Broncos get Shane Ray at No. 23 despite drug-program status

— -- The Denver Broncos chose Missouri Tigers defensive end-linebacker  Shane Ray, already reportedly enrolled in the NFL's substance-abuse program, after acquiring the No. 23 pick from the Detroit Lions on Thursday night in the first round of the NFL draft in Chicago.

Ray was cited earlier this week for marijuana and a traffic violation. Pot is legal in Colorado but a banned substance in the NFL.

The Lions received the No. 28 pick -- they chose Duke offensive guard  Laken Tomlinson -- a fifth-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft (No. 143), a fifth-round pick in 2016 and center Manny Ramirez.

Ray was automatically enrolled in the behavioral portion of Phase 1 of the league's substance-abuse program, sources have told ESPN's Mark Dominik.

The status, which is determined by doctors independent of the NFL or the NFL Players Association, means Ray will not face any league discipline but is subject to random drug testing.

The portion of the program he is enrolled in is designed to modify his behavior as it relates to substance abuse. That is a result of Ray's being charged not for using marijuana but for possession of the substance.

Ray, who had been projected as a top-10 pick despite a turf-toe injury, was charged after a traffic stop early Monday near Columbia, Missouri.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Ray was SEC defensive player of the year and second-team All-American after leading the conference in sacks with 14.