John Elway evaluates next crop of NFL players at 2020 Senior Bowl

[Miles]

MOBILE, Ala. — On Wednesday afternoon at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway looked out at the next crop of NFL players.


Elway, who attended the Senior Bowl practice with Director of Player Personnel Matt Russell, occasionally stole glances away from the practice to chat with 49ers GM John Lynch or Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.


Largely, though, he watched as a group of college all-stars tried to leave the best possible impression upon the NFL decision makers in attendance.


Over the coming months, the Broncos' draft preparations will ramp up. Denver is slated to pick five times in the first three rounds and holds seven picks in the first four rounds. Elway said Wednesday he expects the Broncos to receive three compensatory picks, as well.


The Senior Bowl, though, is a starting point. And it's been good to the Broncos over the past couple of years. In 2018, the Broncos drafted DaeSean Hamilton, Isaac Yiadom and Troy Fumagalli, all three of whom were Senior Bowl participants.


"If you look at this game, there are a couple of first-rounders here," Elway told DenverBroncos.com and the Denver Post on Wednesday in Mobile, "but for the most part, you're going to see there are a lot of good players here for the middle rounds."


The Broncos also may have found a couple of stars from the event. This past draft, the Broncos' second-round picks — Dalton Risner and Drew Lock — both played in the 2019 Senior Bowl.


Elway, Russell, the scouting staff and the coaching staff could find another group of players from this year's game.


The Broncos' have already evaluated the prospects in the Senior Bowl, but seeing them in person offers another point of reference.


"Obviously, we get them all on tape and watch them on tape, but you get to see them moving around," Elway said. "It's a benefit."