Mock Draft 2014: Seven Players That The Denver Broncos Could Draft In The First-Round

Dec 28, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals safety

(25) waves his arms to the crowd in the fourth quarter as theCardinals beat the Miami Hurricanes 36-9 to win the Russell Athletic Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville

Although Pryor is expected to go around pick number 22 to the Philadelphia Eagles, He would be an instant starter alongside Rahim Moore in Denver’s secondary. Pryor was named a 2013 All-American Athletic Conference First Team selection after a solid season. Pryor recorded 75 total tackles, 54 solo while picking off 3 passes for Louisville.

Here is more via Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"He had three games in a row where he hit somebody and they did not finish the game. He doesn’t want to injure anybody, but he brings a certain physicality that if you’re going to throw the ball down the middle of the field, you’re going to pay a price. That’s how the game used to be played. He did things the right way and that’s what people like about him so much. And he’s a coach on the field—high football IQ. He controls everything. Gets guys lined up. Makes the checks. He does it all."

Scouts see a little Kam Chancellor in Pryor which Denver Broncos fans got to experience in the Super Bowl. Denver’s safety position was depleted by the end of the year as Rahim Moore went down with a leg injury that he suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs that later put him on the injured reserve. They were forced to play Mike Adams, who did play okay but lacked the necessary speed. Duke Ihenacho was a key safety in run-stopping packages but lacked the vision on passing plays as teams took advantage of that.

If Pryor somehow slid to the Denver Broncos late in the first-round, they will have struck gold.