Alabama Football: 2021 NFL mock draft after the Super Bowl
By Dakota Cox
9. Denver Broncos: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Unless the Broncos are in love with Trey Lance, I don’t see them drafting a quarterback here. Drew Lock is still on a cheap contract, and the Broncos can give him another chance to prove himself before making a decision in 2022.
With that in mind, you have to add protect Lock. Rashawn Slater is seen by many as a franchise left tackle, and some even believe that he is better than Penei Sewell. He held his own in the Big Ten against some of the best pass rushers you can imagine, and he has great technique that will help him succeed in the NFL.
The Broncos have invested heavily in this offense. They drafted multiple receivers last year, and they signed Melvin Gordon at running back. With quality tight ends, their weakest link outside of Lock is the offensive line.
If they draft Slater, there will be no excuses if the offense fails. At that point, you will be a quality quarterback away from competing in the AFC West.
If Slater is off of the board, look for this to be a potential landing spot for Alabama football’s Patrick Surtain. The secondary is a weakness, and Surtain is slowly becoming the best player on the board by a mile.