press: Sua Opeta, Weber State -- 39 repetitions

Opeta's tally was the best for an offensive lineman since North Carolina's in 2014 (42 repetitions).

Three-cone drill: , North Carolina State -- 7.41 seconds

Bradbury was the only offensive lineman to finish in the top five in the bench press (second, 34 repetitions), the three-cone drill and the 40-yard dash (4.92 seconds).

Vertical jump: Joshua Miles, Morgan State -- 36 inches

According to pro-football-reference.com, Miles had the best vertical jump at the Combine since Air Force center Ben Miller in 2002 (37.5 inches).

Broad jump: , Boston College -- 9 feet, 9 inches

Height: Devon Johnson, Ferris State and Jackson Barton, Utah -- 6-foot-7 1/4 inches

Weight: Johnson -- 338 pounds

Hand size: Ryan Pope, San Diego State -- 11 1/8 inches

Arm length: Martez Ivey, Florida -- 36 1/4 inches

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS 40-yard dash: Justice Hill, Oklahoma State -- 4.40 seconds

This Combine is the second since 2005 (2015 is the other) without a running back that ran the 40 in 4.39 seconds or better.

Bench press: Alex Barnes, Kansas State -- 34 repetitions

According to pro-football-reference.com, the 226-pound Barnes notched the best bench-press performance for any sub-230-pound player since at least 2000, surpassing the 32 repetitions posted by Georgia Southern running back Jerick McKinnon in 2014.

Three-cone drill: , Penn State -- 6.89 seconds

According to pro-football-reference.com, this was the first year since 2004 in which no running back posted a three-cone drill time of 6.85 seconds or better.

Vertical jump: Hill -- 40 inches

Broad jump: Travis Homer, Miami, Dexter Williams, Notre Dame and Hill -- 10 feet, 10 inches

Height: Alec Ingold (FB), Wisconsin -- 6-foot-1 3/4 inches

Weight: Ingold -- 242 pounds

Hand size: , Alabama -- 10 1/8 inches

Arm length: Jalin Moore, Appalachian State -- 32 3/8 inches

TIGHT ENDS 40-yard dash: Noah Fant, Iowa -- 4.50 seconds

Fant became the first tight end since Mississippi's in 2017 to run a 40-yard dash time of 4.50 seconds or better. But the 234-pound Engram was also 15 pounds lighter than Fant.

Bench press: Trevon Wesco, West Virginia -- 24 repetitions

Wesco is also the heaviest tight end at this year's Combine.

Three-cone drill: Fant -- 6.81 seconds

Fant's time in this drill is the second best for a tight end in the last six years; only Penn State's Mike Gesicki (6.76 seconds in 2018) was better in that span.

According to pro-football-refrence.com, Fant is one of just two tight ends since 2000 to post a 40-yard dash time of 4.50 seconds or better and a three-cone drill time of under 6.90 seconds (Oklahoma's James Hanna also did this in 2012).

Vertical jump: Fant -- 39 1/2 inches

Fant's vertical is the second-best among tight ends since 2012, only surpassed by Gesicki (41.5 inches).

Broad jump: Fant -- 10 feet, 7 inches

Height: Zach Gentry, Michigan: 6-foot-8 1/8 inches

Weight: Wesco -- 267 pounds

Hand size: Josh Oliver, San Jose State -- 10 3/4 inches

Arm length: Wesco -- 34 1/4 inches

OL Tyler Jones relying on former roommate Bradley Chubb as Combine begins By Aric DiLalla DenverBroncos.com March 3, 2019

Fifteen minutes before first-team All-ACC offensive tackle Tyler Jones settled down at a table at the 2019 NFL Combine to talk to the media, he took a quick phone call.

On the other line? A former teammate with a few pieces of advice.

Bradley Chubb, who played with Jones at NC State before being drafted by the Broncos last spring, wanted to share a few pointers ahead of Jones’ media session on Thursday and his ensuing Friday workout.

Chubb, though, is more than just a former member of the Wolfpack.

He’s Jones’ former roommate. He’s Jones’ best friend.

And he’s one of the reasons Jones could be drafted in a couple of months.

Jones saw plenty of talented edge rushers during his time in the ACC, but few were as gifted as Chubb, who Jones consistently had to face in practice.

“That’s probably my best friend,” Jones said Thursday. “It was fun. It was a battle every day. You would come to work ready to practice, or you’d get embarrassed. Because we were so close, nobody wanted to lose because you knew you were going to hear about it for the rest of the night.”

The pair lived together in 2017, and Chubb had plenty of opportunities to prepare for the vertical leap at the Combine. Most of the training, though, came at unexpected times.

“I like to scare people,” Jones remembered, laughing. “So I would come around the corner and scare him a couple times while he was fixing [himself] a water bottle or fixing dinner [and] make him spill his food a little bit.

“He was a jumper. He didn’t scream. He jumped.”

When Jones wasn’t messing with Chubb, the two were pushing each other to improve.

“We both just came to practice ready to work,” Jones said. “I think we helped each other in the long run.”

Once Chubb moved on to the NFL, the former roommates remained good friends.

Jones said they talked almost every day last year as he encouraged Chubb to stay focused despite early struggles.

“I think he had a great season,” Jones said. “I guess people tried to count him out a little early. He came on a little slow, but I just told him, ‘Stay the path. Just keep working.’ And he ended up coming on really strong toward the middle and the end of the season.”

After a two-sack performance against the 49ers, Chubb needed just three sacks in the season’s final three games to set the all-time rookie sack record.

Jones did his best from afar to push him toward that goal — even though Chubb fell a few sacks shy of the record.

“I was in his ear about it every day,” Jones said. “I was like, ‘Hey, man, you’ve got to get [three] more, and I need them [in] the next game.’ We were rooting for him back home.”

As Chubb approaches his second season, there’s a chance the two Atlanta-area natives could become teammates again.

“It would be pretty fun, because of how close we are,” said Jones of the possibility of playing for the Broncos. “I’d probably stay with him. That would be big-time, especially for our families to be able to travel together.”

If that were to happen, the Broncos would add a lineman who played every snap in 26 straight ACC games and allowed just four sacks during his 2,903 snaps as a starting left tackle.

And with Chubb in Denver to push Jones to continue to improve, that could be just a beginning.

The big picture at the Combine By Jim Saccomano DenverBroncos.com March 3, 2019

We have come a long way since I was a youth on the farm and thought a combine was just an enormous farming tool.

We now know that the other Combine is also enormous, definitely, but more generally identified as the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

We are in the midst of a one-week talent show, a demonstration of abilities by some of the greatest college athletes in America.

The players are competing in physical drills and going through interviews and mental gymnastics for coaches, scouts and virtually all player personnel from all 32 NFL teams.

But one of the reasons we know all this, once again, is through the magic of television.

Pro football is the most popular viewing sport in American history, and nothing marries pro football to its success like television.

Back before 1982, teams had to make appointments to do individual drills and interviews with the players.

But that year, in 1982, the Combine began. At the time, there were virtually no media members present.

But it grew, like every great idea in America, and television soon picked up the scent.

Now the invitation-only Combine is broadcast on NFL Network and, this year, on ABC, which will air a two-hour special produced by ESPN that will also feature action from quarterback and wide-receiver workouts. The coverage is not quite 24 hours a day, but it sure seems like it.

And that is a good thing for football fans.

The Combine was first televised in 2004 and with extensive coverage from NFL Network, ESPN and so many other media outlets, the entire week has something of a mini-Super Bowl feel.

The number of journalists coming to the Combine has increased by the hundreds since the it first began, and for fans following the game and wondering who their favorite teams will select, more coverage has been essential.

Once again, we see that the big picture provided by the media and by television in particular put us front and center for all the action.

After all, everyone gets to be Mel Kiper Jr., without needing to see a hair stylist!

Gone are the days when BLESTO, an early scouting organization, was a mystery to most fans.

It was Tex Schramm of the who first suggested to the NFL’s competition committee that the league should have a national evaluation hub, and that was clearly a great idea, just as the NFL Network's idea to bring it live to the American sports public was.

Some marriages are perfect, and the Combine once again shows that football and television provide the sports version of a perfect union.

'Sky judge' proposal by Ravens is idea that NFL needs to embrace By Jarett Bell USA Today March 3, 2019

Clear and obvious.

That’s the essential standard wrapped around the radical concept of instituting a “sky judge” in the NFL. The term came up so often during the competition committee meetings in Indianapolis that Troy Vincent, the league’s top football executive, scribbled four stars next to it on his notepad to indicate some strong sentiment in the room for providing a new official to monitor from above.

It should also be the rallying cry for the bigger picture in dealing with the NFL’s latest officiating crisis.

After the huge blunder in the NFC title game probably cost the a Super Bowl berth – America was appalled to witness cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman get away with a blatant pass interference and helmet-to-helmet blow in crunch time — it’s clear and obvious that the NFL needs to do something drastic. And fast.

The Saints case, remember, was just the most egregious mishap during a season marred by an assortment of controversial calls and non-calls.

“We just want to get it right,” Vincent told a small group of media, including USA TODAY, on Friday during the NFL scouting combine. “It’s debating what that change is, if any.”

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Of 10 rules proposals submitted by NFL teams since the end of last season, seven involve the use of instant replay. As expected, one team pushed to allow for the “anything is reviewable” concept that Patriots coach has proposed in previous years.

Yet the proposal generating the most traction was the new idea presented by the . The measure calls for expanding the officiating crew to eight members with a “sky judge” who could conceivably correct calls on the spot in certain situations with the help of video replays.

The “sky judge” wouldn’t be a part of the centralized NFL replay system — although the existence of such a position might raise questions about the need for replay calls from league headquarters — but rather a part of crews that typically remain intact throughout the season. Theoretically, the new official could prevent the type of situation that crushed the Saints.

“There are some things we need to adjust and fix,” Vincent acknowledged.

The language of the Ravens’ proposal, obtained by USA TODAY, stipulates: “The Sky Judge will communicate with the officials on the field through the headset ... (and) advise the Referee of any relevant that is clear and obvious in the following situations:

Major fouls (15-yard penalties), even when a foul is not called.

Fouls for defensive pass interference, even when a foul is not called.”

At this point, the proposal is advancing through the discussion and exploration phase, needing votes from at least 24 of the 32 owners to be passed. It’s a good bet that Saints owner Gayle Benson would support such a measure, given her pledge in the aftermath of the NFC title game to push for changes that would prevent similar heartbreak for another team in the future. Likewise, Saints coach Sean Payton, a member of the committee, adds a certain perspective and voice with his support.

“Let’s see what happens,” Saints general manager Mickey Loomis told USA TODAY.

From here, the competition committee and football operations department headed by Vincent, including the officiating department, will collect further research and dig deeper into details. Presumably, the committee — which elicited feedback in recent days from its coaches subcommittee, on-field officials and the NFL Players Association — could endorse the Ravens proposal or another team proposal, or craft its own proposal to present to NFL owners during league meetings in Phoenix in late March.

There is no shortage of questions. While Vincent is adamant that the position needs be manned by an experienced, “referee-quality” official — perhaps a veteran challenged by physical wear-and-tear — he is less certain about other elements: How would a “sky judge” change the mechanics of the on-field officials? What are the unintended consequences?

“There’s very little appetite for creating a foul ... in replay,” Vincent said.

That’s conventional replay he’s referring to, ruled from New York. To avoid the situation that stung the Saints, or to handle “clear and obvious” helmet-to-helmet blows that are missed (see Cowboys safety Xavier Woods’ hit on Washington tight end Jordan Reed on Thanksgiving), the “sky judge” would have to throw a flag, so to speak, or the position is useless.

That’s why the Ravens’ proposal is built around the premise of adding an eighth official as a regular member of the crew, just like the back judge, side judge, line judge, umpire and others.

By one estimate, the “sky judge” might impact three to five plays per game — enough plays to swing the outcome. Yes, it’s clear and obvious that NFL owners need to support a progressive proposal for the sake of restoring integrity to its game. Just consider it another part of the game’s evolution, bolstered by technology.

Besides, the officials on the field usually get it right. It’s just in those cases when they miss it, it’s a shame that the fans watching at home have a better view – and in high-definition. Go ahead, NFL. Give the officials a clear and obvious tool that helps us — even those of us who don’t bet — trust that your product is above board.

How Chiefs' overtime rule proposal for NFL will add more fun than fairness By Terez Paylor Yahoo.com March 3, 2019

It’s not hard to figure out why the are crafting a proposal to change the NFL’s playoff overtime rules and guarantee both teams an opportunity to receive the ball.

The Chiefs’ season ended in January after they lost the overtime coin-flip and ultimately the AFC title game 37-31 to the , after all.

Still, it would be a mistake to assume — as some have — that the Chiefs and coach are undertaking this initiative because they’re sore losers. The truth is, football fans in general stand to gain from a tweak of the rule, the details of which are still being finalized, sources tell Yahoo Sports.

As is, the current overtime rules in the playoffs — which allow both teams an opportunity to possess the ball at least once in overtime unless the team that gets it first scores a — is the reason a dynamite, high-scoring AFC championship came to a quick, unsatisfying end. Not that it was much of a surprise.

Because when the Patriots won the coin toss and the G.O.A.T, , took the field against an embattled defense, it was like Michael Jordan vs. anyone, down one with the ball with 10 seconds left: You already knew how this thing would end.

But to be clear — and let me really hammer this home — the Chiefs did not lose to the Patriots because of the current rule. After all, the New Orleans Saints won the coin toss in overtime of the NFC championship, and they still lost. As for the Chiefs, the biggest reason for their defeat was their atrocious defense, which couldn’t get a stop on three consecutive third-and-10s … couldn’t stop a collection of dive and old-school plays … and was led by a defensive coordinator in Bob Sutton who would soon be fired.

And because of this, Reid — who could have pulled the plug on Sutton after last season, when many were calling for it — will have to live with that. There are over 100 plays in a football game, and on practically every one of them, particularly on defense, you can point to a mistake by a Chiefs player that cost them points.

So yes, the need for the change is, as a matter of practicality, far about fun more than fairness.

That said, Reid’s decision to craft a proposal to change the rule could easily wind up being a positive thing for football fans.

I mean, come on. Who outside of New England would not have enjoyed seeing , the eventual league MVP, thrust into the following situation: down seven in overtime of the AFC championship game, with the Chiefs needing a touchdown and, say, a two-point conversion to win? Certainly not the networks, who continue to pour loads of money in the league, and certainly not fans, who love free football when the stakes are highest.

What’s more, say the Chiefs had won the coin toss and went down and scored and won. We should still be having this argument because seeing Brady in the same situation as the one outlined above would have been epic.

To that end, it will be interesting to see what the details of the Chiefs’ plan entail. In the past, some football fans have proposed going to the college rules, where both teams alternate getting the ball at each team’s 25-yard line until a winner emerges. Others, meanwhile, believe in just letting them play until someone is victorious.

My hunch is that the proposal will be an improvement.

Not only does the current iteration of the NFL’s overtime playoff rules not go far enough, more than anything, it also isn’t fun enough.