Fansided

NFL mock draft: SEC stars get moved around

By John Buhler

Dec 4, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower (54) against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower (54) against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dont'a Hightower

Linebacker, Alabama Crimson Tide

Outside of seeing unproven pass rusher Shane Ray fall into the SEC redistribution draft pool, the Denver Broncos look to be in good shape to get better defensively. Obviously, offensive ineptitude has been what has undermined the Broncos’ on-field success the last two years. They still haven’t got back to the AFC Playoffs since winning Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers.

Either way, Denver is now run by former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. He knows that he has a good secondary, but has to get better up the middle defensively. Adding defensive tackle Domata Peko helped, but Denver has acutely targeted and selected Dont’a Hightower to be the signal caller of the Broncos defense.

Hightower was a Super Bowl LI hero for the New England Patriots. He is one of the few defensive players that didn’t rapidly upon arriving in the NFL from Alabama. Then again, he may just have been propped up by Bill Belichick’s inherent genius all along in Foxborough.

That does not matter, as the Broncos realize that defense is how they will have to win to get back to the Super Bowl. Adding Hightower in 2018 makes the Broncos more than a dark horse in the AFC playoff picture.

Riverboat Ron took a big gamble during a game in December and cost his team a playoff spot. The Carolina Panthers are on the clock…

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