The Josh McDaniels era mercifully came to an end in Denver but the damage left to the organization in his wake will likely take years to recover from. Hall of Famer John Elway is now in charge and the top priority will be fixing the leagues worst defense. The 2011 NFL Draft represented the first step in that arduous process and the Broncos seemed to be perfectly positioned to add upgrades at all three levels. Did they take advantage?

   Even though the Broncos did their due diligence on all of this year’s top quarterbacks, there was really never any doubt that they would use the #2 overall pick on a defender. The only question was which one. Ultimately the finalists were Texas A&M OLB Von Miller and Alabama DT Marcell Dareus. The decision came down to the wire and they really couldn’t go wrong either way, but in the end the Broncos opted for Miller. An impact pass rusher with an amazing first step and an outstanding burst, Miller has drawn favorable comparisons to the late Derrick Thomas for his ability to terrorize opponents off the edge. At one point there was some question about how Miller would fit in a 4-3 scheme, which the Broncos now run, but those concerns were alleviated after he excelled in an even front at the Senior Bowl. The addition of Miller is a homerun for Denver and provides them with the impact presence in their front seven that they’ve been lacking.

   Denver wound up with five selections in rounds two, three and four and they used a couple of them to overhaul the safety position. After trading down a bit the Broncos spent their second selection in this draft on UCLA’s Rahim Moore. An athletic centerfielder who is built like a cornerback, Moore is a classic ballhawk and will give Denver’s secondary a playmaking dimension that has been missing in recent years. Later, in round four, the Broncos landed a perfect compliment to Moore in Quinton Carter of Oklahoma. A prototypical in-the-box type, Carter is limited in coverage but is very physical, does an excellent job against the run and also possesses top-notch intangibles as well as some leadership ability. It’s just a matter of time until Moore takes over as the starting free safety and don’t be surprised if Carter makes a run at the strong safety job relatively early in his pro career either. In round three the Broncos added another defender who will most likely be inserted into the starting lineup sooner rather than later in North Carolina St. LB Nate Irving. After battling back from serious injuries suffered in an automobile accident, Irving quickly reestablished himself as one of the nation’s top linebackers. Irving is capable of playing either inside or outside but Denver plans to play the instinctive former Wolfpack star in the middle, where he should have no trouble beating out Joe Mays.

   With their other second round pick, which was acquired from Miami in the Brandon Marshall trade, the Broncos pulled off a minor surprise when they opted for Miami (FL) OT Orlando Franklin. With both Marvin Austin of North Carolina and Stephen Paea of Oregon St. still on the board, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Denver would jump at the chance to upgrade the defensive tackle position. Instead the Broncos chose to beef up their o-line. Franklin is a huge blocker with good athleticism and a real nasty streak who is capable of playing either tackle or guard. With Ryan Harris set to hit free agency, Franklin will likely step in as the starter at right tackle immediately. For the most part the Broncos were set on offense but tight end was the one glaring exception. To say the cupboard was bare would’ve been a major understatement but Denver did a fantastic job of plugging that hole with Julius Thomas of Portland St. in round four and Virgil Green of Nevada in round seven. Thomas was actually a college basketball star who only played one season of football. However, in that lone year on the gridiron Thomas showcased a very intriguing skillset and also stood out at the East / West Shrine Game. Thomas is a project and will require considerable development but his immense upside is undeniable. Later the Broncos went back to the well with Green, who probably would have been selected in the third round if not for an old knee injury that teams were worried about. An explosive pass catching threat with great speed and athleticism, Green could turn out to be one of the steals of this year’s draft. In Thomas and Green the Broncos landed two extremely talented players and if either maximizes their potential they would be the most dynamic threat the Broncos have had at the position since Shannon Sharpe.

   In round six the Broncos brought in yet another linebacker and this time it was Mike Mohamed of Cal. A versatile ‘backer who can play either inside or outside, Mohamed will provide some much-needed depth and his greatest contributions could come on special teams. With their final pick Denver took a flyer on Oklahoma’s Jeremy Beal, who saw his stock take as big of a hit in the months leading up to the draft as anyone. On tape Beal arguably graded out as an early to mid-round value but a shaky showing at the Senior Bowl coupled with a horrendous forty time (5.16) at the Scouting Combine led to a Draft Day freefall. A classic ‘tweener, Beal was a very productive college player but may not have the size to play defensive end or the speed to play linebacker at the next level. Beal will be utilized at defensive end in Denver, where he will battle for a roster spot as a backup.

   With so many needs and so many premium choices, it would have been nearly impossible for the Broncos to not do well in this draft. If there is one criticism it would be that Denver didn’t address the defensive tackle position despite a number of excellent opportunities to do so. Then again, the Broncos defense is in such a state of disarray that it’s going to take more than one offseason to fill all the holes. The bottom line is the Broncos will likely come away with five or six starters in this class, which is pretty impressive even for a franchise that is rebuilding. There is still plenty of work to be done in Denver but if the 2011 NFL Draft is any indication it appears as though the Broncos are finally back on the right track.