Broncos Need More on Defense Than Offense?
The offensive line has been the main focus of 2015 NFL Mock drafts for the Denver Broncos, especially the closer we get to the draft itself and further away from free agency.
The question is whether or not that’s the right line of thinking at this point. The offensive line isn’t the only area the Broncos need to upgrade, but it’s certainly one where they need to figure out immediate replacements for players that have left or that need to be upgraded.
We’ve looked at both the offensive and defensive line in-depth, but one position that’s getting neglected is the rush linebacker position. That could also be a spot the Broncos emphasize early in the draft, possibly as early as the first round.
I was reading an article on CBSSports.com, and they suggested the Broncos’ top three needs were as follows:
1. Nose Tackle
2. Edge Rusher
3. Right Tackle
I was scratching my head reading it, because I feel like the Broncos top ‘needs’ are at left guard, center, and possibly right tackle after that depending how the team feels about Michael Schofield as a starter. To read nose tackle as the top need with Sylvester Williams and Marvin Austin already in line wasn’t a complete shock, but it was a little bit confusing.
Digging a little bit deeper, I think the most important thing we can glean from that post and those opinions is that the Broncos have a significant need at the edge rusher spot, not just for this season (behind Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware) but for the future, which hopefully involves Miller.
Here’s what they had to say from an outside perspective on the Broncos’ situation at OLB:
“DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller are set as the starters, but Miller is in his contract year after the Broncos picked up his fifth-year option and Ware is in his 11th season. Backup Quanterus Smith is coming off another knee injury and Lerentee McCray wasn’t explosive as Miller’s backup last year. The Broncos could use a young pass-rush specialist and could target one in the draft’s first two days.”
Those are all valid points. As much as we all loved Lerentee McCray in the pre-season two years ago, he didn’t offer much of anything as a pass rusher last year. Neither has Quanterus Smith, who has ended each of the last two years on injured reserve and three if you count college.
I really, really like Shaq Barrett coming up as an edge rusher, but we have yet to see him in uniform for the Broncos in the regular season. The team also has Kenny Anunike coming off of injury, and Chase Vaughn as a reserve/future player along with Gerald Rivers.
There are plenty of names and players that have been with the team, but the Broncos won’t shy away from a big time talent if he falls to pick number 28.
At the end of the day, this at least makes you think. The Broncos might honestly be satisfied with the way their starting OL looks to the point that they don’t feel backed into the corner of taking one in the first round with 100 percent certainty.