KUSA - If the Broncos hit on their fourth-round draft pick Saturday, they can thank Eric Decker.
The third and final day of the NFL Draft is about whether the Broncos can take advantage of their four compensatory picks – one in the fourth round and three in the seventh.
The compensatory system is based on a formula that factors in contracts of free agent players lost versus contracts of players signed. Decker, the Broncos' No. 2 receiver from 2011-13, was the key to the Broncos getting the fourth rounder after he signed a five-year, $36.5 million contract last season with the New York Jets.
The Broncos also lost cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, whose five-year, $35 million deal with the New York Giants was mostly cancelled out by the Broncos' contract with Aqib Talib, and guard Zane Beadles, whose five-year, $30 million contract with Jacksonville was offset by T.J. Ward and Emmanuel Sanders.
The 2014 free-agent losses of Wesley Woodyard, Shaun Phillips and Knowshon Moreno factored into the Broncos' three bonus picks in the seventh round.
The Broncos also have two of their own picks in play today – one in the fifth round and one in the sixth.
Here are some positions the Broncos may address with those six draft picks Saturday:
Quarterback: Baylor's Bryce Petty, UCLA's Brett Hundley and Northwestern's Trevor Siemian (who visited Dove Valley this spring) are among those available.
Running back: Broncos coach Gary Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison grew up as coaches in a Broncos' organization that was famous for discovering running back gems late in the draft. Terrell Davis and Mike Anderson were sixth-round picks. The Broncos visited with Michigan State running back Jeremy Langford.
Defensive tackle: The Broncos visited with Oklahoma's Jordan Phillips, whose stock has fallen because of back concerns, and Auburn's Angelo Blackson. (Update: Blackson went with the first pick of the fourth round to Tennessee).
Linebacker: Must increase the speed on special teams. The Broncos visited with Florida's Neiron Bell and UCLA's Owa Odighizuwa.
Receiver: A pure slot or No. 5-type receiver would be nice. The Broncos visited with William & Mary's Tre McBride, Michigan State's Keith Mumphery and Missouri's Bud Sasser.
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