John Elway Won’t Let Position Needs Dictate Broncos’ Draft Strategy

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway has a proven track record when it comes to finding impact starters throughout the NFL draft. Elway knows the best teams go into the draft with few needs to prevent mistakes in the selection process. He’s been able to snare quality starters and Pro Bowl players from the early, mid and late rounds and even undrafted players entering the league each year.

While other teams let the needs of the roster dictate and influence their draft board, the Broncos take a different approach. Elway has proved through five drafts that he’s going to take the best player available in the first round. Team need is important, but Elway trusts in taking the most talented football players regardless of position.

“A lot of times when you get in trouble is when you reach,” Elway stated. “As long as you take what we feel is the best player available at the time—now if it falls into a position of need, then it’s all the better. Our thought process is to make sure that we’re drafting people that are going to have good careers in the NFL.”

On Thursday, the Broncos held a predraft press conference where Elway discussed the most pressing issues with the team. The Hall of Fame quarterback turned top executive has built a Super Bowl champion in the Mile High City with a simple philosophy.

“Everybody has needs,” Elway said. “I think the most important thing is to hit on your draft picks. We’ll continue with the philosophy of trying to build through the draft and add free agents that we think can help us.”

He didn’t reveal much, but we can gather more clues about the Broncos’ plans in the draft—and more—based on what Elway did say at team headquarters on Thursday.

Von Miller, Broncos Apart in Talks

Earlier this year, the Broncos placed the exclusive franchise tag on linebacker Von Miller. That gives the superstar a one-year, fully guaranteed salary around $14 million in 2016, but Miller is seeking a long-term deal from the franchise that selected him second overall in the 2011 NFL draft.

Per NFL rules, the two sides have until July 15th to work out a new contract. The past few times the Broncos have used the franchise tag (Demaryius Thomas, Ryan Clady, Matt Prater), it usually takes them close to the deadline before an agreement can be reached. Elway doesn’t know if things will go right up to the deadline again with Miller.

“I don’t know,” Elway said. “I would hope not but we’ll see. I think that it’s not nearly as bad as people have it portrayed at being out there.”

Elway praised the Super Bowl 50 MVP. “I know what I think of Von Miller and I know what this organization thinks of Von Miller. He is very important to us, and we’re going to work our tails off to try and get something done with him.”

Like most players not under contract, Miller is avoiding the offseason workouts going on this week at Dove Valley. That’s not a problem with Elway.

“This is all voluntary,” he explained. “If Von chooses to be here then great. You always hope that everybody is here but players have different things they have going on in the …

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