2011 Denver Broncos NFL Draft Needs

The Denver Broncos are on the clock with the No. 2 overall pick. Let’s take a look at their biggest needs and how they might address those needs on draft day.

1. Defensive Tackle: The Broncos are really looking to bolster their line as they transition to a four-man front under new head coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. While it would be nice to land a defensive end to pair with Elvis Dumervil, the interior is a bigger concern. The Broncos ranked 31st in the league against the run in 2010, allowing 154.6 yards per game. They could go with Marcell Dareus or Nick Fairley here depending on which player is still on the board. If Carolina chooses to take a quarterback with the first pick, the Broncos will have the tough decision of choosing between these two talented tackles. Dareus plays the run better, but Fairley is the better pass rusher. That could make him the pick considering Denver finished with a league-low 23 sacks last year. If Denver decides to wait until round two to address this need, they may be able to land a guy like USC’s Jurrell Casey.

2. Linebacker: Considering the Broncos ranked dead last in the league in total defense (390.8 yards per game allowed) and scoring defense (29.4 points per game allowed), I have little doubt they’ll be looking to address the defensive side of the football with their first selection. There is a need at linebacker and outside linebacker Von Miller is rated higher than Fairley on the big board by some experts. Denver may not be able to resist Miller’s track record as an elite pass rusher considering how much it struggled to put heat on opposing quarterbacks in 2010. We’re talking about a player who recorded a total of 27.5 sacks and 39.5 tackles for loss in his final two seasons at Texas A&M.

3. Cornerback: Champ Bailey is a free agent once players hit the open market and he isn’t getting any younger. Teams like the New York Jets know what kind of an impact having a lock-down corner can make. With this in mind, it may be time to pounce on LSU’s Patrick Peterson. Many experts consider him the best overall player in the class. The kid has 4.3 40-yard speed and he’s a physical specimen at 6-foot, 219 pounds. He is also a proven playmaker in the return game, which increases his value. Denver is a very mediocre return team.

4. Tight End: While I expect this to be a defensive-heavy draft for Denver, the Broncos do have a need at tight end. They’ll look to address this need in the later rounds, which makes sense since this isn’t a particularly deep tight end class. Wisconsin’s Lance Kendricks and Notre Dame’s Kyle Rudolph are this year’s top tight ends, but the Broncos will likely miss out on them if they stick with a defensive player in the second round. Nevada’s Virgil Green, Tennessee’s Luke Stocker and Tulsa’s Charles Clay may be in the cards.

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