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BRISTOL, Conn. -- ESPN.com’s NFL Nation reporters conducted a mock draft Monday with each reporter making a selection for the team he or she covers. And in the scenario that unfolded, the positions where the Broncos have some of their more pressing needs, at least when compared to other parts of their roster, saw some of the players with first-round grades come off the board quickly. Four offensive linemen were selected before the Broncos' turn came up at 28th overall in the mock, including two players the Broncos would have given heavy consideration to if they had somehow slipped to them in Stanford tackle Andrus Peat (taken 10th in our mock by the St. Louis Rams) and Florida State center/tackle Cameron Erving (19th to the Cleveland Browns). Defensive line is another position the Broncos will give a long look to when the first round unfolds Thursday night. On our mock it was a popular choice as well with seven defensive linemen/edge rushers selected before the Broncos’ choice came around. Which brings us to Missouri defensive end/outside linebacker Shane Ray. In the mock, Ray was still on the board when the 28th pick arrived, as was LSU tackle La’el Collins. The Broncos have scouted Collins thoroughly as a player they believe could be available when their turn arrives Thursday night. So, in our mock, given Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway is decidedly a best-player-available guy when it comes to the draft, I gave them Ray because he is a player many personnel executives had said could be a top 10 player on the board. However, that was before Ray was cited for marijuana possession and a traffic violation at 5:46 a.m. Monday. Before that traffic stop by the Missouri State Patrol, the odds were not really all that favorable of Ray actually being available for the Broncos that deep in the first round when things get done for real Thursday. That may change now. Not only might teams simply move Ray down in their rankings for what was discovered in the traffic stop alone, but Ray's decision-making is significantly called into question given this issue comes four days before the draft. The timing of the citation will matter to some decision makers in the league because, much like those players who get flagged on drug tests at the scouting combine that they knew were coming, the draft has been on the calendar for quite some time. And if a player, especially one with a chance to be selected in the top third of the first round, can’t keep himself out of a police report just days before the draft, the confidence level goes down more than a little that he’ll handle his business with a first-round contract as an NFL rookie. Add in Ray’s toe injury to close out this past season -- he did not work out at the combine because of it and did not have the on-campus workout people expected -- and it all means what was an unlikely scenario just a day ago may now actually be one the Broncos may have to consider Thursday night. Because if Ray, who had 14 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss this past season, takes a draft day fall, he may be on the board when the Broncos choose. And that would require Elway and the Broncos personnel staff to decide what Ray’s value is and if what happened in the early-morning hours means enough to them to pass. Because at that point there is no question, from a football perspective, Ray would be the best player available.
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