After a disappointing conclusion to the 2014 season that resulted in an early playoff exit, the Denver Broncos have seen much upheaval during the offseason. Gary Kubiak replaced John Fox as head coach, some key players departed in free agency, and Peyton Manning ultimately decided to return for a fourth season in Denver after some contemplation. Still, the Broncos find themselves in prime position to contend in the AFC in 2015, but in order to do so John Elway will need to have a solid draft to shore up the defense. Let’s take a look at three key needs the Broncos currently have heading into draft weekend.
Denver Broncos 2015 NFL Draft: Top 3 Needs
Offensive Line
It’s no secret that the offensive line is the Broncos number one priority heading into the draft, and it would be a surprise if the club’s 28th overall selection isn’t spent on a lineman. The departure of starting guard Orlando Franklin in free agency hurt the club, but more importantly than that, the Broncos need to solidify the right tackle position.
The Broncos have hosted more offensive linemen than any other position, including Louisville’s Jamon Brown, Virginia Tech’s Laurence Gibson, Stanford’s Andrus Peat, and Florida’s D.J. Humphries, but a player that might best fit the team isn’t even on that list: Florida State’s Cameron Erving. Erving could be available at pick 28, and he would be an instantly valuable player to this franchise considering his ability to play multiple positions along the line. There’s no way of knowing where the franchise will address the position in the draft, but one of these men could be a Bronco soon enough.
Inside Linebacker
With new head coach Gary Kubiak comes a transition to new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme. In reality, this philosophical shift could be beneficial to elite pass rushers Von Miller and Demarcus Ware, who will man the team’s starting outside linebacker positions, but the change also greatly increases the team’s need for solid inside linebacker play. Currently, Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall are penciled in as the team’s starting inside linebackers, but both come with question marks and serious injury concerns. Trevathan sustained multiple injuries during the 2014 season, and recent reports indicate that Marshall is coming off a Lisfranc injury and his status for training camp is up in the air. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Broncos spend a day two selection on an inside linebacker at all. Florida’s Neiron Ball is the only linebacker the club had in for a visit, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Elway scoop up a player nobody knew he was targeting.
Defensive Tackle
A 3-4 defense absolutely requires solid nose tackle play. With Terrance Knighton’s free agency departure and the club still awaiting a breakout season from third-year man Sylvester Williams, Elway is likely to invest a pick in the position with one of his ten draft picks. The club recently visited Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who is a high upside player that projects favorably to a 3-4 alignment and possesses the prototypical size and speed required for the position. Phillips is likely to be selected in the first or second round, but it is not likely that he makes it to the Broncos second selection. If the club doesn’t draft an offensive lineman in round one, Phillips could be the pick.
The Broncos offense is likely to be more balanced in 2015 than in recent years, but it is still likely to be high-octane and exciting. Clearly, the Broncos main issues lie on the defensive side of the football. With some more of the shrewd drafting that Elway has demonstrated in the past, the Broncos can find themselves as Super Bowl contenders in 2015.
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