ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The countdown to this year's NFL draft is in the final days with the Denver Broncos poised to use 10 picks to create the 2015 class. Whether that means packaging some for a trade or simply picking the 10 players they believe can pump up the roster remains to be seen.
So with the bulk of their work in free agency done, this is the third of a position-by-position look at where things stand on the roster and what prospects could be a fit for the Broncos.
Wednesday: Wide receivers
Thursday: Tight ends
At the moment: To start, the Broncos have two 100-catch, 1,000-yard receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. That's if the Broncos finish the long-term deal for Thomas they have been negotiating with his representatives or Thomas plays under the franchise player tender if no long-term deal is completed.
Thomas said he believes a deal will be worked out but that he would play under the $12.823 million franchise player tender "if that's the way it goes because I want to help us win a Super Bowl."
Cody Latimer, a second-round pick in 2014 who played just 37 snaps on offense last season, carries the offseason expectations that he will be the No. 3 wideout. Andre Caldwell is in his fourth year with the Broncos and was among the players who worked out with quarterback Peyton Manning at Duke University in recently.
The Broncos also hope Jordan Norwood, who suffered a season-ending knee injury as the preseason drew to a close last summer, once again presents himself as a roster option. Norwood was on track, with his showing in the return game and training camp, to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster when he suffered his injury.
The remainder of the group consists of prospects, including Nathan Palmer, who has spent time on the Broncos practice squad, and Jeremy Kelley, a 6-foot-5 5/8-inch, 231-pound wide receiver who has played in the Arena Football League and was in Indianapolis Colts' training camp in 2013.
Need factor: When it comes to this position on this draft board, it will be important to remember that executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway is decidedly a best-player-available guy when it's time to make the picks.
And with a class of wide receivers as deep as the one in this year's draft, there will be several moments in the draft for the Broncos and every other team in the league when the best player available will be a wide receiver.
Also, with the Broncos having elected not to re-sign Wes Welker and Eric Decker over the last two free-agency seasons, they certainly can take a long look at what this draft has to offer, especially if the player offers any sort of front-line return skills.
Names to keep handy: The Broncos have turned back the clock a bit on offense, at least in terms of the scheme they'll run this season. When coach Gary Kubiak was the Broncos' offensive coordinator between 1995 and 2005, receiver Rod Smith always said; "If you don't block, you don't play and if you don't play you don't get to catch the ball."
So, much like when they selected Latimer in last year's draft, blocking will matter in the evaluation of the position. Beyond those early first-round receivers like Alabama's Amari Cooper and West Virginia's Kevin White, there will be players who fit the Broncos' mold.
Miami's Phillip Dorsett, at 5-9 3/8, 185 pounds, has the look of an immediate contributor on offense who topped 20 yards per catch in two consecutive seasons and offers return skills. Florida State's Rashad Greene had 99 receptions this past season for the Seminoles. He played outside and in the slot in the offense and is a high-quality work as a punt returner.
Kansas State's do-it-all Tyler Lockett scored on punt and kickoff returns in his college career, was a top-level wideout (three seasons with at least 44 receptions) and has the intellect and athleticism necessary for a long career in the league.
Lockett also averaged over eight yards per carry over his career when he ran the ball from scrimmage.
Nebraska's Kenny Bell has merited a look, as has Georgia's Chris Conley, who averaged 17 yards or more per catch in three of his four seasons with the Bulldogs. He was also the Southeastern Conference's scholar-athlete of the year.
As a project, Harding's Dontella Luckett, who played in an option offense, has flashed quality work in the return game and can be a developmental player with an enormous upside as a receiver. He also finished 13th in the 100 meters at the NCAA meet. Another prospect for later is Georgia Tech's DeAndre Smelter, who played baseball for the Yellow Jackets and tore his ACL late in the '14 season.
The Minnesota Twins selected Smelter in the 10th round of the 2010 MLB draft. He has the size (6-2, 226) and speed to potentially be worth any time invested in his development. He also did some limited return work.
