Denver Broncos

Bradley Roby knows what a draft day slide feels like

Published Apr. 30, 2015 2:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Nothing can prepare an NFL Draft prospect for a draft-night slide.

Bradley Roby knows. Despite his talent, the former Buckeye wasn't picked until No. 31 overall last year.

He stayed upbeat through his long wait. And Roby would advise guys like Randy Gregory or Shane Ray -- two players rumored to be slipping down draft boards -- to keep the same mindset on Thursday night.

“Just stay positive,” Roby told the Denver Post. “Last year I was debating on whether to even go to the draft. Stay positive."

Denver can look back and admit it got a steal in Roby, who played on approximately 75 percent of his team's defensive plays last season. Other 2014 first-round cornerbacks like Justin Gilbert or Darqueze Dennard failed to make similar impacts in their rookie campaigns.

That slide happened because Roby entered the league like Gregory and Ray will -- with some baggage. He said he tried to keep a pre-draft citation under wraps for for operating a vehicle while under the influence. In turn, Roby thinks he lost the trust of some GMs.

He's happy John Elway wasn't one of them.

"Everything happens for a reason," Roby said. "I can say everything happens for a reason; it proved itself true for me."

(h/t Denver Post)