Finding Broncos: Two LSU Tigers Who can Bolster the Depth
The Denver Broncos are heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, desperate to bolster the depth at cornerback and receiver. The Broncos have issues with proven and reliable players at those positions and a massive injury history. So adding quality players to help fill the room with viable options should be paramount.
Mekhi Garner | CB | LSU
Pros:
- He is a long and physical boundary cornerback.
- Press strength is incredibly powerful, killing the timing of the route easily.
- High-quality press man coverage player that does well to stay in phase.
- Zone coverage instincts are above average.
- Does well to click and close on vertical routes.
- He uses the sideline well and squeezes receivers inside the red line.
- The physicality at the catch point is great for dislodging the ball easily.
- Powerful tackler out in open space that delivers big hits easily.
- Sheds blocks easily in the running game and on screens.
- He does a nice job keeping contain and flowing the ball back to the inside.
Cons:
- Fluidity in open space is lacking, allowing separation easily over the middle of the field.
- Short area quickness is subpar.
- Long speed is lacking. Receivers separate easily after about 20 yards.
- Ball production over the past couple of seasons is practically non-existent.
- His tackling technique needs refinement.
- Footwork and backpedal inconsistency allows receivers to close his cushion rapidly.
- May need to switch to safety at the next level due to a lack of speed.
Overview:
Mekhi Garner is a long and physical cornerback that can play in both man and zone coverages, so long as he can line up in press coverage. He uses his long arms well with a powerful punch to throw off the route timing, which is his way of making up for his lack of high-end speed. He can stick with receivers and stay in phase, moving vertically, riding the hip reasonably well through the intermediate area of the field. Garner struggles to keep up when routes get longer and allows separation down the field.
With a lack of change of direction ability and low-end speed, Garner may be a position change candidate at the next level, which would suit his skill set as an instinctual player that loves to hit. He brings the wood in the running game, though he needs to develop his tackling technique to become a more reliable tackler in space. Moving Garner to a box safety where he can cover tight ends and play in run support may be his best fit at the NFL level.
Fit with the Broncos:
As a cornerback, Garner would fit the scheme in terms of being a decent press coverage defender. The physicality he brings on the boundary meets the bill as a run defender, which is something Vance Joseph values from his cornerbacks. If the Broncos moved Garner to safety, he would be an upgrade as a man coverage player over PJ Locke and help bolster the room's depth. With Caden Sterns returning from injury and Kareem Jackson a free agent, adding a safety would be a prudent move.
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Kayshon Boutte | WR | LSU
Pros:
- Decent size for the position.
- He is a dangerous threat with the ball in his hands.
- Sees the field well and exploits open space with ease.
- Speed is plus level with good second gear to stretch the field vertically and horizontally.
- Stop and start ability on hitch and comeback routes is high level.
- Body control on the boundary projects well.
- Has a 300-yard game to his name back in his first year.
- He presents a nice target against zone coverage, quickly flashing his chest back to the quarterback.
- He has seen a lot of screen and jet sweep plays with a lot of success, showing dynamic playmaking ability in the process.
Cons:
- Physicality is lacking in every phase of the game.
- Blocking is not an option.
- Simple route tree at LSU.
- Doesn’t break a lot of tackles but changes the angular pursuit with speed, causing missed tackles.
- He is an inconsistent hands catcher with concentration drops all over his tape.
- Doesn’t extend outside of his framework to make catches reliably enough.
- Needs free releases due to a lack of explosiveness off of the snap.
- Hand fighting technique and power to separate are lacking.
- Effort level is inconsistent.
- Off-field red flags.
Overview:
Kayshon Boutte is a speedy slot receiver that does incredibly well taking the top off the defense and working in the open field with the ball in his hands. In addition, Boutte has enough dynamic playmaking ability to be used in some gadget situations at the NFL level. Still, his best fit will be moving linearly, using his speed to stretch defenses vertically and horizontally.
Inconsistency marred his 2023 tape, but flashes throughout 2022 make him an intriguing option for teams looking to get faster. Should he figure out some of the finer nuances of route running and find a way to catch the football more consistently, Boutte could become a high-level player out of the slot, with enough versatility to line up on the boundary.
Fit with the Broncos:
The Broncos have been in the receiver market all offseason and now have an opening for a slot receiver after KJ Hamler tore his pec training away from the team facility. With a need for speed at the receiver position, Boutte fits in perfectly from a schematic standpoint. Where the fit doesn’t work is his inconsistency in catching the football, which is a non-starter for Sean Payton. Ball security is paramount for Payton, and Boutte has enough concentration lapses and effort-level inconsistencies that could see the Broncos moving in a different direction.
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