2011 NFL Draft Grades: Denver Broncos Draft Grades From Around The Web

The Broncos finally handled the NFL Draft the way I think it should be handled - with patience and trust. By trust, I mean trusting of the Draft Board the personnel staff spent the past 4+ months putting together. When the decision was made to go with Von Miller over Marcell Dareus, the Broncos made the decision to not over-value the defensive tackle position. We'll find out in time whether or not that was a mistake, but for now we have to trust the fact the Broncos didn't overreact and they didn't mortgage the future. Denver made a couple of deals, but didn't waste any future draft pick. They started the Draft with 7 picks, but finished the weekend with 9 new players.

After strategy, I thought the Broncos did a solid job building depth - and getting value - for the picks they made. Miller is the premier edge-rusher in the draft and you simply cannot have too many guys that can get to the quarterback. The Broncos added the top-2 safety prospects in the draft, adding depth and competition to a position with aging veterans and uncertain backups.

Orlando Franklin provides the Broncos some flexibility with a guy that can play inside or out. He also plays with the kind of nasty streak you want to see in the trenches. Nate Irving is a wildcard, but like Franklin he plays with a nasty streak and was likely a Late 1st/Early 2nd round prospect before the injury.

Even the final pick - Jeremy Beal - had a tremendous college career. Most thought he would get picked in the 4th or 5th round, so to get that kind of production in the 7th round is a big win. He'll also come in with a chip on his shoulder - never a bad thing.

The truth is we don't know now - and won't for 2-3 years - what kind of Draft this was. I am comforted, however, by the way John Elway, Brian Xanders and John Fox handled the draft. It focused on defense, it focused on value and it stayed true to the draft board the Broncos established. Right now, that is all we can ask for.

A lack of a DT is a concern, but a 4-12 team has so many holes that filling them all is not exactly a reasonable expectation. After looking at our current roster with the new draftees included, there is little doubt that this team had a dearth of talent at the Linebacker and Tight End positions. They also added youth to an aging defensive backfield. It's hard not to grade this draft out as an A, though I have little doubt that 12 months from now the chorus for a DT in the 2012 NFL Draft will be deafening all across Broncoland. We'll just call the 2011 NFL Draft a good first step. Go Broncos!

I can get behind this draft and the logic used on nearly every pick. It looks like they will be model citizens, so the off-field drama of the last few seasons should dissipate. I also believe the Broncos brought in some intelligent leaders. My only real question mark is Orlando Franklin. We all understand that the club has decided not to offer Ryan Harris a large contract (they may try to keep him at a less than ideal number), but as a 3rd-rounder, is Franklin an upgrade. I look forward to watching this group in Training Camp.

First a note on draft strategy. I like what Denver was able to do in terms of picks and sliding around the board, and I think that after three years of that, we can say that is probably one of Xander's warroom strengths. On to the picks.

As the Draft approached it was becoming clearer and clearer to me that Denver would only be able to address starting SAM or starting DT, but not both, the fall off in grades was too severe after round one. And while I am a firm believer that it all starts in the trenches, Von will likely be a very solid pick going forward, as his greatest strength is an ability that is often equated with the trenches: backfield pressure. Denver addressed a lot of needs with Von, acquired a smart player and a terrific lockerroom addition. It is my pleasure to root for the young man in Orange and Blue.

Second round strategy left something to be desired. By trading down I believe Denver passed on starter caliber players at need positions on both offense and defense. Acquiring Rahim was a solid move, and he will be able to challenge Hill for a starting FS position. I don't expect that he will supplant Dawkins, but it is a possibility. Franklin is a rising talent who will probably need a year before he is a clear cut starter in the league, as functional strength needs to be added to his arsenal to man the right side. Assuming the Ryan Harris situation doesn't work out, I expect he will get thrown to the wolves, and we will have to suffer through rookie growing pains. He isn't quite ready for the starting RT job, but it shouldn't take more than a year before he is, and he can backup RT, LT and LG, so I expect that he will be around for quite a while.

Both TE prospects are project picks, with Green being more polished, and will probably act more as a versatile H-back option. I expect it will take at least two years for him to develop into a consistent producer. Thomas may take even longer than that, or he may wow the pants off us in the early going, but he is definitely a project, and patience is to be expected.

The Irving selection is an odd one, even though I like him as a prospect. He isn't the kind of ILB that can stay clean, so it is doubtful he will be much impact int eh running game, however he has the instincts and abilities to be a good source of interior blitz pressure, which we need. If we can get to third down, he may prove useful for nickle packages, but he can get shut down on the blitz if someone makes contact.

I like all of the prospects individually, including our late guys like Jeremy Beal, but the whole package leaves me wondering if we couldn't have accomplished more this year. Bottom line, I think the team that starts the season won't be much different personnell wise than the team that limped to a 4-12 finish under McD.

Best pick: Second-round pick Rahim Moore is a safety with range. That's the kind you need in this modern NFL filled with passing.

Questionable move: Passing on Marcell Dareus to take Von Miller is questionable with their big hole inside on their defense.

Third-day gem: Fourth-round pick Julius Thomas is a tight end who is a former basketball player. That means he has the athletic ability to get down the field.

Analysis: John Elway's first draft was solid. He made moves to fix a defense that needed it badly. If first-round pick Von Miller is an explosive pass rusher, this will be a nice draft.