Good morning, Broncos Country!

Ah, the week of the draft. It’s finally here!

And nobody is probably happier than the Broncos’ coaching staff so coordinators can stop evaluating a lot of maybe/potentially/could-be-drafted players and start concentrating on just the ones picked for their team.

In fact, Vic Fangio, Ed Donatell, Rich Scangarello and Tom McMahon seem pretty content to just focus on what they see in front of them and not get ahead of themselves with who may come here, who will play what position and which current players are adjusting to any sort of new scheme the best.

“Right now everything’s on teaching, and to get everybody up to speed with the teaching and learning our new system. We’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made.” - Ed Donatell

“Right now everything’s on teaching, and to get everybody up to speed with the teaching and learning our new system,” said new defensive coordinator Donatell. “We’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made. ...It’s our third time putting this scheme in together, Vic and I, and it just seems to have gone even smoother each time.”

Bryce Callahan, Broncos’ new cornerback who played under Fangio and Donatell at Chicago, has played with this system for four years and has been a bit of a teacher’s aid last week during the veteran minicamp.

“[Callahan] really has good speed, change-of-direction, balance, excellent ball skills, a really, really good leaper,” Donatell said. “He can really process fast on the field.”

Donatell reiterated that last week was all about teaching, not about picking starters or assigning final positions - particularly with a secondary that could see Kareem Jackson as a safety or corner and potentially change Justin Simmons’ role (after playing virtually every position a safety can play last season).

“We’re just teaching it. Everybody’s on track,” Donatell added. “We’re very pleased with [Simmons], and I see a bright future for him.”

Y’all remember us 4 years ago when we were little rookies? Well YEAR 4 is on the way. pic.twitter.com/sKv6skhujn — William (@PhillyWill11) April 18, 2019

Donatell likes the versatility of Jackson and being able to move him to multiple places on the field.

“It’s pretty rare. The guy has played a lot of positions in the NFL,” Donatell said, noting Jackson has been a corner, nickel and safety. “That’s what we like. We just liked the way he played football and we knew we were building this defense. We’ll plug him in where he best suits us.”

But the main thing for the secondary is good communication and playing as a unit, not just a couple of great athletes.

“All of our guys back there, we want guys that can see, guys that can move and guys that can communicate. ...Because all teams have good athletes, it’s how you come together as a group that separates you.” - Ed Donatell on the secondary

“All of our guys back there, we want guys that can see, guys that can move and guys that can communicate,” Donatell said. “The first thing is that we have to protect the last line of defense back there, and that’s done together. Because all teams have good athletes, it’s how you come together as a group that separates you.”

The defensive coordinator is also really looking forward to having Chris Harris Jr., who sat out of the voluntary workouts to make a point about getting a new contract signed sooner rather than later.

“I think he’s really easy to fit in 11-on-11 football because he’s so competitive and so tough,” Donatell said. “He can win his matchups, and so we’re excited to get him back.”

Although Donatell, like his boss, prefers to watch guys on the field rather than a lot of film, he admits to checking a clip or two of Von Miller.

“He’s a rare, explosive, athletic player, and that’s very viable to playing team defense,” Donatell said, adding that he’ll leave Miller and his sidekick Bradley Chubb mostly to Fangio, the outside linebacker specialist, and OLB coach Brandon Staley.

“They’ll have plenty of coaching for him there,” he added. “They’re going to look for little things. They’ve seen so many great ones over the years together and here’s another one. We’ll put him in a position to bring out his strengths.”

For obvious reasons, Miller is pretty excited about this too.

.@Broncos LB Von Miller joined @SiriusXMNFL and discussed his excitement for new HC Vic Fangio:



"“We’ve got answers for anything offenses can do. Having a guy like [Fangio] here is amazing. I’m pretty excited for the 2019 season.”



AUDIO pic.twitter.com/qhaQulfMrh — SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) April 20, 2019

Horse Tracks - docllv’s pick of the day

‘He just wants to destroy you every single play’: How Wiggins native Dalton Risner put the NFL on notice – The Athletic

Dalton Risner, a Wiggins, Colorado, native, is a walking juxtaposition who might be the answer the Broncos sorely need on their O-line.

Horse Tracks

FMIA Mock Draft: Four Trades, Four QBs and the 2019 No. 1 Pick Will Be – ProFootballTalk

2019 NFL Mock Draft projects all first-round picks, from Arizona Cardinals at No. 1 (Kyler Murray?) to draft-day trades and more.

Joe Flacco’s fire, Von Miller’s sack goals and a secondary in flux: What we learned from Broncos minicamp – The Athletic

The Broncos were limited in what they could do during their three-day voluntary minicamp, but they showed plenty.

Mason's Mailbag: Inside linebackers on the brain

As the 2019 NFL Draft nears, top inside linebackers such as LSU's Devin White and Michigan's Devin Bush Jr. are among the prospects on whom many Broncos fans have their eyes.

Becoming a Bronco: Josey Jewell recalls his draft process and why Denver was where he wanted to be

In his own words, linebacker Josey Jewell recounts his draft process, including his pre-draft visit to Denver, a surprise phone call during Day 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft and what his parents told him after the Broncos selected him.

Here's the real reason Denver is waiting to extend Chris Harris

Fans are dying to know why the Broncos haven't gotten Chris Harris, Jr. extended yet. But there is a reason.

Broncos Draft: Why -- and why not -- four prospects make sense with 10th pick

If they stay at No. 10 in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft, the Broncos will be on the clock around 7:45 p.m.

Matthew Stafford's wife, Kelly, recovering after 12-hour surgery - NFL.com

Kelly Stafford, the wife of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, announced on Sunday that she was at home recovering after undergoing a 12-hour brain surgery.

Raiders send scouts home before draft fearing leaks - NFL.com

Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden sent the Raiders' scouts home for the weekend and do not expect them to return by draft time, sources told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Friday.

Giants GM Dave Gettleman: 'I like my resume so far' - NFL.com

Dave Gettleman, who has spent over three decades as a talent evaluator, is confident that the decisions he's made on behalf on the Giants are the right ones.