Why the Broncos Would Be Foolish to Trade for Arizona Quarterback Josh Rosen by Mark Kiszla Denver Post April 7, 2019
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Kickin’ it with Kiz: Why the Broncos would be foolish to trade for Arizona quarterback Josh Rosen By Mark Kiszla Denver Post April 7, 2019 It’s time for a grown-up move. The Broncos need to rip off the Band-Aid and trade their first-round draft pick to the Arizona Cardinals for quarterback Josh Rosen, who probably would be the second quarterback taken in this year’s draft. His salary cap hit is less than $6 million per year for the next three seasons, and John Elway can spend his money on new coach Vic Fangio’s defense. Ryan, doesn’t like Joe Flacco Kiz: OK, let’s hold a blind test. Quarterback A completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 6.2 yards per attempt and a QB rating of 76.7. Quarterback B completed 55.2 percent of his passes for 5.8 yards per attempt and a QB rating of 66.7. Quarterback A? Paxton Lynch with the Broncos. Quarterback B? Rosen with the Cards. You sure he’s the answer for Denver? Wouldn’t it be something if the Avs won the Stanley Cup and the Nuggets won the NBA championship in the same year? Peter, fly-fisherman Kiz: Wouldn’t it be something if the Avs and the Nuggets both won a playoff series in the same year? That hasn’t happened since … well, come to think of it … we’ve never seen it happen. One and done for the Nuggets. I’ve lost all confidence they will get past the first round. The refs will be especially vigilant in dealing with center Nikola Jokic, who’s not mature enough to realize these refs do hold grudges. John, Littleton Kiz: Every game, every possession and every shot gets heavier and harder in the NBA playoffs. Nobody is going to feel the weight more than Jokic, who must prove he can take over the fourth quarter the way Stephen Curry and James Harden do. Kiz, was it you who said: “There are two sports seasons in Colorado. Football season and Broncos offseason”? Thomas, Harley rider Kiz: For me, there really are only two seasons in Colorado. Ski season. And waiting for the first snow of the season. It was obvious the Rockies needed more offense but did nothing in free agency except add an older, injury-prone infielder to play out of position. P.B., Denver Kiz: The fickle finger of Daniel Murphy’s injury squarely points at a problem manager Bud Black cannot hide. When he fills out the batting order, half of the bats in the lineup are iffy, at best. Yes, we’ve seen a small sample size of a long season. But add the shaky nature of this bullpen, and Colorado simply has too many holes on the 25-man roster to be a legit contender. The Rockies are going to need a boost from four or five players who currently aren’t on the team, or it could be a long summer in LoDo. And today’s parting shot shows a little appreciation for the idea that if we want to keep the news real, we have to open our ears to the stuff we might not want to hear. Kiz, I rarely bother sportswriters, but want to commend you for your recent criticism of the Rockies. You nailed it. I’m so glad you are not a lackey for the home sports teams. Mike, Cotopaxi Broncos drafting “natural-born athlete” Devin White in the first round would be an ideal pick By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 7, 2019 The visuals from last December are likely fresh in the mind of Broncos general manager John Elway. San Francisco tight end George Kittle’s five-yard catch on a shallow cross against linebacker Todd Davis. His 31-yard reception on a corner route when Davis’ eyes were stuck in the backfield. And his 85-yard touchdown on a short pattern when Davis, linebacker Josey Jewell and safety Darian Stewart inexplicably lost track of him. The Broncos’ late-season swoon (four consecutive losses) began with their no-show against the 49ers in general (trailed 20-0 at halftime) and Kittle in particular (seven catches for 210 yards … all in the first half). It could drive the Broncos’ decision regarding who they pick with the 10th overall selection on April 25. Enter LSU linebacker Devin White? He could serve the same role Roquan Smith did last year as a rookie for then-Chicago defensive coordinator/current Broncos coach Vic Fangio, physical enough to play the run and fleet enough to track tight ends. “It would be great (to join the Broncos), knowing they have Bradley Chubb on one side and the G.O.A.T (Von Miller) on the other side,” White said at the Scouting Combine. “A lot of people won’t be keyed in on me and I’ll be a sneaky player that’s going to be a make a lot of plays. “That would be a great fit for me.” But will White even make it to the Broncos? He could go to Tampa Bay at No. 5 or a team like Pittsburgh, drafting at No. 20, could swing a monster trade to move up and select him. Running the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at 237 pounds during the Combine fueled the hype on White. And for good reason. Every-down linebackers are a valuable commodity in today’s NFL. “I think he’s a guy that can stay on the field and play (in) all situations,” Fangio said. “The NFL has changed so much in the last few years. … You’re defending third-down stuff on first and second downs, too.” The Broncos haven’t prioritized White’s type of skill (inside linebacker who can cover) high in the draft under Elway’s watch. Von Miller (2010), Shane Ray (2015) and Bradley Chubb (2018) were outside “rush” linebackers. Jewell was a fourth-round pick last year. ’Nightmare for SEC offenses’ White was a four-star high school prospect, but arrived at LSU with character concerns. At age 17, he was arrested (along with a teammate) for having consensual sex with a 14-year old girl (a misdemeanor in Louisiana) and a month later, was arrested for careless operation of a vehicle and flight from an officer. White’s invitation to the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game was rescinded. But in three years at LSU, White only made headlines with his play. Signed as a running back, but converted to linebacker, White played 38 games (25 starts) and had 286 tackles and 8 1/2 sacks. He won the Butkus Award honoring the nation’s top linebacker in 2018 and was also first-team All-America and a two-time first-team All-SEC selection. “He’s a guy that’s determined,” Texas A&M running back Trayvon Williams said. “He’s a natural-born athlete and he’s going to have a long career in the NFL.” An example of White’s want-to/determination level was provided by LSU safety John Battle. “Go back to the summer and we’re doing workouts and he ran with our defensive backs and skill groups,” Battle said. “He always tried to push himself to be the best he could be and win. And he was winning.” The straight-ahead speed explosiveness was showcased at the Combine. White’s 40 time was best among the linebackers and his 39 1/2-inch vertical jump was second to Michigan’s Devin Bush (40 1/2 inches). “He’s one of the fastest guys on the field, I don’t care who else is out there,” Battle said. “He’s going from sideline-to-sideline. By the time you snap the ball, he’s shooting a gap and is in your backfield. He was a nightmare for SEC offenses and he’s going to be a nightmare for NFL offenses.” If White goes in the top 10, he will join a small fraternity. In the last decade, only Oakland’s Rolando McClain (eighth in 2010), Carolina’s Luke Kuechly (ninth overall in 2012) and the Bears’ Smith (eighth last year) were inside linebackers chosen in the top 10. “There’s a chance he’ll be around (at 10) and even later,” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said. “Middle linebacker is almost like running back — I hate the term ‘devalued’ but I don’t think they go quite as high unless there is a screaming need.” The Broncos may believe they have a screaming need. Ready to cover? Notes from watching White in LSU’s wins at Auburn and vs. Georgia. Auburn (eight tackles): Earned a “factor” credit on 13 of his 61 snaps, meaning he made the tackle or disrupted the play. … On the opening play, he easily shed a second-level tight end block to make the tackle. … Blitzed on eight of quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s drop-backs. On his final two blitzes, he drew holding penalties on Auburn. … Missed one tackle. … Showed great athleticism and balance to dodge blocks or angle his way past bigger men to make stops. … Was not involved in any man coverage situations. … Lined up off-the-ball on every snap except one. “You have to know where Devin White is on every snap,” Stidham said at the Scouting Combine. “He’s everywhere. It didn’t matter, he was always going to be around the football.” Georgia (13 tackles): Earned a “factor” credit on 15 of his 64 snaps.