Colston Loveland. What if the Broncos don’t love him? What if he is taken before their first-round selection?
The Broncos offense had so many issues for so long — like seven years — it feels weird to say this out loud: They only have two problems. They need a dynamic running back and a pass-catching tight end. Even coach Sean Payton admits it.
The order doesn’t matter. They require better. And these two positions are musts if the Broncos want to unseat the Kansas City Chiefs.
This brings us back to Loveland. He is the most realistic tight end target with the 20th pick. Penn State’s Tyler Warren will be a Saint or a Colt. And the Broncos are not moving up — and shouldn’t.
So if Loveland is not the pick, then what? There is one name that will stick to the Broncos like lint on washed clothes: Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson.
The Broncos desperately need a playmaker. Which is why they should leave the second round without one. You heard me.
Stay wise, remain prudent. It carries risk, but will be well worth it beyond the Local Kid Makes Good headline.
The plan is not scared. Please. It is nuanced. Sign Saints free agent Juwan Johnson next week for three years and $30 million — guarantee $18 million over first two seasons — and then take North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton with the 20th pick and Ferguson with the 85th selection in the third round.
It seems boring. But it is actually bold. A Bo-nanza. And it marries need with value.
As he first did as a four-star recruit out of Heritage High School in Littleton, Ferguson opened eyes at the NFL combine. At 6-foot-5, 247 pounds, he clocked a position-best 4.63 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 39-inch vertical. He was a tornadic frenzy of athleticism.
Or as NFL and college football analyst Ryan Harris put it, “He is a dude.”
Ferguson made a lot of money, cementing himself as a second-day pick. Second day. Just not second round. With Harold Fannin Jr., Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor available, Ferguson will be there in the third.
And then there’s this. He knows Bo Nix. Well.
In two overlapping seasons at Oregon, Ferguson caught 11 touchdowns from Nix. They formed a bond. They remain close. So much so that when Ferguson is back in his home state of Colorado he hangs out with his former quarterback.
“Whenever I get a chance, I go and see him… have lunch or something. Bo and I talk a lot,” Ferguson said. “It’d be really cool (to reunite with him). Bo’s one of my best friends, and I still keep up with him today. To be able to be with a guy that you played with before and a great guy like that, it’d be amazing.”
Terrance knows Bo. But even Bo knows this is not a reason to draft him. Recent history suggests caution. Remember when Missouri’s Drew Lock and Albert Okwuegbunam were going to be a thing? Lock struggled to stay in the lineup and the next big block Albert O throws will be a Lego.
Nix and former Oregon star Troy Franklin didn’t exactly click last season, either. It took until the playoff game for them to connect on a deep ball, something not lost on the coaching staff.
But Ferguson, whose football journey is defined by faith, family and friendships, makes sense.
“He’s a legit prospect. The Oregon staff raved about him,” said Big Ten Network analyst and former Broncos tight end Jake Butt. “They blew half of the teams out on their schedule and had other playmakers. If he was on a different team he would have had a lot more targets.”
Ferguson is a strong route runner, has the instincts to find the soft underbelly of a zone defense and wins 50-50 balls (Nix needs someone else to do this besides Courtland Sutton).
“Travis Kelce is a big one for me (to model game after) because I feel like I have a similar wiggle at the top of my routes that he does,” Ferguson said.
He could have a similar wiggle to Jason Kelce and it would improve the Broncos’ tight end room.
Ferguson has coveted physical traits. But his film shows he was not physical enough. He need not be a road grader, but becoming a serviceable blocker is necessary to stay on the field.
“I think I’m still a good blocker at the point of attack, but there is still a lot of untapped potential,” Ferguson said. “I’ve been working on that over the years so that’s something that jumps out to me (that must be improved).”
Self-awareness is necessary to play for Payton. He is not big on repeated mistakes, questionable effort, excuses or injuries. Ferguson is reliable, only missing games last season because of an emergency appendectomy.
This isn’t some Hallmark Channel script. The Broncos are intrigued. They met formally with Ferguson for 20 minutes in Indianapolis.
Tight end Terrance Ferguson (3) stiff arms a player during a kickoff return drill at practice at Heritage High School on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020.
“Growing up in Denver, everyone is a Broncos fan. I watched the Broncos and being able to be in the room with those guys and the head coach, Coach Sean Payton… (was special),” said Ferguson, who did not attend many Broncos games because they were too expensive. “I also grew up with Saints fans so it was kind of a surreal moment for me. Just a true blessing.”
The Broncos have a franchise quarterback they are motivated to help. Despite the whining of critics, we have not seen the best of Nix. Until he gets better weapons around him, his evaluation remains incomplete.
The Broncos like Ferguson. He can help. And if they really want him, they should follow the plan and wait to take him.
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