Renck & File: Any NFL mock draft that doesn’t have Broncos picking running back in first round needs to go

Never assign logic to what can be explained by ego and incompetence.

This is not about a Signal text chain but the NFL draft train. It chugs down the tracks during the offseason and no one knows, as Broncos coach Sean Payton loves to say, who is driving it (Picturing Alec Baldwin as the narrator and conductor while riding on Thomas the Tank Engine makes it more fun).

The Broncos have been connected to roughly 11 players with their 20th selection in the first round. The list includes multiple running backs (Omarion Hampton, Ashton Jeanty, TreVeyon Henderson), three receivers (Tetairoa McMillan, Luther Bolden III, Emeka Egbuka), two tight ends (Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland), a pair of safeties (Malaki Starks, Nick Emmanwori) and a defensive tackle (Derrrick Harmon).

Spaghetti, meet wall.

Seeing the variance reminded me of a Raiders fan calling into a national radio show a few years ago pleading for former NFL Network analyst and one-time Las Vegas general manager Mike Mayock “to go back to mocking us with your mock drafts instead of mocking us with your real ones.”

Mocks provide content. They draw eyeballs because it blends the interest of college and NFL fans. But the overabundance of mocks is too much. What was once a fun exercise has reached its saturation point.

The discussion becomes either an echo chamber or stabs in the dark because NFL teams would rather reveal classified air strikes than what is going on in their war rooms. It is called the lying season for a reason.

Henceforth, going forward, there are two rules: Limit two mocks per analyst/scout/reporter and none with first rounds having the Broncos taking a receiver because they need Hampton.

Pickett Fence: Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett might be too slow on the fastbreak and too hesitant to shoot, but it’s clear he should shave into Russell Westbrook’s minutes in the postseason. Pickett takes care of the ball. Westbrook takes care of himself, eager to create chaos over continuity. Pickett, who can slow the game down and give multiple players a rest, cannot be forgotten in the playoff rotation.

Torpedo Rockies: The Rockies reacted to the torpedo bat trend by ordering some for almost every player. They figure to arrive in a couple of weeks. After talking to several hitters, they remain a combination of intrigued to committed. “I was curious more than anything. And once it was clear it was within the rules, I will try it,” third baseman Ryan McMahon said. Interestingly, some analytical departments are mailing hitters’ data to the bat companies with each order. This allows them to customize the barrel based on swing path, similar to fitting a golfer for clubs.

Hit back: Hard to take issue with the Avs given their record over the last three weeks. But time to complain about Cindy Crawford’s mole. When a Calgary Flames player took a cheap shot at Cale Makar, there was no retaliation. The Avs can skate and score with anyone. More toughness will be required in the postseason.