With the 19th pick in the 3rd Round, Broncos select Lloyd Cushenberry, C, LSU

[Duffman]

 

[fightinredantz]

Love this pick.

 

[CEH]

Solid great pick

 

[SpringStein]

From The Athletic:

Sitting in the Superdome locker room hours after winning the national championship, Lloyd Cushenberry unveiled the truth.

For two years, Cushenberry has been the company man. He’s the team leader, the wearer of the prestigious No. 18 on a patch, the even-keeled face of responsibility in LSU football. Every week, you could find Cushenberry walking out to speak with the media. Every week, you could watch him downplay any sort of controversy or take the high road from any criticism. Cushenberry did not play into any sort of dramatics.

Until, with a championship in his grasp and his LSU career in the rearview mirror, he acknowledged something behind the scenes,

“I read a lot,” Cushenberry said. “I see a lot on social media. So I found a Clemson article where they said we’re immensely overrated. I mean, ‘overrated,’ what have you, we’re national champs. You can’t take this away from us.”

Cushenberry was the last player out of the locker room that night. He was the last one roaming onto the bus, taking it all in.

“How about that?” he said. “National champs, man. All the doubt. All the naysayers. Can’t take that away.”

There were no shortage of those naysayers for Cushenberry, and they also can’t take away the fact he was selected No. 83 overall in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Broncos on Friday. It finalized Cushenberry’s evolution from the last man thrown in at the last second of the 2016 signing class to one of the top interior linemen in America.

He was a three-star prospect from Carville, La., slated to go to Mississippi State until LSU finally offered the day before signing day. He sat quietly for two years, and when the center job opened before the 2018 season, even his coach didn’t quite believe in him. Ed Orgeron often said that summer that LSU might try other players out at center. He wasn’t sure if Cushenberry was ready. But fellow linemen kept repeating, “Lloyd Cushenberry is our center.”

Soon, Cushenberry was known as the rock of that offensive line. In a year of constant injuries, reshuffling and inexperience, he was the lone stabilizer who wasn’t a dominant force but seemingly never made a mistake. He called assignments out to teammates before each snap. He pointed out mistakes after plays. He was, without question, the leader of that group.

And by the start of the 2019 season, he wasn’t just the guy who didn’t make mistakes. He was stronger and more athletic. He was 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds with a massive 84-inch wingspan. He became a second-team All-American and the focal point of a unit that won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in college football.

But the most important thing to note is that No. 18. Each year, LSU gives the No. 18 to one or two players who best represent LSU on and off the field. This year, it was Cushenberry and K’Lavon Chaisson. Cushenberry, a normally quiet guy, took a minute to stand up when Orgeron called his name because he was so shocked.

Chaisson, seemingly the exact opposite of Cushenberry, admitted that day he looks up to Cushenberry, even if Cushenberry doesn’t know it.

“He does the right thing on and off the field, stopping at red lights, stopping at stop signs,” Chaisson said. “Complete stops. Who does that? He does everything the right way. It’s one of those things you’ll have your child idol after.”

And during Cushenberry’s interview that day, as he recalled his journey from no-name late addition to one of the faces of the program, he spoke of his motivation.

“Knowing that not a lot of people knew about me, I just wanted to prove myself every day,” he said. “And still to this day, I want to continue to prove myself that I belong at this level.”

 

[Duffman]

From what I've gathered he's an extremely high character team leader. Exactly what we need.

 

[Duffman]

 

[Mingo]

With Cushenberry added the interior of the Oline looks solidly above average. Love this pick

 

[Draft Crazy]

Common threme Denver has is character picks this year. Smart players with great work ethic. Every pick we made our known as hard workers and smart players. High footbal IQ and smart off the field.

Cushenberry was one of several guys I think EVERY single person in this forum was hoping we would get! He seemed to be the favorite for us at center.

I think everyone in here did a lil fist pump after this one.. (and then there are some weirdos like me who jumped up in the air)

 

[nflbronco]

LOVE THIS PICK TY John

 

[Draft Crazy]

This pick has quality written all over. Great player, great person. Hard worker all the good stuff you want.


I said this in another thread, but I feel like the common theme for Denver here is drafting, quality players, positions of needs (This is common sense) but the thing that sticks out after that is work ethic and character with these guys. Two years ago on paper we had a very nice draft. That draft has really fallen apart and a lot of the reason I feel why is because of work ethic. We drafted talented players but from what we have learned that class didn't have great work... Guys like Carlos Henderson, D'Angelo Henderson, Branden Langley and Isaiah McKenzie seemed to lack hard work once they got to Denver and ended up with small careers in the NFL.... McKenzie is still there and has rebounded pretty nice as a role player.

Cushenberry is a guy who has a real shot to start from day 1 given our current center position, a team leader/captain... Strong work ethic... Well liked and respected by teammates.

 

[58crash]

 

[listopencil]

I love this pick. It made my day and forced me to rethink the rest of the draft, slowly unwinding my ball of hate and becoming happy about it.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I love this pick. It made my day and forced me to rethink the rest of the draft, slowly unwinding my ball of hate and becoming happy about it.

Good that means we will see you weekly now!

 

[listopencil]

Good that means we will see you weekly now!

I'm working six days a week, blah. I am actually farting around on my cell at work right now.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I'm working six days a week, blah. I am actually farting around on my cell at work right now.

No excuses. You have lunch breaks to give us attention.

 

[listopencil]

No excuses. You have lunch breaks to give us attention.

Heh - I am not even on break right now. I'm manning up an area solo and as long as I get things done I can fart around, but I have to make sure it all goes smoothly.

 

[58crash]

I agree this was the perfect C @listopencil and like you said made e chill some and enjoy more.

I was instantly thinking of the holes that Lindsay was going to have in the C RG that is going to be a thing of beauty

 

[Orange Crush77]

Might be the best pick of the draft when you consider value

 

[58crash]

Might be the best pick of the draft when you consider value

Yeah, I don't get the slide oh well I am glad we got him .

 

[Draft Crazy]

I feel like Cushenberry went about where he was projected, but it was going to be a quality pick even at that. He can start from day 1 type of player. Will learn fast and earn trust early with his hard work and ability to learn fast. His length and toughness will be an asset to the OL. We need a mean streak... Cush is a teddy bear off the field a meanie on the field!