It’s that time of year again, and with the second overall pick, the Broncos are in some uncharted territory. The key to this draft for the Broncos is simple: defense, defense, and defense. The Broncos D was so lacking last year, they were obligated to change the name of the city to Enver (sorry, bad joke, but I couldn’t resist). And with a scheme change to the 4-3 under new coach John Fox, there are quite a few holes on the defensive side of the ball, with the D-line being the main area of concern.
I don’t really see many offensive needs on this team. The interior of offensive line had it’s ups and downs last year, but that was more due to inexperience than lack of talent, and we should expect improved play in that area this season. The whole debate on whether the Broncos should take a quarterback has an easy solution. The Broncos should absolutely not use a valuable pick on a QB. Already under contract is Kyle Orton, who his entire career has put his teams in position to win and has been solid at the position. Orton could start on many teams. He’s the classic game manager QB, he won’t win the game by himself, but he will do enough to keep the Broncos in the game, not to mention he helped me win a fantasy football championship two years ago, so he’ll always have a soft spot in my heart. And then there’s Tim Tebow, one of the Broncos first round picks from last year. I understand that Tebow was McDaniels guy, he has questionable mechanics and not many are high on him, but you can’t argue with the results on the field. He was impressive in his three starts at the end of last season, and single handedly beat Houston. Did he have his problems? Of course, he was a rookie and that’s to be expected, but there were so many positives from those games I don’t see how you can’t give the guy a chance. And did I mention that he was a first round pick? You can’t give up on that high of a pick this quickly. Give him a chance, and if he doesn’t produce, then Andrew Luck will be there for you next year.
The spotlight of this years draft for the Broncos will undoubtedly be the second overall selection. The are a couple of names floating around mock drafts and ESPN, and with this high of a pick Denver is nearly assured of getting a future star. Here’s a couple of the guys at the top of the radar for the Broncos.
Von Miller, 6’ 2”/240, OLB, Texas A&M
This is widely believed to be who the Broncos are taking with that second pick. Miller is a beast when it comes to rushing the passer. He possesses incredible speed in general, let alone for the position he plays. The game seems to come naturally to Miller, who has great football instincts. He’s got the potential to become a team leader and has the work ethic of one. However, he is not the right pick for the Broncos. Not saying that he won’t be a good player, but he’s a guy for a 3-4 scheme, not the 4-3 that the Broncos are transitioning to. He’s relatively small for his position, but in a 3-4 he’s perfect, much like Elvis Dumervil was two seasons ago. If the Broncos drafted him, they would likely look to convert him to a D-End, meaning he’s be learning a new position and limit his impact on the team. Should a team who runs the 3-4 draft him, they have a superstar, but if the Broncos take him, with their defense, he’s destined to only be a good player.
Marcell Dareus, 6’ 3”/319, DT, Alabama
Now this is who the Broncos need to take. He’s big, strong and quick, perfect for a 4-3 D-Tackle. He’s got a great first step and moves very well laterally and would be a huge help on this defensive front. With his size, he commands more attention from the other teams O-line and frees up space for other players to get to the QB, and area the Broncos were dismal in last year. There aren’t too many questions about Dareus’ ability to perform at the NFL level. The only question mark would be if he can hold up being a feature player and be out on the field the majority of the time. This guy can be a superstar, and the Broncos would be wise to take him. Dareus is a potential franchise cornerstone and could anchor a Broncos defense for years to come.
Patrick Peterson, 6’/219, CB, LSU
Peterson is on the Broncos radar simple because he may be the best player in the draft. Corner isn’t a need for the Broncos, so this is really a long shot to happen. He’s a shutdown corner who’s big and physical. He has elite speed and great ball skills that also allow him to excel in the return game, which makes him a very attractive pick. He was able to excel in the tough SEC, and that should help prepare him for the pros. He’s a really smart player, but sometimes he will look to make a play and it’ll backfire on him and he gets burned. He’s not a particularly strong zone defender either. However, this guy has elite corner written all over him. The Broncos will probably pass, but he will definitely be on their draft board.
Nick Fairley, 6’ 3”/297, DT, Auburn
Another potential pick at D-Tackle for the Broncos, Fairley dominated at Auburn last year. He’s big and quick and has long arms to fight off the blockers. He’s an angry dude who knows how to make plays in the backfield. He is going to attack the ball carrier and look to hurt them. There are a lot of questions with Fairley, though, and has fallen in many mock drafts. Scouts question his work ethic and he’s been accused of taking plays off. And despite his stellar year, it’s really the only body of work he has to base his performance off. He had the one productive year at Auburn and many teams worry that he’s a “one hit wonder”. This would be a real stretch if the Broncos took Fairley at number two with the more highly regarded Dareus, but if the Broncos look to move back and Fairley is on the board and Dareus is gone, he is a very possible option.
Four options, one pick. The Broncos have to predict which of these players will be the best fit for their team and hope that they pick right, because you don’t want to blow the second overall pick. This’ll be John Elway’s first draft as Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations, and we’ll get to see where his head is at and what he has in store for this team. This pick can provide a foundation for years to come in Denver, and I for one hope to not see the Broncos pick this high for a very long time.
Follow me on Twitter, @MHMagicBlog
Follow me on Twitter, @MHMagicBlog
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