The Denver Broncos had a big hole at defensive tackle heading into the 2011 NFL Draft.
Now that the draft has come and gone, the Broncos still have a big hole at defensive tackle, not drafting any players at that position with their nine draft picks.
However, the Broncos had many other holes as well and seemed to fill many of them, drafting three linebackers, two safeties, two tight ends and an offensive lineman and got them by sticking to their draft board.
“With the process that we had with the board, we really stuck to our grades and the best player available up on the board,” General Manager Brian Xanders said. “We were not going to reach down below just because of the position that we had (a need). When we took linebackers, they were the best players for our system and for our team, instead of reaching.”
The Broncos used their first-round pick, No. 2 overall in linebacker Von Miller and passed on Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who went to Buffalo with the third pick.
Dareus would have filled a big void at defensive tackle, but the team decided on Miller, the top pass rusher in the draft who will likely start immediately at the strong-side or “Sam” linebacker position and possesses the speed needed at the linebacker spot in a 4-3 defense.
“I really think that we looked at Von and the difference to me was that he is one of those guys that comes along once in 10 years and a guy that has a chance to be dynamic on the football field,” Vice President of Football Operations John Elway said. “He is a guy, as I have said so many times, when you turn on the film you do not need to know what number he is. You can just tell because he is moving that fast on the football field and is a kid that we just feel like the upside is there.”
There was talk amongst the Broncos front office of moving back into the first round once Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley started to slip down the board, but they ultimately decided the likely price of both of their second-round picks and their third-round pick was just a little too steep and Fairley ended up with Detroit at No. 13.
“It was talked about,” Elway said. “We talked about if we had a chance with all those guys sliding and the quarterbacks going early with another dynamic defensive lineman. If they kept sliding we were talking about doing something to get up and get one of those top defensive tackles. We looked at it, and where they went we decided we were better off with our picks.”
With those two second-round picks and third-round pick, the Broncos likely got at least two more starters, possibly three in safety Rahim Moore, right tackle Orlando Franklin and middle linebacker Nate Irving.
In the second round the Broncos had the opportunity to draft defensive tackles Marvin Austin and Stephen Paea, who both went later in the second round, but Xanders said Austin had some attitude concerns while Paea was slightly undersized for a defensive tackle.
The Broncos will likely add a defensive tackle or two during free agency and could bring back possible restricted free agents Marcus Thomas and Ryan McBean to pair with Kevin Vickerson, a likely starter.
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