The Broncos seem set at safety with one of the better starting tandems in the NFL, Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones.
But look closer and over the horizon and you’ll see a need.
Reserve P.J. Locke — who started down the stretch and into the postseason — has an expiring contract and is set to hit the market next week. Jones’ three-year contract expires after the 2026 campaign.
And one aspect of being a team in the Broncos’ roster position — relatively stable, with any gaps in the starting lineup likely to be filled early in free agency next week — is that they will likely have the freedom to NOT pick a player who must be an immediate contributor, and can draft with longer-term considerations in mind.
That scenario could bring the Broncos to Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a playmaking ballhawk with whom team officials held a formal interview at last week’s Scouting Combine.
ESPN’s Jason Reid mocked McNeil-Warren to Denver with the No. 30 overall pick, just as his colleague, Mel Kiper Jr., did just before the Combine.
“I know that was a bit of a controversial pick with a lot of Broncos fans. Everybody wanted an offensive weapon,” Reid explained.
“But my thinking behind that, honestly, is Brandon Jones is entering the final year of his deal and they need that do-it-all safety on the back end and I think McNeil-Warren just brings that type of skill set to the table.
“He can play free safety; he can play on the roof of the defense. He can come down and strike in strong safety as well. He has really good ball skills too, supremely athletic as well. So, that was my thinking behind it.”
BUT DON’T DISMISS THE IDEA OF A PLAYMAKER TO THE BRONCOS
And Reid acknowledged that the desire to add some juice to the offense might be too tempting to ignore.
“I think it’s going to be tough for them to say no to an offensive weapon,” Reid said.
“But my thinking in the mock draft was just going with the best player available and then just thinking the thought process of Brandon Jones entering the final year of his deal with the flexibility that McNeil-Warren gives you.”
The first wave of free agency will likely bring some clarity to the projections. But McNeil-Warren wouldn’t be a reach at No. 30, and his style fits into Sean Payton’s desire to see his defense generate more takeaways. His addition wouldn’t be an upset — even though it would represent a third defensive back added in the Broncos’ last four first-round selections.