The Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl odds dropped two slots after the NFL draft, but don’t tell that to DE Dre’Mont Jones — he’s all in on the team with pass-rusher Randy Gregory in the fold.
Gregory presumably fills the void caused by trading Von Miller mid-season last fall. The Broncos drafted Nik Bonitto in the second round (64th overall) of the NFL draft last month as well.
In a 3-4 defense under newly-hired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who is part of Vic Fangio’s coaching tree, Jones is basically a smaller defensive tackle on the line. The true defensive tackle is a nose tackle primarily tasked with occupying blockers for the rest of the line. A selfless position, it’s one that former Broncos defensive lineman Shelby Harris once played before telling Fangio he’d rather be at defensive end.
Now, it’s up to Jones, Gregory and company to replenish the Broncos’ pass rush. On the team acquiring Gregory in free agency, Jones said, “[He brings] a lot of edge, a lot of lean, tall speed, length. He’s taller than I thought. I didn’t think he was that tall. I obviously didn’t know the guy, but him being in the room I thought, ‘Damn, is that a receiver or something?’ He was tall. He’s a beast in his own right, too.”
The Broncos drafted defensive ends Eyioma Uwazurike and Matt Henningsen during last month’s draft as well. Get a glimpse of the Broncos’ draft war room here.
