You can lose a draft before you make a pick. The Broncos did it at the trade table, overpaying to chase players the board did not price nearly as high. The math is unkind, and the D follows.

Leaving linebacker unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. They will answer for taking cornerback early while linebacker, interior defensive lineman and other spots went begging.

Every board in the league had Travis lower, and that gap is the story. Landing Melton that late papers over a lot of smaller sins.

The bill for those future picks comes due whether the class hits or not.

Bottom line, they will need several of these picks to beat their grades just to break even, and linebacker is still a hole.