Skip to main content
Advertising

Denver Broncos | News

Broncos trade up for Missouri LB Shane Ray in first round of 2015 NFL Draft

Apr 30, 2015 at 01:37 PM

**

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- **The Broncos pulled the trigger on a trade with the Detroit Lions to move up to the 23rd overall pick to select Missouri LB Shane Ray on Thursday night.

Through the years: Broncos draft pick Shane Ray

See photos from new Bronco Shane Ray's football career leading up to being selected 23rd overall.

Shane Ray and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hold up a Broncos jersey at the 2015 NFL Draft. The Broncos drafted Ray with the 23rd overall pick in the first round.
1 / 12

Shane Ray and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hold up a Broncos jersey at the 2015 NFL Draft. The Broncos drafted Ray with the 23rd overall pick in the first round.

Shane Ray, the Broncos' 2015 first-round pick in NFL Draft at No. 23 overall, celebrates after a play in 2012.
2 / 12

Shane Ray, the Broncos' 2015 first-round pick in NFL Draft at No. 23 overall, celebrates after a play in 2012.

Shane Ray sacks Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in 2013.
3 / 12

Shane Ray sacks Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in 2013.

Shane Ray, the Broncos' 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, sacks Kentucky's Patrick Towles.
4 / 12

Shane Ray, the Broncos' 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, sacks Kentucky's Patrick Towles.

Shane Ray, drafted 23rd overall by the Broncos in the 2015 NFL Draft, celebrates a sack on South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw in 2013.
5 / 12

Shane Ray, drafted 23rd overall by the Broncos in the 2015 NFL Draft, celebrates a sack on South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw in 2013.

Shane Ray gets a hand on Indiana's D'Angelo Roberts in 2014. Ray was the Broncos' 2015 first-round pick with the 23rd overall pick.
6 / 12

Shane Ray gets a hand on Indiana's D'Angelo Roberts in 2014. Ray was the Broncos' 2015 first-round pick with the 23rd overall pick.

Shane Ray, the Broncos' first round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, closes in on South Dakota State quarterback Jacob Menage for a sack.
7 / 12

Shane Ray, the Broncos' first round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, closes in on South Dakota State quarterback Jacob Menage for a sack.

Shane Ray, drafted by the Broncos in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, performs a drill at Missouri's Pro Day.
8 / 12

Shane Ray, drafted by the Broncos in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, performs a drill at Missouri's Pro Day.

Shane Ray performs a drill at Missouri's 2015 Pro Day.
9 / 12

Shane Ray performs a drill at Missouri's 2015 Pro Day.

Shane Ray smiles as he holds the Citrus Bowl trophy following Missouri's 33-17 win over Minnesota.
10 / 12

Shane Ray smiles as he holds the Citrus Bowl trophy following Missouri's 33-17 win over Minnesota.

Shane Ray and his mother share a moment on the red carpet at the 2015 NFL Draft.
11 / 12

Shane Ray and his mother share a moment on the red carpet at the 2015 NFL Draft.

Shane Ray hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Broncos selected Ray with the 23rd overall pick at the 2015 NFL Draft.
12 / 12

Shane Ray hugs NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Broncos selected Ray with the 23rd overall pick at the 2015 NFL Draft.

Advertising
This Ad will close in 3

In return for No. 23 overall, the Broncos sent the Lions the 28th overall pick, a 2015 fifth-round pick, a 2016 fifth-round pick and interior OL Manny Ramirez.

As a reshirt junior, Ray racked up 14.5 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss and 65 total tackles for the Tigers en route to being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and earning consensus first-team All-America honors. The 14.5 sacks set a Missouri single-season record and ranked third in the nation.

In 2012 and 2013, Ray collected 45 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss as a rotational player, playing behind future NFL draftees Michael Sam and Kony Ealy.

Ray is the third Missouri Tiger defender taken in the first round in the last five years after Aldon Smith (2011) and Sheldon Richardson (2013).

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content

news

Oregon WR Tez Johnson on potentially joining brother Bo Nix on Broncos: 'It means way more than just a storyline'

"It's definitely a great storyline, but to us, it means way more than just a storyline," Johnson said. "It's something bigger than that."
news

NFLN's Daniel Jeremiah identifies potential Day 2 'Joker' playmakers for Broncos in 2025 NFL Draft

Jeremiah believes there are Day 2 options to find a "Joker" player to add to Head Coach Sean Payton's offense.
news

'They both would be home-run picks': NFLN's Daniel Jeremiah weighs Round 1 options for Broncos' 2025 NFL Draft

"I like the idea of having a young quarterback in Bo Nix having a chance to grow and play with the same tight end for a long period of time," Jeremiah said.
news

Broncos mock draft roundup: Analysts' post-Super Bowl projections for Denver's 2025 NFL Draft

With the 2024 NFL season officially in the books, here's a look at several analysts' projections for the Broncos' first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
news

Broncos to pick 20th in 2025 NFL Draft

Denver has made the 20th-overall selection four times in franchise history.
news

Who did the Broncos draft? A list of Denver's 2024 picks

Here's a look at who the Broncos added to their roster during the 2024 NFL Draft.
news

'It got a little crazy there': How the Broncos navigated an unprecedented run on quarterbacks to draft QB Bo Nix

The minutes before Denver's pick wouldn't be without stress. The Falcons surprisingly selected Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth-overall pick, which threw the ensuing picks into flux.
news

Broncos mock draft roundup: Final expert projections for Denver's 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is set to begin.
news

The Broncos' top draft pick from each decade

This time, we're picking Denver's top draft pick from each of the Broncos' six-plus decades in the organization's history.
news

Broncos mock draft roundup: Analysts' projections for Denver as 2024 NFL Draft nears

The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a week away.
news

'It's got to be the right fit': HC Sean Payton, GM George Paton evaluate possibility of drafting first-round QB in 2024 NFL Draft

"We have flexibility, but we do know at 12, if we stand pat, we're going to get a really good player," Paton said.
news

A closer look at the draft-day trade histories of HC Sean Payton, GM George Paton ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

A slew of mock drafts have projected the Broncos will execute a trade and pick somewhere other than 12th-overall spot in this year's draft. But will they move up? If so, how far? Will they move back instead?
Advertising