ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The Denver Broncos used their top two picks in the NFL draft to plug holes created by the high-profile departures of Brock Osweiler and Malik Jackson in the opening moments of free agency.
A day after moving up five spots to select Memphis QB Paxton Lynch with the 26th overall selection, general manager John Elway selected Georgia Tech defensive tackle Adam Gotsis with the final pick of the second round Friday night.
And with the 98th and final pick of the night, Elway chose Boston College's versatile safety Justin Simmons, bolstering a defensive backfield that lost free agents David Bruton Jr. and Omar Bolden.
Lynch will likely back up newcomer Mark Sanchez initially as he adjusts from the spread he ran in college to Gary Kubiak's pro-style offense. But he's projected as the long-term answer under center that Elway so patiently pursued ever since Osweiler bolted to Houston 48 hours after Peyton Manning announced his retirement.
Osweiler's deal with the Texans was for $72 million over four years with a whopping $37 million guaranteed for a player who's started just seven games in the NFL.
Lynch will get slightly more than $9 million over four years, and the club has a fifth-year option.
Elway can use that cost savings to pay star linebacker Von Miller, whom he franchise tagged.
Gotsis will also be eased into things as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered against Virginia on Oct. 31. He said he hopes to be back on the field by training camp.
Born in Abbotsford, Australia, the athletic 6-foot-5, 282-pounder played Australian Rules Football for eight years before moving to the United States at age 19. Read more...
For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com
A day after moving up five spots to select Memphis QB Paxton Lynch with the 26th overall selection, general manager John Elway selected Georgia Tech defensive tackle Adam Gotsis with the final pick of the second round Friday night.
And with the 98th and final pick of the night, Elway chose Boston College's versatile safety Justin Simmons, bolstering a defensive backfield that lost free agents David Bruton Jr. and Omar Bolden.
Lynch will likely back up newcomer Mark Sanchez initially as he adjusts from the spread he ran in college to Gary Kubiak's pro-style offense. But he's projected as the long-term answer under center that Elway so patiently pursued ever since Osweiler bolted to Houston 48 hours after Peyton Manning announced his retirement.
Osweiler's deal with the Texans was for $72 million over four years with a whopping $37 million guaranteed for a player who's started just seven games in the NFL.
Lynch will get slightly more than $9 million over four years, and the club has a fifth-year option.
Elway can use that cost savings to pay star linebacker Von Miller, whom he franchise tagged.
Gotsis will also be eased into things as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered against Virginia on Oct. 31. He said he hopes to be back on the field by training camp.
Born in Abbotsford, Australia, the athletic 6-foot-5, 282-pounder played Australian Rules Football for eight years before moving to the United States at age 19. Read more...
For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com
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