The Denver Broncos have sported one of the best defenses in the National Football League the past few seasons. One of the primary reasons for that is how strong they are up front in the trenches. The team is strong five in their rotation with Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike, and Sai’vion Jones. However, the team’s biggest loss of the free agency period was John Franklin-Myers signing with the Tennessee Titans.
His production will be tough to replace. For now, I’d expect the Broncos to turn to Uwazurike and Jones to help offset Franklin-Myers’ departure. However, if they don’t add a veteran presence to the room prior to the draft to compete, they certainly could opt to draft another prospect to be a long-term difference maker for the franchise.
One prospect they have brought in for a 30 visit is Mizzou standout Chris McClellan. After spending his first two seasons with the Florida Gators in a reserve role, McClellan’s play stood out after transferring to the Tigers in ‘24. In that time, he became a productive starter for their defense and earned double the snap count over the past two seasons.
Is defensive line a top need for the Broncos? Certainly not, but it’s clear they are interest based on having him in for a visit to Dove Valley. Let’s take a deeper dive into McClellan, his strengths and weaknesses, and when the Broncos should consider selecting him in April.
Player Profile: Chris McClellan — Defensive Lineman — Missouri
Height: 6’4” | Weight: 313 pounds | Arm Length: 34” | Hand Size: 11” | Age: 22 Years Old
40-yard dash: 5.05 seconds | 10-yard split: 1.8 seconds | Vertical: 29.5” | Bench: 25 reps | Broad Jump: 9’
Statistics at Florida/Missouri: 51 games played (25 with the Gators, 26 with the Tigers) with 133 tackles, 17 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble.
NFL ready size and length with strength that’s ready for the rigors of the big leaguesAlignment versatility with the capability of playing all over Vance Joseph’s defensive frontQuality and stout run defender and does a good job clogging the interiorUntapped potential and upside as a pass rusherSurprising nimbleness and get off at the line of scrimmage for a player his size—though I’d like to see more consistency hereDidn’t slow down when tasked with more reps with the Tigers compared to his time with the GatorsOver 1,500 defensive snaps for his careerGot better every season and had a quality outing at the 2026 Reese’s Senior BowlCan play too upright and with high pads which takes away from his ability to be consistently disruptiveWould like to see more diversification in his pass rush moves and more utilization of his bull rushNeeds to be more consistent finishing in the backfield when he beats his initial man—he leaves quite a few tackles and plays behind the scrimmage on the field letting backs slip by himAnchor needs to improve to withstand double teams as successfully at the pro levelWhile generally a force against the run, can struggle executing against run concepts that wash him out laterally
Hart’s Projection: Top 100 Selection (Late Day 2, Early Day 3 Value)
Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting McClellan
Keeping the foundations of the defensive line is a smart decision for any franchise. Building through the draft is one way the Broncos can continue to do that. That will especially be important in the near future due to the hefty increases in cap down the road for a lot of the team’s best players.
Upgrading the defensive line likely isn’t a top draft priority for Denver. They have bigger fish to fry. Though if the right prospect is there for them at the right time, it certainly merits consideration. Right now, McClellan’s average perceived value is around the Top 100 picks. I think that’s fair. I wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up being a Day 2 pick.
McClellan isn’t someone the Broncos should be interested in the second round. However, they have two fourth round picks and if available. At that point in the draft, his potential and upside would be worth betting on. Of note, Uwazurike is in the final year of his deal and D.J. Jones isn’t getting younger. Though one could reasonably argue using a fourth-round selection on a sixth defensive lineman—who likely wouldn’t be active on game day—would be a curious use of resources.
Overall, McClellan has starting caliber traits and would be a good fit in Joseph’s defense. I don’t think he will ever be a star player, but someone that will have a long career based on his traits and strengths. Other positions have a higher priority ranking for the Broncos in my books, but he is a talented prospect worth bringing up in a war room discussion if available early on Day 3.