Klis: Broncos could go after McCaffrey … in the second round
Jan 25, 2017, 12:00 AM | Updated: 9:08 am
Roughly since local star-turned-Stanford standout Christian McCaffrey declared for the NFL in early December, Denver Broncos fans have clamored for the club to select the hometown hero in the 2017 NFL Draft.
McCaffrey could “change this offense and make an immediate impact,” said Brandon Stokley, co-host of “C.J. and Stokley,” on Tuesday.
And 9News Broncos Insider Mike Klis said he could see the Broncos selecting the running back/slot receiver at No. 20 — just not in the round most want Denver to take him.
“Guys like him traditionally go in the second round. Devin Hester went in the second round. Eddie Royal went in the second round,” Klis told “C.J. and Stokley” on Tuesday.
Klis said Denver does need a returner, a “pressing need” for the Broncos in this draft, and if McCaffrey is there once their pick swings back around in the second round he thinks “he’s going to be their guy.”
If he’s gone, Klis said the club would still likely go for an “Eddie Royal, Devin Hester type” in the second round.
But Klis contends that No. 20 overall in the first round may be a bit high for a player whose primary position could be running back, a need the Broncos do not have.
The Broncos, I shouldn’t say they don’t need a running, but they have C.J. Anderson back after paying him $6 million this year. They pay him $3 million guaranteed this year,” Klis said. “They have Devontae Booker, who they had as a high second round grade. They were even thinking about taking him at No. 31 if they couldn’t do anything with Paxton Lynch or a couple of other guys who fell off the board.
“With those two, I think one more year they go with those two at running back.”
Stokley agreed that the Broncos don’t need another running back but said McCaffrey could play a variety of positions.
“Well, I think Christian that plays a few plays at running back, but then also you spread him out and you keep C.J. Anderson in. He fills your need at returner. I think his value is increasing by the week,” Stokley said.
All things considered, Klis said everyone should wait until free agency kicks off on March 9, that Denver may be able to fill the holes in its roster during that period and who they need to draft will become more clear.
“Any draft talk is premature because let’s see what they do in free agency. That will be where they make the as filling needs,” Klis said.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
