2012 NFL Mock Drafts Could Face Significant Changes If Rams Trade No. 2 Pick

The St. Louis Rams hold the No. 2 overall selection in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. While the team doesn't want to draft another quarterback -- they have Sam Bradford, the 2010 No. 1 overall pick -- the choice will almost certainly be traded, likely for a king's ransom. That's why many mock drafts are already projecting trades for the pick. Sports Illustrated's Peter King reports that the team has already had preliminary conversations about trading the choice.

King writes:

St. Louis is ready to deal its pick, and one NFL source said on Saturday night that the team has already had several feelers—including one from a team "you would never expect."

He doesn't go on to speculate which team that may be, but he does offer the Cleveland Browns, the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins as the most likely teams that do want to trade up. Potentially, the Rams may want to get at least three first-round picks in compensation for the pick.

Maybe it's wishful thinking or just wild, rampant speculation, but could the Broncos be that mysterious team that explored the possibility. It's unlikely given the team's (quasi-)commitment to Tim Tebow and the lack of extra draft picks with which to make a move up to draft Robert Griffin III. Still, it's about as wild as the team pursuing Peyton Manning should the Indianapolis Colts release him.

But if anyone does want Griffin on the Broncos, fire up Madden 12, import an NCAA draft class into franchise mode and get him that way. Or wait until Madden 13 comes out and trade for him in that version come July.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Could Broncos Target A QB Like Brock Osweiler Or Kirk Cousins?

Denver Broncos hold the No. 25 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and with all the questions still surrounding incumbent starter Tim Tebow, there is a decent chance the organization could take a quarterback prospect when the draft rolls around in April. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will be long gone by the time the Broncos draft, and they have so many other needs that trading up is essentially out of the picture, but there are other intriguing quarterback prospects that may be around later in the first round or even in the second.

SB Nation's NFL Draft blog, Mocking The Draft, ranked the quarterback prospects prior to the draft, and Michigan State Spartans QB Kirk Cousins (No. 7), Boise State Broncos QB Kellen Moore (No. 14), Arizona Wildcats QB Nick Foles (No. 6) and Oklahoma State Cowboys QB Brandon Weeden (No. 4) are all legitimate possibilities to end up in Denver. Cousins is a particularly interesting fit. Jon Dove of Mocking The Draft broke down his game, and here is a snippet of that analysis:

There is a lot to like about Cousins from his good arm strength to his on field leadership. The ball jumps out of his hand and arrives to his target with zip. There is no doubt that he can make all the necessary NFL throws. His ball placement and accuracy is good on all levels. He can read a defense and is able to locate secondary targets. Cousins has good anticipation which allows him to avoid turnovers and batted balls.

Bold statement: Kirk Cousins will be a 2nd round pick in 2012

Bill Williamson of ESPN had a few interesting nuggets to add in his position preview, saying that if 29-year-old Brandon Weeden falls to Denver spot in the second round "he will be a favorite to be taken there." He also mentioned that he wouldn't be surprised if the Broncos took Brock Osweiler, and added that Todd McShay thinks the Broncos "could take a shot" on Kirk Cousins in the second round.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Don't Expect Broncos To Move Out Of No. 25 Pick; DT Likely Selection

In 2011, the Denver Broncos couldn't really move up in the NFL Draft since they held the No. 2 overall pick. There was chatter that the team might move down to pick up extra selections, but that never was much of a choice. The team did think about moving back up in the draft to select Nick Fairley, but the cost was prohibitive. And it's more than likely the Broncos will stand pat with the No. 25 draft pick this year, writes the Denver Post's Mike Klis.

Related: Final 2012 NFL Draft Order

The team only has draft picks through the first five rounds -- and no extra ones in any of those rounds. It would be unwise for the Broncos to trade away an already small draft class for an even smaller one. So, that leaves the Broncos with the No. 25 overall, pick likely a defensive tackle, as has been speculated for months now. However, Klis believes the team would like either cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick or running back Trent Richardson, former teammates at Alabama, to fall out of the top 10 and into their range.

Conceivably, if either player starts falling on draft day, the Broncos might want to gamble and make a trade to select the one that falls. Sometimes a bold move must be made. If not, a defensive tackle would still be a great pick up, solidifying a line that needs youth and talent.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Combine Underway, Devon Still Projected For Broncos

The 2012 NFL Combine is underway and many of the tests have not yet taken place for the prospects in Indianapolis, but that doesn't stop the mock drafts from making the rounds on the Internet. The latest SB Nation 2012 NFL mock draft has the Denver Broncos taking Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still with the No. 25 overall selection.

Related: Final 2012 NFL Draft Order

Jason Garrison writes:

Still isn't as big of a defensive tackle as Poe is, but he'll fit in nicely in Denver's 4-3 scheme. Still has the quickness to get into the backfield and pressure the quarterback from inside and to get some tackles for loss in the run game. With Still, Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller going after the quarterback, offensive lines will be overwhelmed.

The team has acknowledged that defensive tackle is a priority for the team. However, the Broncos do want to bring back Brodrick Bunkley, a free agent, and Ty Warren returns from a triceps injury. That could allow the Broncos to address defensive tackle in a later round, but it might be more prudent to pick up a defensive tackle in the first round to have a young player to build around. Warren is an injury risk and Bunkley isn't getting any younger (neither is Warren).

We'll see how the Combine changes these projections early next week.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Order Set With Dolphins, Chiefs Winning Coin Flips

The 2012 NFL Draft order has officially been set for April 26-28 after coin flips at the NFL Combine determined the four slots that needed to be settled. The Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers each finished with a 6-10 record and the same strength-of-schedule, which results in a deadlock. The coin flip went in favor of the Dolphins winning the No. 8 overall pick while the Panthers will now pick at No. 9.

The other selections involved the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs, teams that finished at 7-9 with identical strengths-of-schedule. The Chiefs will pick at No. 11 followed by the Seahawks at No. 12.

With that, the Indianapolis Colts really are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick. Should they want to, the Colts could sign Andrew Luck to a contract before the draft, making the announcement on April 26 a mere formality.

Here is the official 2012 NFL Draft Order (barring trades):

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. St. Louis Rams
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Cleveland Browns
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. Washington Redskins
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
8. Miami Dolphins
9. Carolina Panthers
10. Buffalo Bills
11. Kansas City Chiefs
12. Seattle Seahawks
13. Arizona Cardinals
14. Dallas Cowboys
15. Philadelphia Eagles
16. New York Jets
17. Cincinnati Bengals (via Oakland Raiders)
18. San Diego Chargers
19. Chicago Bears
20. Tennessee Titans
21. Cincinnati Bengals
22. Cleveland Browns (via Atlanta Falcons)
23. Detroit Lions
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Denver Broncos
26. Houston Texans
27. New England Patriots (via New Orleans Saints)
28. Green Bay Packers
29. Baltimore Ravens
30. San Francisco 49ers
31. New England Patriots
32. New York Giants

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Don Banks Selects Jerel Worthy For Broncos With No. 25 Pick

In mock drafts over the past few weeks, Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy has been a popular option for the Denver Broncos' No. 25 overall pick. Like many others, Sports Illustrated's Don Banks also has the Broncos taking Worthy with the No. 25 pick in his latest mock draft.

Banks notes that Denver should have a variety of options among defensive lineman when their turn comes up, but Worthy is a highly intriguing prospect:

The Broncos should have their choice of several interior defensive linemen who represent immediate upgrades: Worthy, Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox, or Washington's Alameda Ta'amu. Worthy, a playmaking junior who is rapidly gaining fans in the NFL, is, well, worthy at No. 25.

Generally speaking, Worthy is considered a bit of a gamble, but one that could end up paying huge dividends given his star potential.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation Projects DT Jerel Worthy For Broncos

The NFL Combine is just a day away from starting, which means mock drafts will start to take into account what happens there. In his pre-Combine NFL mock draft, SB Nation's Ryan Van Bibber continues to project Michigan St. Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy to the Denver Broncos.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Van Bibber writes:

Denver needs some speed to help Tim Tebow, but speed can be found later in the draft. Beefing up the defense will pay dividends for the Broncos. Worthy strengthens their defensive line and gives them a player capable of creating pressure up front.

While it is all well and good to keep projecting the defensive tackle to the Broncos -- the position is the top area of concern for the defense -- the team might not have a defensive tackle as the No. 1 player on its board by the time the No. 25 pick is on the clock.

As we saw in 2011, defensive tackle was also the No. 1 area of need for the Broncos, many football talking heads proclaimed, but the team went with a linebacker at No. 2 overall. John Elway and John Fox stick to their board and we shouldn't doubt that in 2012. If a defensive tackle is No. 1 on the board come the 25th pick that player will certainly be a Broncos draft choice.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Dont'a Hightower Projected For Broncos In Latest Draft Tek Mock

In Draft Tek's latest 2012 NFL mock draft, the Denver Broncos select Alabama middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower with the 25th overall pick of the first round. This would not be an unexpected development since Joe Mays is an unrestricted free agent and unlikely to be brought back; however, that doesn't necessarily mean the Broncos will look to draft a linebacker in the first round for a second year in a row.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

As Draft Tek points out, the Broncos do have Nate Irving, last year's third round pick, to take over as the starting middle linebacker. Yet, there are conflicting reports over whether he is ready to assume that role. However, if Hightower is "elite," as Draft Tek calls him, he might be too good for the Broncos to pass up, even if the idea is that Irving should become a starter.

As John Elway has contended since he joined the team as an executive, competition is good for everyone. Possibly selecting Hightower and having him compete with Irving would provide two linebackers who would want nothing more than to fight each other for the spot on the field.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie Casserly Predicts DT Jerel Worthy For Broncos

In Charlie Casserly's latest 2012 NFL mock draft for NFL.com, the Denver Broncos select Michigan St. Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, which should come as no surprise. Worthy is often the predicted to be the Broncos' first-round pick. As Casserly writes, the Broncos need to bulk up on the defensive line and a 310-pound tackle is one way to do that. Worthy would be able to rotate in and out with Ty Warren and Kevin Vickerson.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

But if the Broncos don't go with Worthy in this mock draft, who else could have been taken? Wide receiver Kendall Wright is the immediate selection after Worthy, and Tim Tebow certainly needs a solid No. 2 wide receiver. Demaryius Thomas is his main target, but Eric Decker is more of a No. 3 receiver.

Safety Mark Barron is also a possibility if the Broncos decide they need to pick up Brian Dawkins' in the draft. Fletcher Cox is also an alternative.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Mel Kiper Projects Broncos To Select Devon Still With No. 25 Pick

ESPN's Mel Kiper released the newest edition of his 2012 NFL Mock Draft on Wednesday, and he projects the Denver Broncos to select Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still with the No. 25 overall pick. The Broncos have numerous quality young pieces on that side of the ball, especially linebacker Von Miller, and Still could add to that group of talent.

Denver has the pass rush off the edge but could add some depth on the interior, and Still is a guy who can penetrate and get tackles for loss from the inside.

But Kiper also notes that this isn't an obvious pick, and the Broncos could go in numerous directions.

The Broncos could go a few ways here, which is actually a good thing as they pursue value, and I could certainly look for them to target a corner at this spot, but Still makes a lot of sense in that scheme. I have wide receiver down as a need, but they have a pretty good combo there right now, and given the struggles the offense could face, they need to be able to get stops.

Denver's current options at wide receiver are Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal, so they do have some talent to work with there.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Alameda Ta'amu Goes To Broncos In Latest National Football Post Projection

When it comes to selecting a player for the Denver Broncos in a 2012 NFL mock draft, a defensive tackle isn't much of a surprise. Most of the players that are selected, such as Jerel Worthy, Devon Still and Fletcher Cox, come as no surprise. However, Wes Bunting's latest mock over at the National Football Post has the Broncos winding up with Washington Huskies defensive tackle Alameda Ta'amu.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Bunting sees Ta'amu as a run-stuffer who doesn't offer much ability to get to the opposing quarterback. Yet, stuffing the run is exactly what the Broncos need from its defensive tackle:

Ta’amu isn’t going to create much of a pass rush, but he has the ability to win on run downs and get the Broncos defense into obvious pass rushing situations.

Ta'amu is 6 feet 3 and 341 pounds by most measurements and the Broncos do need to add some size at defensive tackle. This would be one way of accomplishing that.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: League Releases 2012 Pro Day Schedule

The college pro day schedule has a full crop of NFL hopefuls, including some Northern Colorado, Air Force and Colorado players.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Jerel Worthy Off Board To Broncos In SB Nation's Projection

If defenses win championships, as the old adage goes, the 2012 NFL Draft would be the place for the Denver Broncos improve its defense. The team has a great pass-rush with Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller, but there are other areas of concern. Cornerback and safety are needs, but defensive tackle might just be the more important one. That's why in SB Nation's latest 2012 NFL mock draft the Broncos take Michigan St. Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy with the No. 25 overall pick.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Ryan Van Bibber writes:

The Broncos can get much further with some fixes on defense than figuring out what the hell to do with Tim Tebow. Worthy gives John Fox a stouter defensive front, which could really help Von Miller thrive. Of course, Worthy himself is no slouch when it comes to the pass rush.

That does make sense, but the Broncos still need to help Tebow on offense, and drafting a running back could help the team as well. Van Bibber has had the Broncos select Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller in previous versions. This time, though. Van Bibber offers Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams as a possibility. He's obviously not feeling Orlando Franklin as a pass protector for Tebow. Rookie Orlando Franklin did a great job on run protection, but there was always a gamble on passing plays. Franklin could move to guard, a position he played in college.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: DT Jerel Worthy A Potential Denver Broncos Target

Many mock NFL drafts believe that the Denver Broncos will address their defensive line in the first round, and the NFL Network's Chad Reuter is no different; he projects that Denver will select Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy.

Head coach John Fox did not address the defensive tackle position in the draft last year, and though he may again go with veterans or later picks at the position in 2012, the value available to him at this point of the first round may be too much to pass up.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Worthy finished the 2011 college football season with 3.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Worthy had four sacks and eight tackles for loss in 2010.

Of course, Reuter has stayed with Worthy for at least a month now. Time for a change, no?

For mock draft updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper Sees Replacement For Brian Dawkins Not An Urgent Need

The Denver Broncos and safety Brian Dawkins are at a crossroads this offseason. The 38-year-old safety is a free agent who would like to play one more season with the Broncos, but he also is dealing with a serious neck injury, one that kept him out for the last game of the Broncos' 2011 season. As ESPN's Mel Kiper believes (Insider required), addressing Dawkins' spot in the secondary isn't of the utmost concern for the Broncos right now.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Kiper believes in Rahim Moore, who struggled mightily as a rookie in 2011. He also sees Champ Bailey transitioning to safety eventually. Kiper's right about this: safety doesn't need to be a concern in the first round this April. He identified cornerback, defensive tackle and wide receiver as bigger needs. We could also throw in running back into there. Willis McGahee was beaten up by injuries down the stretch, and Knowshon Moreno has been ineffective and might not return depending on what happens with his recent DUI arrest.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Fletcher Cox Still Landing With Broncos

There will be a number of quality defensive linemen available at the No. 25 overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft when the clock starts ticking for the Denver Broncos. We've seen them all in mock drafts for the last couple of months: Devon Still, Michael Brockers, Jerel Worthy and Fletcher Cox. The latter is the latest choice over at WalterFootball.com.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

A defensive tackle could be the main priority for the team in April depending on what happens in free agency. Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas are both free agents and will be in line to receive a larger contract than their one-year deals they were on in 2011. Kevin Vickerson should return from injury as well as Ty Warren, who didn't play a down for the Broncos.

If Bunkley or Thomas re-sign with the Broncos then it could move the need for a defensive tackle in the first round down. The team does also have concerns at cornerback and could look to running back or tight end to help provide more weapons on offense for Tim Tebow.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft: Stephon Gilmore Would Be Good Fit For Broncos

The Denver Broncos never had much talent behind Champ Bailey at cornerback during the 2011 season. Starter Andre Goodman was usually more miss than hit while Syd'Quan Thompson and Cassius Vaughn were lost due to injury. Jonathan Wilhite wasn't particularly outstanding, but undrafted rookie Chris Harris showed he can play nickelback (he lacks the size to be a starter, though). That's why over at Mile High Report, a review of the cornerbacks believes the Broncos could target a cornerback in the first round.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

The analysis sees the top nine cornerbacks divided into two tiers. The first five are those that could go in the first round. As it's pointed out, Morris Claiborne and Dre Kirkpatrick will almost certainly be off the board by No. 25. Janoris Jenkins and Stephon Gilmore appear more likely choices, though the former does have a history of off-field concerns that could have him off the Broncos' draft board.

Gilmore would certainly be a great pickup at No. 25. He'd be able to play a few years with Champ Bailey and then take over the No. 1 corner spot. After seeing how the secondary was chewed apart at times, a cornerback is certainly high on the team's needs. However, safety is too, with or without Brian Dawkins' return.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Sporting News Predicts DT Devon Still For Broncos

The Denver Broncos passed on drafting a defensive tackle during the 2011 NFL Draft, but the 2012 NFL Draft could be a different story. There will be a number of defensive tackles available for the Broncos to draft in the first round if the team's draft board has one at the top of it. Over at the Sporting News, Russ Lande predicts Penn St. Nittany Lions defensive tackle Devon Still for the Broncos.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Lande sees the Brocos going tor a defensive tackle here because the team doesn't have an impact player on the middle of the line. Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas certainly played well, but Still could be the young player the team builds its defensive line around. With Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller providing the pass rush, Still would be able to clog the middle.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Fletcher Cox Would Help Broncos AT DT

The Denver Broncos face a bit of an issue at defensive tackle this offseason, and it's one that they could fix by drafting a young, talented lineman in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Over at Draft Tek, the Broncos select Mississippi St. Bulldogs defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, a 6-foot-4, 300-poun bruiser who had 14.5 tackles for loss and five tackles in 2011.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

This pick, as we've known for months, makes sense. The Broncos could potentially lose both starting defensive tackles from this season to free agency, Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas. Ty Warren and Kevin Vickerson return from injury, but the former is anything but a sure thing to return to the field of play.

But, as Draft Tek suggests, the Broncos could also look for help at wide receiver, safety or even cornerback -- all areas of concern. In this scenario, receiver Kendall Wright goes off the board with the next pick, but he would certainly be able to give Tim Tebow another weapon on offense.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mocking The Draft Says Denver Broncos Will Select CB Janoris Jenkins

Ryan Van Bibber gave the Denver Broncos an offensive player -- Miami running back Lamar Miller -- with the No. 25 overall pick in the latest SB Nation mock draft, but our draft-dedicated blog Mocking The Draft sees Denver targeting a defensive player. Mocking the Draft projects the Broncos will select cornerback Janoris Jenkins in the first round, a high-upside player out of North Alabama.

Jenkins can be as good as he wants to be. He has top 10 talent in a lot of scouts eyes, but has major character concerns. He was kicked off the Florida Gators after his second arrest, and that will provide red flags. Jenkins says he has matured since then, and the Broncos have Champ Bailey to mentor him. If they need it, they always have Tim Tebow to set him straight...

Adding a cornerback does make sense, as we saw throughout the season that the Broncos have no depth behind Bailey. Andre Goodman was mostly miss rather than hit while Jonathan Wilhite and rookie Chris Harris had to pick up some of the slack. Harris played well as the nickel back, but it remains to be seen whether he could be a starter at the NFL.

As for the selection of Jenkins, those arrests would set alarms off in my head, and I'm sure John Fox and John Elway will do their best to assess Jenkins' maturation process.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation Predicts Mike Adams For Chiefs, Nick Perry To Chargers

While the Denver Broncos will need to wait until the first round is nearly concluded to make its first-round draft pick, the Kansas City Chiefs will pick just outside the top 10 and the San Diego Chargers remain inside the top 20. Where will each of these teams looks to upgrade this offseason? SB Nation's latest 2012 NFL mock draft doesn't stray from the projected areas of offensive line and pass-rushing for the teams, respectively.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

At No. 11, the Chiefs select the fast-rising Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams. He's already worked his way into being the No. 3 offensive tackle in this draft, making him a top-15 selection while Matt Kalil and Riley Reiff are likely to both go in the top five choices.

At No. 18, the Chargers could also use some help on the offensive line, but they also need to upgrade their pass-rushing ability and with this choice they go with USC's Nick Perry. Perry played defensive end in college, but this mock draft projects him to move to linebacker. Will this pass-rusher actually work out for them this time?

The Raiders, of course, don't have a first-round draft choice, because it was traded to the Bengals in the Carson Palmer trade.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: SB Nation Returns To Lamar Miller For Broncos

The 2011 NFL season is over and now we can go full speed ahead to the 2012 NFL Draft and free agency, SB Nation's Ryan Van Bibber comes with his first post-Super Bowl NFL mock draft and the result for the Denver Broncos is not unexpected. Van Bibber gives the Broncos Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller once again.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Citing the need to put weapons around Tim Tebow, Van Bibber sees the Broncos needing a speed back to help the quarterback out, a role Miller could fit:

Miller has capability to make big plays, with his combination of moves and speed. It would pair well with Tebow in the option offense.

The Broncos could also look at defensive tackle, secondary or even tight end with this pick. The NFL Combine is just a few weeks away, which should help provide a bit more focus for the Broncos in the draft.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Order Settled With Giants' Super Bowl Victory

With the New York Giants' victory in the Super Bowl on Sunday, the 2012 NFL Draft order is set for the upcoming April event (minus coin flips) -- that is, if there are no trades. We'll likely need to wait until draft day until we see anymore draft picks exchange hands, though. The New York Giants will select No. 32 overall while the New England Patriots will the No. 31. The Denver Broncos established their pick at No. 32 overall several weeks ago after losing to the Patriots.

Here is the complete first round draft order:

1. Indianapolis Colts, 2-14
2. St. Louis Rams, 2-14
3. Minnesota Vikings, 3-13
4. Cleveland Browns, 4-12
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-12
6. Washington Redskins, 5-11
7. Jacksonville Jaguars, 5-11
8. Carolina Panthers, 6-10*
9. Miami Dolphins, 6-10*
10. Buffalo Bills, 6-10
T-11. Seattle Seahawks, 7-9*
T-11. Kansas City Chiefs, 7-9*
13. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8
14. Dallas Cowboys, 8-8
15. Philadelphia Eagles, 8-8
16. New York Jets, 8-8
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders, 8-8)
18. San Diego Chargers, 8-8
19. Chicago Bears, 8-8
20. Tennessee Titans, 9-7
21. Cincinnati Bengals, 9-7
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons, 10-6)
23. Detroit Lions, 10-6
24. Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4
25. Denver Broncos, 8-8
26. Houston Texans, 10-6
27. New Orleans Saints, 13-3
28. Green Bay Packers 15-1
29. Baltimore Ravens 12-4
30. San Francisco 49ers 13-3
31. New England Patriots 13-3
32. New York Giants 9-7

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Dont'a Higtower Could Fall To Broncos

The Denver Broncos could let middle linebacker Joe Mays walk in free agency this offseason, leaving the Broncos with a question mark at the position. The team did draft Nate Irving last season, but his rookie season didn't show much. The answer could lie in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. In DraftTek's latest mock draft, the Broncos select Alabama's Dont'a Hightower with the No. 25 overall pick.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

DraftTek writes about Hightower:

Hightower accumulated 85 Tackles, 11 TFL, 4 Sacks, 1 Int, 8 QB Hurries, 1 FF, and 1 Fumble Recovery. His talent level and skillset are elite and complete, and he feels both high-floor and high-ceiling.

However, they do think he previously injured ACL could be an issue for some teams. But the Broncos would have three first-round linebackers if this selection was made. D.J. Williams was selected in the first round back in 2004 and Von Miller, the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, went No. 2 overall last year. That would be a scary linebacker corps to face.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Todd McShay Projects QB Ryan Tannehill To Broncos

Two years ago, the Denver Broncos selected Tim Tebow in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. That was with the 25th overall pick. Will the Broncos take a quarterback for the second time in three years at pick No. 25? ESPN Insider Todd McShay believes that will be so, with the Broncos taking Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

McShay believes this is pretty much the only way the Broncos can create competition for Tim Tebow at quarterback since free agents won't want to enter the boiling water of the Tim Tebow situation (or whatever one wants to call it). McShay sees a quarterback who can run some of the option plays the team runs with team while also being a "legitimate prospect" to close the gap in case Tebow doesn't improve.

However, the Broncos do have needs at cornerback and defensive tackle to deal with this year. However, as we saw last year, the team won't force a need onto their draft board and will instead take the best player available no matter the position. And that certainly could mean a quarterback at No. 25.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Denver Broncos Could Look To DT Michael Brockers

In his latest NFL mock draft, Fox Sports' Peter Schrager projects that the Denver Broncos will select Michael Brockers, a defensive tackle from LSU.

Related: Denver Broncos Pick Up Solid Talent In 5-Round Mock

Schrager thinks Brockers raw skills would be harnessed by Denver's coaching staff and that he'd fit in well with the talent on hand:

25. Denver Broncos: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU: Brockers may be the biggest question mark in the Draft, with some pundits giving him top-10 love and others saying he’ll slip to the second round. Why? Because he’s incredibly raw. Just a redshirt sophomore, he has the size and the speed to be a beast at the next level. He just needs a little time and coaching. Put him on a defense that includes guys like Champ Bailey, Von Miller, D.J. Williams, and Elvis Dumervil, have John Fox coach him up, and I think he’s a can’t miss for Denver.

Brockers recorded 54 tackles in 2011, including 10 tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble and picked off a pass.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Denver Broncos Pick Up Solid Talent In 5-Round Mock

We're just a few days away from the 2012 Super Bowl determining the final two draft spots between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. But for the Denver Broncos, they have known for several weeks that they will hold the No. 25 overall selection in the first round. Over at Mocking the Draft, SB Nation's NFL draft blog, we are presented with a quick pre-Super Bowl mock draft.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

In Round 1, the Broncos select Virginia cornerback Chase Minnifield, a decent pick, but defensive tackles such as Devon Still and Michael Brockers would seem to be a bet fit at that point. Round 2 follows with running back Doug Martin, a solid player who has likely worked his way into the back end of the first round in some scouts' views. In the third round, the Broncos address the defensive tackle need with Jared Crick, which makes the first pick a bit more palatable.

The Broncos go the FCS route in the fourth round with Tennessee Tech receiver Tim Benford, a guy who could play bigger than he actually is. Then in the fifth round the Broncos have two picks (one gained from the Brandon Lloyd trade). With the second overall pick of the fifth round, the Broncos take quarterback Brandon Weeden, whose draft stock is all over the place right now. With the other fifth round pick, the Broncos take Wisconsin offensive tackle Josh Oglesby.

It's a nice collection of talent, but there's still so much time for everything to change.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Michael Brockers To Broncos In Latest Mile High Report Mock

Mile High Report has checked in with its post-Senior Bowl 2012 NFL mock draft and it's a pretty good projection for the Denver Broncos. In the first round the Broncos go with a defensive tackle, but it's not any of the normal names associated with the team in mock drafts so far. LSU Tigers defensive tackle Michael Brockers is the choice at No. 25. Brockers is big at 6 feet 6 and over 300 pounds. The lasting impression he likely left with many was his blocked field goal in the BCS National Championship Game.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

The mock doesn't stop there. It continues in the second round with taking Boise St. Broncos running back Doug Martin, who likely moved his way into being the No. 2 running back in the draft. Over the next few rounds, the Broncos rake defensive tackle Mike Martin (Round 3), wide receiver Marvin McNutt (Round 4) and quarterback Russell Wilson and middle linebacker Jerry Franklin (Round 5).

Overall, that would be a pretty good draft for the Broncos. The team gets two young defensive tackles and a running back who is a solid all-around runner. McNutt gives Tim Tebow a big target to throw to, while Russell Wilson provides the Broncos with a quarterback who could be a decent backup for Tebow. Franklin would be a decent developmental project at middle linebacker.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: TE Orson Charles Off Board To Broncos In National Football Post's Latest Mock

The Denver Broncos could look at selecting a tight end in the 2012 NFL Draft to help Tim Tebow improve in the passing game. Daniel Fells, Dante Rosario and rookies Julius Thomas and Virgil Green were largely absent during the season, unable to provide Tebow with an outlet when he didn't have a wide receiver open. The National Football Post has its second NFL mock draft up and predicts Georgia Bulldogs tight end Orson Charles to the Broncos.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

A 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior tight end, Charles caught 45 balls for 574 yards and five touchdowns in 2011 for the Bulldogs. He certainly could provide those mismatches that the Broncos were on the wrong end of this season with the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. According to Wes Bunting's write up of Charles:

NFL teams are looking for mismatch tight ends who can play with their hand on the ground, split out into the slot and play in the backfield as well. The Broncos don’t have much in the terms of dynamic skill position guys and Charles can mature into a real safety blanket for QB Tim Tebow down the line.

Charles would be solid choice for the Broncos.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Peter Konz Goes To Broncos In Latest SB Nation Projection

Could the Denver Broncos throw a curveball in the 2012 NFL Draft and take a player that isn't on the defensive line or a skill player off the line on either side of the ball? Ryan Van Bibber's latest SB Nation 2012 NFL mock draft does just that with the Broncos' No. 25 overall pick. The Broncos select Wisconsin Badgers center Peter Konz.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Van Bibber writes that the Broncos need to get Tim Tebow a new center, protecting him from the onslaught of opposing defensive linemen. The New England Patriots showed how this could happen in its playoff victory over the Broncos. Second-year center J.D. Walton hasn't been able to fill in the shoes of former center Tom Nalen quite that well, but he did improve from his rookie season to his sophomore year. Still, Konz would certainly be an upgrade at center.

However, we could also see the Broncos go a different route in this scenario. Safety Mark Barron goes two picks later, and defensive tackles Fletcher Cox and Jerel Worthy are both take toward the end of the first round.

If Konz is ranked higher than some of those names just mentioned, there's no reason to doubt that John Fox and John Elway will sway from their board. They will take the best player available, regardless of position. And in this mock draft, we certainly get something better than the stale selections we've had in recent weeks.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Jerel Worthy To Broncos In Yet Another Mock Draft

The Denver Broncos will need to beef up its defensive line through either the 2012 NFL Draft or free agency. The Broncos had triedthrough free agency in 2011 with the signing of Ty Warren, but he lost the entire season after a biceps injury during training camp. Many mock drafts are predicting a defensive tackle, like this one from Bucky Brooks at NFL.com.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Brooks sees Michigan St. Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy going to the Broncos because he is a three-technique player who would help enhance Elvis Dumervil's and Von Miller's ability to rush the passer. Looking around at the other picks in the surrounding reaches of the draft, the Broncos could also be in line to draft a safety such as Alabama's Mark Barron (No. 24) or Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox (No. 28).

The Broncos certainly aren't beholden to one area of need in the first round.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Broncos Could Look For A WR Like Tommy Streeter In 3rd Round

The Denver Broncos often played the 2011 season with a serious lack of depth at wide receiver. Whether it was due to injuries or trade, the Broncos were often playing with just three healthy wide receivers and at one point early in the season Tim Tebow needed to wind up as the slot receiver. So, the Broncos could definitely stand to draft a receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft. WalterFootball.com predicts the Broncos could take Miami Hurricanes Tommy Streeter in the third round.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

That selection flows with the selections of defensive tackle Fletcher Cox in the first round and running back Doug Martin in the second. Streeter is 6 feet 4 and 215 pounds, giving him a great size advantage over most cornerbacks. Streeter jumped to the NFL after his junior year of 46 catches for 811 yards and eight touchdowns. Outside of the disdain the mock drafter has for the Brandon Lloyd trade, the rest of the reasoning is all right. Tebow does need more weapons to succeed. Could the Broncos find another gem in the later round like they did with Brandon Marshall in 2006?

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft Mock Draft 2012: SI's Don Banks Predicts DT Jerel Worthy For Broncos

The Denver Broncos improved by 23 slots from the 2011 NFL Draft to the 2012 NFL Draft, moving from No. 2 overall in the first round to No. 25. But they still have an issue at defensive tackle, which the team did not address in the draft last year. Right now, the popular pick for the Broncos tends to be a defensive tackle. There are plenty of names to consider, but one that is constantly seen is the Michigan St. Spartans' Jerel Worthy. He is off the board at No. 25 to the Broncos in Don Banks' latest NFL mock draft for SI.com.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Banks points out that the Broncos have a number of holes to fill at cornerback, receiver, running back, tight end and offensive line. The latter is a bit odd since he mentions three slots on the line but he doesn't note which ones. One would presume that Ryan Clady at left tackle doesn't need to be changed. That would leave the rest of the line to the right of him. Chris Kuper and his dislocated ankle and broken leg could be another area to beef up, but it's just odd to mention three places on the line.

But Banks believes defensive tackle is the area the team should actually concentrate on. He offers Fletcher Cox as a possible alternative, also selected by the Broncos in other mock drafts.

The NFL Draft begins on April 26.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft News: Denver Broncos A Good Fit For Two Senior Bowl Prospects

The Senior Bowl is a great opportunity for established collegiate players to show they can perform in a professional setting, stand out against other motivated amateur talent and prepare themselves for the 2012 NFL Draft process. NFL scouts and talent evaluators keep a very close eye on team practices to see which players fit NFL prototypes and which can't match the physical demands of the professional game. Wes Bunting of the National Football Post has watched all of the team practices very closely, and after three days of the experience he has listed his top 10 prospects for the 2012 Senior Bowl and potential fits with NFL teams.

Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Brandon Boykin and Clemon Tigers defensive tackles Brandon Thompson are the two top-10 players listed as good fits for the Denver Broncos in the 2012 NFL Draft. Boykin is ranked the No. 7 overall player on Bunting's list and makes up for his lack of ideal size with a physical style and competitiveness that may make him an asset in press coverage and re-directs on wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. Thompson came in at No. 8 on the list due to a quick first step and a proper approach to gaining leverage at the point-of-attack. Bunting sees the DT as a one-gap penetration player that can work in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. A distruptive player like Thompson would certainly help free up Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller to rush the quarterback against single-coverage from the edges.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NCAA Football for more on bowl season and the end-of-season all-star games.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Chiefs Select NT Dontari Poe, Chargers Take C Peter Konz In PFW's 1st Mock

With the Denver Broncos taking Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechkly in ProFootbalWeekly's first 2012 NFL mock draft, where do the other teams in the AFC West look to improve those rosters? At No. 11 the Kansas City Chiefs take Memphis Tigers nose tackle Dontari Poe while at No. 18 the San Diego Chargers go with Wisconsin center Peter Konz.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

For the Chiefs, the addition of Poe would help shore up the middle of its defensive line, and if they get a player who can play somewhat close to the level of the Baltimore Ravens' Haloti Ngata that would be a real coup. As for the Chargers, drafting Konz fills a need for the team by improving the offensive line. Many of Philip Rivers' problems came from working behind a weak offensive line. Plus, the team is losing its current centers to free agency.

The Oakland Raiders traded its first-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Carson Palmer trade. At No. 17, the Bengals select cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Luke Kuechly Goes To Broncos In ProFootballWeekly's 1st Mock

The Denver Broncos increased the talent level at linebacker in 2011 by drafting Von Miller with the second overall pick of the draft. Might the Broncos want to look to improve at middle linebacker in the 2012 NFL Draft? The team faces the potential loss of Joe Mays through free agency and Nate Irving wasn't able to do much as a rookie. The Broncos could draft Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, as ProFootballWeekly projects right now.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

PFW thinks Kuechly would fit the mold of linebackers head coach John Fox prefers:

The Butkus Award winner has been a tackling machine the past three years and could give John Fox's defense the leadership presence that Dan Morgan brought to Carolina early in Fox's Panthers tenure.

The real question here is if Kuechly will actually fall that far down in the draft. He could be selected in the teens, leaving the Broncos out of luck if they wanted him. But projecting Kuechly here is far better than the normal defensive tackle or running back that has been rampant the last few weeks.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Senior Bowl Provides Broncos With QB Showcase

The Denver Broncos are most certainly in the market for another quarterback or two to add to its roster. Tim Tebow and Adam Weber are the only two quarterbacks under contract for the 2012 season. The 2012 NFL Draft will most certainly provide the Broncos a chance to add a quarterback, and this week's Senior Bowl has six quarterbacks whom the Broncos could draft after the first round.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

The Denver Post's Jeff Legwold points out that the quarterbacks at the game represent two different sets. On the North team, Michigan State's Kirk Cousins, Boise State's Kellen Moore and Wisconsin's Russell Wilson are all undersized quarterbacks who had great production in college -- the undersized bit going against John Elway's preferred quarterback build.

On the South team, Arizona's Nick Foles, Oklahoma's Brandon Weeden and San Diego State's Ryan Lindley have the size Elway would prefer but other issues. Weeden is 29 and has shoulder issues, which hurt his long-term potential. Lindley was inconsistent throughout his career. Foles, though, has a big arm and was insanely productive as a Wildcat. But can he play from under center consistently?

The Broncos could certainly find most of these guys selected in Round 3 or later, but Foles might have a chance to crack the back end of the first round.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NCAA Football for more on end-of-season all-star games.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Broncos Take Devon Still In 1st Round Of 4-Round Mock

It's a fool's errand to project an NFL mock draft for four rounds, but there's one over at Mocking the Draft. While it will likely be quite wrong come the actually draft, and, really, it will be obsolete in a couple of days, the Denver Broncos do come away with a nice haul in the projection. In the first round, the Broncos take defensive tackle Devon Still, who would instantly upgrade the Broncos attack up the middle of the defensive line. With several potential free agent losses at the position, the Broncos could certainly go this route in the first round.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

In the second, the Broncos pick up Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller, who has often been projected as a first-round selection for Denver. If the Broncos could pick Miller up in the second round it could be a similar story to 2002's draft of drafting Clinton Portis in the second round.

Then in the third round, the Broncos take Iowa cornerback Shaun Prater. Prater could prove to be better than Andre Goodman, we would hope. And in the fourth round pick up wide receiver Ryan Broyles from Oklahoma. He's coming off a knee injury that ended his season in November. However, he'd certainly be another weapon for Tim Tebow to look for on the field.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NCAA Football for more on end-of-season all-star games.

NFL Draft 2012: Zach Brown Talks With Broncos At Senior Bowl

The Denver Broncos shored up the pass-rushing linebacker position by drafting Von Miller with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and that worked out pretty well. Miller went on to record 11.5 sacks, being slowed down by a thumb injury late in the season. One can never have enough talent at a position, but news of North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown talking with the Broncos has emerged:

Looked good in 9-on-7 when I focused on the LBs. Said he's talked w/ Broncos. RT @Orange_n_Blue: Have you seen OLB Zach Brown practice yet?

— MaxBroncos (@MaxBroncos) January 24, 2012

Does this really mean the Broncos are thinking about drafting another linebacker in the first round? Not really, and it was probably the Broncos executives and scouts making the rounds with all of the players. As John Elway said last year when he interviewed quarterbacks, he was just doing a complete and thorough part of his job.

Brown had 5.5 sacks in 2011 and could be picked well before the Broncos are on the clock at No. 25.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NCAA Football for more on bowl season and the end-of-season all-star games.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: DT Jerel Worthy Heads To Broncos In Latest WalterFootball.com Mock

After being bounced from the 2012 NFL Playoffs by the AFC Champion New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos have turned their attention to the 2012 NFL Draft. With the number 19 pick overall, Denver is largely at the mercy of the teams that draft ahead of them. There are hundreds of permutations of the first 18 picks that could leave Denver looking at vastly different players and players and positions on the draft board, but mock drafts do help to highlight the most significant team needs heading into the draft season. In the latest mock draft at WalterFootball.com, the Broncos add Michigan State Spartans DT Jerel Worthy, a defensive linemen with plenty of potential:

Worthy entered the season as the top player at his position in the nation. In 2010, he notched 40 tackles, with eight tackles for a loss. Even though, Worthy recorded only four sacks that year, it led the Spartans. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder is a solid run defender. He had 3.5 sacks with 30 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and two blocked kicks in 2011. His conditioning seemed to be off at times judging by his snap count.

If the team could add another disruptive player inside to pair with Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, the defense just might reach an elite level in the near future.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: CBS Sports' Dane Brugler Boringly Keeps TE Dwayne Allen To Broncos

The worst thing about NFL mock drafts in January is that some people get lazy and keep picking the same player for one team over and over. And then there are those that don't write a different blurb for each update. We need only look at Dane Brugler's Jan. 23 mock draft update that has the Denver Broncos selecting Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Allen might just be the top tight end in the draft and he would certainly provide a safety valve for Tim Tebow, who needs more and more weapons around him if he is to succeed. Given the scenario provided here, Allen is a good pick. A cornerback like Stephon Gilmore, who goes to the New England Patriots at No. 27, could also be a possibility since the Broncos lack depth in the secondary after Champ Bailey. Andre Goodman isn't a cutting on the other side of the field any longer.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: CBS Sports' Rob Rang Sticks With Jerel Worthy For Broncos, Making For Boring Mock

Apparently CBS Sports' Rob Rang has fallen in love with the idea of the Denver Broncos taking Michigan St. Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy in the 2012 NFL Draft. In his most recent mock (Jan. 23), Rang still has Worthy going to the Broncos and he even keeps the same blurb for the selection, which hasn't changed in weeks.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

The Broncos could use an upgrade at defensive tackle and Worthy is one of several candidates the Broncos could look at in the first round. If we look farther down in his mock draft, Fletcher Cox is off the board at No. 27 to the Patriots. Fletcher has been projected to the Broncos by the Sporting News and Mel Kiper. There's also Michael Brockers, who goes one pick later at No. 28. Many will remember Brockers for his blocking a field goal during the 2012 BCS National Title Game.

Or if the Broncos wanted to make a move on offense, tight end Colby Fleener could turn into a nice safety valve for Tim Tebow. Fleener is off the board at No. 31 to the Giants. But it's January. There's plenty of time for changes.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Lamar Miller Goes To Broncos In SB Nation's Latest Projection

The 2012 NFL Draft order is almost set with just the New England Patriots and the New York Giants squaring off in the Super Bowl. The Denver Broncos had its draft spot, No. 25 overall, set with the loss to the Patriots two Sundays ago. Now we have a couple months worth of mock draft projections ahead of us. Over at SB Nation, Ryan Van Bibber's latest 2012 NFL mock draft has the Broncos going back Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Van Bibber would rather give Baylor Bears wide receiver Kendall Wright to the Broncos at this pick, but Wright is off the board at No. 17 to the Cincinnati Bengals. Last week, Alabama Crimson Tide safety Mark Barron was projected to the Broncos.

At this point, going with defense or offense in a mock draft doesn't make much difference. It's just the beginning of the draft process.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Could Kendall Wright Fall To The Broncos In Round 2?

The Denver Broncos will need to reload in the 2012 NFL Draft and we can expect that a couple of players will be on offense. Tim Tebow needs more weapons so that he can expand his overall game. Whether that is by taking a running back, a tight end or a wide receiver early on, we can expect Rounds 1 or 2 to be the place for it. Over at Draft Tek, Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright is projected to the Broncos at pick No. 57 in Round 2

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Wright is an explosive force who would instantly be one of the top receivers on the team. He would allow the Broncos to move Eric Decker into the No. 3 wide receiver role, giving Tim Tebow Demaryius Thomas on one side of the field and Wright on the other. It would be a major coup for the Broncos to pick up write, as Draft Tek writes:

And if a high pick is spent here, it should be on a guy with speed and hands. Maybe someone who put up numbers like this last year: 108 Rec, 1663 Yds, 15.4 Avg, 14 TD, 128 Yds/G. Maybe a guy who has highlights like this and this and this. Seriously, if Wright is still on the board here, this is a no-brainer.

But will Wright really fall to the second round?

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Sporting News Projects DT Fletcher Cox To Broncos

The 2012 NFL season is winding down with just a few games left. Then the 2012 NFL offseason kicks into high gear with free agency in March and plenty of 2012 NFL Draft events throughout the weeks until the end of April. We've already had Mel Kiper's first mock draft come out and predict Mississippi St. Bulldogs defensive tackle Fletcher Cox fall to the Denver Broncos. Well, add Russ Lande of the Sporting News to the group that also sees Fletcher Cox to the Broncos.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

The Broncos do need to look at reinforcing the position since Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas could leave in free agency. Ty Warren is injury-prone and will be on the last year of his two-year deal. As Lande writes:

The Broncos are set with outside pass rushers, but their defensive tackles struggled to pressure the quarterback. Cox is a dynamic, explosive player who can split gaps and get into the backfield to make big plays.

And the Broncos haven't had a defensive tackle like that in what seems like forever. But the team could also look at running back, tight end or safety.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick Could Be Of Interest To Broncos

Depending on how things turn out in the 2012 NFL Draft, there might be a bit more influx of talent coming to Colorado from Alabama. With former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Jim McElwain the head coach over at Colorado State, several players from that team appear to be of interest to the Denver Broncos, speculates the Denver Post's Jeff Legwold.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Running back Trent Richardson and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, writes Legwold, are two first-round talents that would help upgrade the Broncos' in areas of varying degree. Richardson is likely the first running back off the board, and with the Broncos at No. 25 that makes it unlikely for him to come to Denver.

But Kirkpatrick could be had by the Broncos if they want to move up to the back end of the teens. However, we still need to see what happens with his recent arrest for alleged marijuana possession. Depending on the legal outcome of that and his answers to questions from NFL teams during interviews will determine where he gets drafted.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Denver Broncos Could Target DE Nick Perry

In his latest 2012 NFL mock draft, NFL.com's Steve Wyche projects that the Denver Broncos will draft Southern Cal defensive end Nick Perry.

John Fox values his pass rushers. They need to add multiple defensive tackles but that will come later in the draft.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Goes Defense With Chiefs, Offense With Chargers

As we inspect Mel Kiper's mock draft (Insider required), how do the Denver Broncos' opponents in the AFC West fare in it? Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers select well before the Broncos, who select defensive tackle Fletcher Cox with the No. 25 overall pick. The Chiefs hold the No. 11 pick and Kiper believes the Chiefs should add defensive tackle Devon Still. He sees Still as a disruptive force on a 3-4 defensive line. Still had earlier been projected in the 20s and often to the Broncos, but his stock appears to be on the rise.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

The Chargers take offensive lineman Cordy Glenn with the No. 18 pick. Glenn is listed as a guard, but Kiper sees him playing anywhere on the line and the Chargers could use help at tackle. Philip Rivers would surely be happy with the addition of a new offensive lineman anywhere in front of him.

The Oakland Raiders traded its first-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Carson Palmer deal. At No. 17, the Bengals select cornerback Alfonzo Dennard. He has been projected to the Broncos in earlier mock drafts as well.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Projects DT Fletcher Cox For Denver Broncos

The NFL Draft season never seems to really start until ESPN's Mel Kiper puts out his first postseason mock draft, and he just released his 2012 one (Insider required). Kiper waits until all of the underclassmen have declared, for which the date passed earlier this week. While there's no surprise with the No. 1 pick being Andrew Luck to the Indianapolis Colts, where does Kiper go with the Denver Broncos?

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

The answer is that he goes defense and has the Broncos selects Mississippi St. Bulldogs defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, drifting away from where other mock drafts have gone. Kiper writes:

Denver had some really good stretches on defense, particularly in the pass rush, but the Broncos weren't very consistent and the numbers were a little worse than people might realize. The pass rush is there on the outside, but Cox is a guy who can penetrate and get tackles for loss from the inside

But he notes that the Broncos could go in other directions, particularly wide receiver. We've also seen running back and tight end as the choices in other mock drafts.

Cox had 5.0 sacks as a junior and 14.5 tackles for a loss. He was credited with three quarterback hits, as well. The Broncos could use a young, talented defensive tackle. Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas could depart in free agency and Ty Warren, lost for the entire 2011 season, is injury prone.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Chad Reuter Selects DT Jerel Worthy For Broncos

With most teams looking from the outside in at this point in the NFL season, the 2012 NFL Draft is slowly coming into focus as teams turn their attention towards it. One of those teams is now the Denver Broncos after they were defeated by the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs last week, and they have pick No. 25 in the first round of the upcoming draft.

Chad Reuter at NFL.com recently posted a mock draft of the upcoming first round on Monday, and he selects Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy for the Denver Broncos.

Head coach John Fox did not address the defensive tackle position in the draft last year, and though he might again go with veterans or later picks here in 2012, the value available to him at this point of the first round might be too much to pass up.

Worthy was a first-team All-American with Michigan State in 2011, leading the Spartans to a final record of 11-3 after beating then-No. 16 Georgia in the Outback Bowl. He finished the season with 30 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss, as well as 3.5 sacks.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Albert Breer Predicts Clemson TE Dwayne Allen To Broncos

The staple of writers at NFL.com have begun to produce their first mock drafts of the season, Albert Breer has his first one out and the Broncos select Clemson Tigers tight end Dwayne Allen with the 25th overall pick. That's not an innovative choice for the Broncos since Allen has been thrown into the mix in other mocks.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

However, it does show that many believe the Broncos do need to upgrade at the position, and that is completely true. Daniel Fells and Dante Rosario are not viable solutions going forward. Julius Thomas, a converted basketball player with one year of footbal experience before being draft in 2011, dealt with injury and didn't do much when he did see the field. Virgil Green was another rookie who will look for more playing time in 2012.

None of the current tight ends were first-round talents, but Allen is a big target for Tim Tebow to have as a safety valve. Defense wins championships, sure, but the quarterback also needs offensive weapons, which Tebow had few this past season.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Alabama S Mark Barron Goes To Denver Broncos In SB Nation's Latest Projection

In the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos could stand to look at taking a defensive back with its first round pick (No. 25). As we saw all too much in Saturday's loss to the New England Patriots, the Broncos have huge concerns in the secondary. Outside of Champ Bailey there was no one of substance playing back there for the most part. Rookie Quinton Carter has done all right, but David Bruton clearly showed why he is a special teams player filling in for the injured Brian Dawkins. That's why Ryan Van Bibber predicts in his latest 2012 NFL mock draft that the Broncos will draft Alabama Crimson Tide safety Mark Barron.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

The Broncos do need to bring in another hard-hitting safety, as Van Bibber acknowledges, since Dawkins will turn 39 during the 2012 season and has a neck injury that could force him to retire. But we'll need to find out more about Dawkins' future as the offseason goes on.

The Broncos might want to draft offense, depending on how the draft board plays out. Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller has been a popular pick for the Broncos as well. Still, there are numerous directions the team will go with and we know John Elway and John Fox won't shy away from drafting their best player available, position irrelevant.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Broncos Look At Lamar Miller, Russell Wilson In Mile High Report's Multi-Round Projection

The Denver Broncos can now go straight into 2012 NFL Draft evaluations. For all those people who want John Elway, John Fox and Brian Xanders to draft defensive players exclusively in the upcoming event, that wouldn't be the team's way. The Broncos showed in 2011 that they will stick with the board set up before the draft and select the best player available. So, we turn to Mile High Report's first mock draft of the season, which has the Broncos drafting RB Lamar Miller from the Miami Hurricanes.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

Miller has been popular pick of late for the Broncos. The team has Willis McGahee, but he is turning 31 in 2012 and not getting any younger. Miller would be able to shift the load away from McGahee, who was originally thought to be the goal-line and third-down back when he signed. Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson, while OK this season, wouldn't see as much playing time as they had last season.

Other selections include tight end Orson Charles and cornerback Josh Robinson, but the most intriguing pick comes in the fourth round with quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson, a former Colorado Rockies draft pick, was extremely productive in his one year with the Wisconsin Badgers, throwing for 3,175 yards and 33 touchdowns to four interceptions. He completed 72.8 percent of his passes. As MHR notes, Wilson is knocked because of his height, which should result in him being a middle-rounds draft pick. He would certainly be a solid addition as a backup to Tim Tebow.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Should Denver Broncos Draft A Quarterback In Round 2 Or 3?

The Denver Broncos will now begin the long march to the 2012 NFL Draft, which will certainly be filled with plenty of speculation about the team drafting a quarterback at some point during the festivities. It is almost a foregone conclusion that the Broncos won't take a quarterback in the first round, especially since the team will pick at No. 25.

Related: Updated 2012 NFL Draft Order

However, Sports Illustrated's Peter King believes the team will look at Rounds 2 or 3 to put a young quarterback on the roster behind Tim Tebow:

Denver should backstop Tebow with a second- or third-round prospect and either Brady Quinn or an option type of quarterback like Tebow, in the event of an in-game injury; that way the Broncos won't have to revolutionize their offense in the middle of a game.

John Elway did watch Arizona Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles during the college football season, and Foles is the type of quarterback who would be a second- or third-round pick. But we still have plenty of time to go. Tebow will work with Elway throughout this season, and working with a Hall of Fame quarterback, possibly the greatest quarterback of all-time, could make all the difference.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft Order 2012: Broncos Will Select At No. 25 In 1st Round

The Denver Broncos now know where its first round pick will come in the 2012 NFL Draft -- that is, as long as they don't trade up or down in the coming months or on the day of all the fun. The Broncos had the worst record (8-8) among teams remaining in the 2012 NFL Playoffs, which meant the team would slot in at No. 25 with a loss to the New England Patriots. That 45-10 final score in favor of the Patriots guaranteed that.

Also settling draft positions this week were the Houston Texans, the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. They took, in order, draft picks 26-28. Yes, the 15-1 Packers must now pick at No. 28. Such is the fate of a team that fell at Lambeau Field to the New York Giants.

The Giants will pick 29th overall if they fall to the San Francisco 49ers next week since they had just a 9-7 record during the regular season. The Ravens then come in with a 12-4 record while the Patriots and the 49ers are each 13-3.

This is the current draft order through the divisional round of the playoffs:

1. Indianapolis Colts, 2-14
2. St. Louis Rams, 2-14
3. Minnesota Vikings, 3-13
4. Cleveland Browns, 4-12
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-12
6. Washington Redskins, 5-11
7. Jacksonville Jaguars, 5-11
8. Carolina Panthers, 6-10*
9. Miami Dolphins, 6-10*
10. Buffalo Bills, 6-10
T-11. Seattle Seahawks, 7-9*
T-11. Kansas City Chiefs, 7-9*
13. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8
14. Dallas Cowboys, 8-8
15. Philadelphia Eagles, 8-8
16. New York Jets, 8-8
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders, 8-8)
18. San Diego Chargers, 8-8
19. Chicago Bears, 8-8
20. Tennessee Titans, 9-7
21. Cincinnati Bengals, 9-7
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons, 10-6)
23. Detroit Lions, 10-6
24. Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4
25. Denver Broncos, 8-8
26. Houston Texans, 10-6
27. New Orleans Saints, 13-3
28. Green Bay Packers 15-1

*Will be determined by coin flip, likely at the NFL Combine.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Draft 2012: Mock Drafts Connecting Kendall Wright To Broncos Might Need To Reevaluate That

Take a look at many of the 2012 NFL mock draft being put out this time of year and one will see Baylor Bears wide receiver Kendall Wright go somewhere in the 20-30 range of the first round. That's led Wright to be suggested as a possible pick for the Denver Broncos, who will pick no worse than No. 25 (barring a trade up). In SB Nation's latest 2012 NFL mock draft, though, Wright is off the board at No. 22 to the Cleveland Browns, pairing him with No. 4 overall pick and Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin.

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

But Wright is apparently moving up draft boards already, according to Tony Pauline. Some scouts are already talking of Wright in better regard than Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon:

When teams look at Wright’s film they see the entire receiver package; great speed, quickness, acceleration and more than anything else- tremendous hands. He’s graded as a terrific route runner with barely any stiffness in his game and a prospect that understands the position.

Wright also has the stats to back all of that up, compiling 108 receptions for 1,663 and 14 touchdowns as a senior.. If he is shooting up draft boards already, Wright will be well out of reach for the Broncos come the end of April.

Besides, receiver isn't of the utmost concern in the first round. While Demaryius Thomas could use a better option on the other side of the field (Eric Decker is better as the No. 3 receiver), that concern doesn't need to be addressed in the first round.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Stanford TE Coby Fleener Projected For Broncos

The Denver Broncos certainly won't be drafting the next John Elway since they are battling deep into the 2012 NFL Playoffs, but might the team look at Andrew Luck's tight end in college, Coby Fleener? Over at The Big Lead, Fleener is projected to the Broncos with the No. 25 overall pick.

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

Fleener set career-highs in his senior year with the Stanford Cardinal, catching 34 passes for 667 yards and 10 touchdowns. He finished his career with 96 catches for 1,543 yards and 18 touchdowns. TBL writes:

Too high? Perhaps. But what a safety valve he becomes for Tim Tebow. And if Tebow fails, the next QB inherits a terrific TE.

The Broncos will also need to decide if they should take a tight end in the first round. Clemson's Dwayne Allen has previously been connected in mock draft with the Broncos, but cornerback, running back and safety could all be other directions for the team look at in April.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Draft Tek Projects CB Chase Minnifield For Broncos

The Denver Broncos were once again near the bottom of the league in interceptions, picking off nine during the 2011 regular season. That was tied for 28th with two other teams. The Broncos could stand to add a cornerback in the 2012 NFL Draft to add help bring up that number. Over at Draft Tek, Virginia cornerback Chase Minnifield is the selection for the Broncos.

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

The 6-foot, 188-pound cornerback had three interceptions this season and 13 in his career, being named All-ACC this fall. Once concern with Minnifield is how his recent surgery will affect him leading up to the draft. The surgery removed some floating cartilage and took just 15 minutes to be done.

Champ Bailey is still a good cornerback, but Andre Goodman has shown that he isn't a starter for the team much longer. Cassius Vaughn and Chris Harris need development time, though Harris, a rookie, has done well as the nickel back this season.

Draft Tek has concerns over Minnifield's man coverage abilities, but according to the Reach/Value number on the pick this is just a minute reach. The alternatives Draft Tek offers for the Broncos are two receivers: Georgia Tech Stephen Hill and Baylor's Kendall Wright. The Broncos have found success recently with former Georgia Tech receiver Demaryius Thomas, which means there wouldn't be too much concern over Hill coming out of Tech's run-heavy offense.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Would CB Stephon Gilmore Be A Good Selection For Broncos?

One thing the Denver Broncos have learned this season is that its secondary isn't getting any younger, and that certainly could lead the team to drafting a player from the secondary in the 2012 NFL Draft. Champ Bailey signed a long-term extension that will have him play out the rest of his Hall of Fame career with the Broncos. But beyond that there isn't much depth. Over at Mocking the Draft, a new mock draft has the Broncos selecting South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

Mocking the Draft sees the same situation. Bailey is great, but Andre Goodman, Cassius Vaughn, Jonathan Wilhite and Chris Harris aren't a great supporting cast (though Harris was just an undrafted rookie this season and had some big moments throughout the season). Gilmore would give the Broncos a solid addition on the other side of the field:

Gilmore is a smart, athletic CB with good size who would be an excellent fit in Dennis Allen's scheme.

Gilmore is 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds and has eight career interceptions in three years with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: SI.com Predicts TE Dwayne Allen To Broncos

The 2012 NFL Draft for the Denver Broncos, according to many draft experts, will be a time for the team help Tim Tebow out by picking up some new weapons. Running back and tight end appear to be the best choices for the team to look at, and that's where Sports Illustrated's Andrew Perloff has the Broncos looking in his latest NFL mock draft.

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

The Broncos go with Clemson Tigers tight end Dwayne Allen at No. 25 overall because:

Tight ends are usually a great aid to quarterbacks who struggle with accuracy. Allen won the Mackey Award for the nation's top tight end and could quickly become Tim Tebow's best friend.

Allen did catch eight touchdown passes and haul in nearly 600 receiving yards in his junior season.

It is also possible that wide receiver would be a position the team could look toward in the draft. Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright could offer another speedy, playmaking target for Tim Tebow. Demaryius Thomas is shaping up to be Tebow No. 1 target while Eric Decker and Eddie Royal serve as better third options for the quarterback.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Sporting News Looks At RB David Wilson For Broncos

The Denver Broncos may want to address the running back position in April's 2012 NFL Draft. The last running back the Broncos took in the first round, Knowshon Moreno, has been a big failure for being the No. 12 overall pick in 2009. But that selection came in Josh McDaniels' first try at the draft. Might John Fox know his running backs differently and draft Virginia Tech Hokies running back David Wilson, as the Sporting News' Russ Lande has happening in his latest mock draft?

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

Lande sees that the Broncos are committed to Tim Tebow as the start, which means that the team needs to start complementing the quarterback in the long term:

It is clear Denver is sticking with QB Tim Tebow long term; now it needs a young back to team with him. Wilson has rare explosiveness to go with great change-of-direction ability and excellent instincts.

Willis McGahee rebounded with a 1,000-yard season this fall, but he was hurt by injury during the latter half of the season. His long-term viability in the backfield might not last much longer.

Wilson has already declared for the draft after his junior season following a season in which he ran for 1,709 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry. If Wilson can translate that to the NFL, the Broncos will have a force to be reckoned with in the league.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Broncos Could Look At Clemson TE Dwayne Allen

The Denver Broncos have at least one game and possibly as many as three to determine where its 2012 NFL first round draft pick will fall anywhere between Nos. 25 and 32. If the Broncos lose to the New England Patriots on Saturday, the team will own the No. 25. Win, and the team moves into the next bracket.

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

But if the team were picking at No. 25 in the draft, CBS Sports' Dane Brugler sees the Broncos looking at Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen:

If the Broncos decide to stick with Tim Tebow as their quarterback, they need to surround him with as many weapons as possible. Allen is the best all-around tight end in this class and presents a big target for the quarterback. He will start from day one in the NFL and give the Broncos a talented safety valve.

Dwayne is 6-feet-4 and 255 pounds, having caught 50 balls for 598 yards and two touchdowns. Adding a talent like Allen makes sense. Daniel Fells and Dante Rosario aren't great starters and Julius Thomas and Virgil Green still have much to show. If Allen is as good as many believe, Tim Tebow will have three to four options to throw to when he looks down and across the field.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation Sticks With Miami RB Lamar Miller For Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos won't pick any worse than No. 25 and the latest mock drafts are taking that into account. SB Nation's Ryan Van Bibber offers his latest 2012 NFL mock draft after the completion of the Wild Card round of the 2012 NFL Playoffs. For the Denver Broncos, Van Bibber gives them Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller -- again.

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

Van Bibber writes:

Might as well give him [Tebow] the weapons to work with. It's a small miracle that the Broncos managed to find some usefulness in Willis McGahee, but they really need speed. Miller provides that along with a natural burst that will make him a threat in that offense.

He understates McGahee's contribution to the team. McGahee had seven 100-yard rushing games and went over 1,000 yards for the season. That's more than just "some usefulness." Yet, as we all know, McGahee is going to turn 31 during the upcoming 2012 season and he might not be able to duplicate his performance again. Drafting a back like Miller would allow the Broncos to pave the way for the future while also keeping the now.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Order: Denver Broncos Picking No Worse Than No. 25 After Surviving Wild Card Weekend

The Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 29-23, on Sunday and helped settle the draft order for the first four 2012 NFL Playoff teams to be eliminated. As a result of advancing to the divisional round against the New England Patriots, the Broncos avoided picking up the No. 21 overall selection, the first slot for a playoff team. Instead, that went to the Cincinnati Bengals, who lost to the Houston Texans on Saturday. The Atlanta Falcons would have selected at No. 22, but the pick was sent to the Cleveland Browns as part of the Julio Jones trade during the 2011 NFL Draft. The Browns will now pick at Nos. 4 and 22 after the Falcons' loss to the New York Giants.

Related: SI.com's Peter King on Tim Tebow, Demaryius Thomas and Josh McDaniels

The Detroit Lions lost to the New Orleans Saints and took the No. 23 pick. The 12-4 Steelers then round out the known draft order with the No. 24 selection. After the divisional round, the Broncos could be picking at either No. 25 or waiting for the Championship round to end. In the latter's case, the Broncos would at worse pick at No. 29 overall. Should the Broncos make it all the way to the Super Bowl, they would select at No. 31 or 32, depending on whether they win.

Here is the complete draft order:

1. Indianapolis Colts, 2-14
2. St. Louis Rams, 2-14
3. Minnesota Vikings, 3-13
4. Cleveland Browns, 4-12
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-12
6. Washington Redskins, 5-11
7. Jacksonville Jaguars, 5-11
8. Carolina Panthers, 6-10*
9. Miami Dolphins, 6-10*
10. Buffalo Bills, 6-10
T-11. Seattle Seahawks, 7-9*
T-11. Kansas City Chiefs, 7-9*
13. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8
14. Dallas Cowboys, 8-8
15. Philadelphia Eagles, 8-8
16. New York Jets, 8-8
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders, 8-8)
18. San Diego Chargers, 8-8
19. Chicago Bears, 8-8
20. Tennessee Titans, 9-7
21. Cincinnati Bengals, 9-7
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons, 10-6)
23. Detroit Lions, 10-6
24. Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: National Football Post Predicts DT Jerel Worthy For Broncos In First Projection

The Denver Broncos could have their 2012 NFL Draft first-round selection determined on Sunday evening if they lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They would get the No. 21 pick, which is where most mock drafts leading up to the game have them already selecting (being an 8-8 team will do that). Over at the National Football Post, Wes Bunting unveiled his first mock draft of the season and selected Michigan St. Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy

Related: Updated NFL Draft Order

Bunting writes:

Adding a thick, powerful, penetrating type defensive tackle who can create havoc and stop plays before they start is just what the Broncos need inside. Worthy has some question marks about his motor, but if he can play with more consistency he has the talent to be one of the best to come out of the class.

Worthy declared for the 2012 NFL Draft last week, which means there's no speculation over whether he'll be in the draft or not. Drafting a defensive tackle at this point is a safe pick, but nothing is set in stone. Running back and safety could also be possible targets.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Alabama's Mark Barron Could Ease For Denver Broncos Potential Loss Of Brian Dawkins

The Denver Broncos will pick no worse than No. 21 in the 2012 NFL Draft should they lose on Saturday to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC Wild Card game. It's all but assured that the Broncos will draft a player other than a quarterback in the first round. Defensive tackle is an area that the team could upgrade at, or even running back would be a good place to look. But how about at safety?

Over at NewNFLDraft.com, the team there has the Broncos taking Alabama safety Mark Barron with the No. 21 overall pick. Barron plays strong safety, a position the Broncos will have an opening at sooner rather than later. Brian Dawkins, even if he is able to come back from a neck injury, will be 39 in October and can't play forever. Barron could step in and eventually become the kind of safety Dawkins was: a hard-hitter and a team leader.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL.

2012 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos May Draft QB, But Not In 1st Round

The Denver Broncos are playing in the postseason, so they're likely not all in yet on the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. They'll need to soon, though, given the numerous places where the Broncos need to show improvement. One of those places might be quarterback, where Tim Tebow has had an up-and-down year for Denver, but Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that fans shouldn't expect the team to select a quarterback in the first round.

But first round? The Broncos will take a cornerback, or a defensive tackle, or a linebacker or a running back. They won’t take a quarterback.

So, presumably, Denver will try to improve an already strong defense, or try to strengthen the running game with a better feature back. There are two legitimately elite QB talents in the 2012 draft- Stanford's Andrew Luck and Baylor's Robert Griffin III -- but neither of those players is expected to be available when the Broncos pick in the 20's. So rather than reach for a different quarterback, the expectation is that the Broncos will try to improve in other ways while giving Tebow another year to show that he can be a championship-caliber quarterback.

Klis notes that the Broncos do like some of the other quarterbacks in the draft, though, so they may use a later pick to select a new quarterback prospect. Names that Klis mentioned as possible options are Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill, Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, Arizona's Nick Foles, Arkansas' Tyler Wilson and Boise State's Kellen Moore.

Head over to SB Nation NFL and SB Nation NCAA Football for more on the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. For more on the Broncos, check out Mile High Report, SB Nation's Denver Broncos blog.

2012 NFL Draft: CBS Sports' Rob Rang Keeps Jerel Worthy To Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos might have its 2012 NFL Draft slot determined on Sunday should the team lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers. If that happens, the Broncos would select between Nos. 21-24. But until the first set of games are finished, the draft order in mocks is all up in the air. CBS Sports' Rob Rang has the Broncos selecting No. 25 for now. And just like the last time Rang had a new mock draft out, the Broncos wind up taking Michigan St. Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy. There's not much else to add to the selection since Rang doesn't even update the blurb on Worthy.

Around the rest of the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs go with Iowa tackle Riley Reiff at No. 11, which makes sense since offensive tackle is an area of need for the team. The San Diego Chargers select Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw with the No. 18 pick, believing that he could play both standing up and with one hand on the ground.

And the Oakland Raiders see Cincinnati Bengals use the No. 17 pick since they traded it in the Carson Palmer deal. The Bengals use it on Stanford guard David DeCastro. The Raiders' gamble didn't pay off this season.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Kansas City, San Diego Looking At Defense?

While the Denver Broncos look to enjoy the NFL playoffs for as long as they can, the rest of the AFC West is preparing for front office and coaching changes as well as for the NFL Draft. Of course, the Oakland Raiders can't be thinking about a first-round draft pick since they already traded their own to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Carson Palmer trade. However, the Sporting News' Russ Lande takes a stab at the Kansas Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers in his top 20 mock draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs will find out whether its pick is No. 11 or No. 12 at the NFL Combine when a coin flip settles the tiebreaker with the Seattle Seahawks. In his mock, Lande has the Chiefs going after North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown to add to the pass rush. Apparently Justin Houston, the team's rookie of the year, isn't good enough after recording 5.5 sacks in 2011.

The San Diego Chargers select USC defensive lineman Nick Perry with the No. 18 pick as a result of also needing a pass rusher. The Chargers haven't made up for the loss of Shawne Merriman, says Lande.

To learn more about the NFL Draft and the college bowl season head over to SB Nation NFL and SB Nation NCAA Football.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation Predicts Miami's Lamar Miller To Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos won't know for sure where they pick in the 2012 NFL Draft until they are eliminated from the 2012 NFL Playoffs, but they do know that it will be between Nos. 21-32, the playoff team positions. If they fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening round of the AFC playoffs, the Broncos will select between Nos. 21-24. In SB Nation's latest 2012 NFL mock draft, the Broncos select Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller with the No. 21 overall pick.

This selection steers away from what appears to be the expected norm in mock draft territory: selecting a defensive tackle. While the write up concentrates on pairing Miller as a complement to Tim Tebow the runner, it also allows the Broncos to transition away from Willis McGahee. McGahee had a big rebound season with the Broncos, but he will be 31 years old in 2012 and is still an injury risk, as we saw during the latter half of this season.

Will we see the Broncos with a higher selection after the coming playoff game?

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. To learn more about the NFL Draft and the college bowl season head over to SB Nation NFL and SB Nation NCAA Football.

2012 NFL Draft Order: Denver Broncos Draft Pick Unsettled Until Playoff Run Ends

Unlike a year ago, the Denver Broncos won't know where their first-round draft pick is until they are eliminated from the playoffs. While the Broncos are just 8-8, they are in the playoffs and they will need to be eliminated from the postseason or win the Super Bowl before finding out their draft pick. They will pick between Nos. 21 and 32.

The Kansas City Chiefs will select at either No. 11 or No. 12, but they will need to flip a coin with the Seattle Seahawks, which also finished 7-9 and with the same strength of schedule. The San Diego Chargers will pick somewhere in the 13-19 range but the league needs to determine the final strength of schedule rankings and then go to coin flips in case teams are tied.

Here is the current non-playoff team 2012 NFL Draft order:

1. Indianapolis Colts, 2-14
2. St. Louis Rams, 2-14
3. Minnesota Vikings, 3-13
4. Cleveland Browns, 4-12
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-12
6. Washington Redskins, 5-11
7. Jacksonville Jaguars, 5-11
8. Carolina Panthers, 6-10
9. Miami Dolphins, 6-10
10. Buffalo Bills, 6-10
11. Seattle Seahawks, 7-9*
12. Kansas City Chiefs, 7-9*
13. Philadelphia Eagles, 8-8
14. New York Jets, 8-8
15. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8
16. San Diego Chargers, 8-8
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders, 8-8)
18. Chicago Bears, 8-8
19. Dallas Cowboys/New York Giants loser, 8-8
20. Tennessee Titans, 9-7

*Will be determined by coin flip

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. To learn more about the NFL Draft and the college bowl season head over to SB Nation NFL and SB Nation NCAA Football.

NFL Mock Draft 2012: Broncos Draft Pick Close To Being Settled

The 2012 NFL draft order will mostly be set after Sunday's games end, as the non-playoff teams will all be settled into their draft positions (minus those that will need a coin flip to determine final positioning). Mock drafters will breath a sigh of relief finally while they wait for the playoff teams to settle the draft order over the next month.

For the Denver Broncos, a loss drops them out of a draft spot among the playoff teams. But for right now they are among the last teams picks out of those in the playoffs this week. Over at NFLMocks.com, a three-round projection has the Broncos drafting with the No. 23 pick. The first two Broncos selections are no surprise since they are Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still and Washington running back Chris Polk.

The third round selection of FSU offensive tackle Andrew Datko will draw some questions. After one season, Orlando Franklin, according to the explanation of this pick, can't pass block and needs to be replaced immediately. Franklin has not been the best pass blocker, sure, but he needs more than one season to prove that. He is an ideal run blocker on the right side, though.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. To learn more about the NFL Draft and the college bowl season head over to SB Nation NFL and SB Nation NCAA Football.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Broncos Selecting A DT All Too Commonplace

Predicting the NFL Draft four months before it takes place is a fool's errand, but there is some value to these premature projections since they at least provide some sense of what might happen in April. CBS Sports' Dane Brugler has updated his mock draft and has the Denver Broncos selecting Clemson defensive tackle Brandon Thompson with the No. 25 pick. Defensive tackle, which has been and will continue to be repeated endlessly as the draft approaches, is the obvious choice since the Broncos don't have a top young talent.

Around the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs also have an obvious choice of drafting an offensive tackle, and Stanford's Jonathan Martin goes off the board at No. 11 to them. The San Diego Chargers dip into the state of California and draft USC's Nick Perry, a pass rusher who would be out to chase Tim Tebow in the future.

And the Oakland Raiders don't have a first-round pick since they sent it to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Carson Palmer trade.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. To learn more about the NFL Draft and the college bowl season head over to SB Nation NFL and SB Nation NCAA Football.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Will Denver Look To Miami Hurricanes' Lamar Miller To Replenish RB Position?

The Denver Broncos have been powered by a strong defense and a revived rushing attack in 2011, allowing them to be in contention for the AFC West title. But the Broncos would do well to think about drafting a long-term answer at running back in the 2012 NFL Draft. Might the Broncos be able to draft one of the top backs in the draft?

In Russ Lande's latest NFL mock draft at the Sporting News, the Broncos select Lamar Miller of the Miami Hurricanes with the No. 21 overall pick. As Lande points out, Willis McGahee, despite rejuvenating his career by moving to Denver, will be 31 in 2012. Injuries have certainly slowed McGahee down this season, though he did break the 1,000 yard mark.

Miller rushed for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns in 2011 before declaring for the draft in mid-December. The Broncos last drafted a Miami running back in 2002 when they selected Clinton Portis in the second round.

In Lande's mock, however, there is the tantalizing possibility that Alabama's Trent Richardson could drop into the 20s. As it stands, Lande has Richardson off the board at No. 19 to the New York Jets. Running backs usually fall in the first round, and it's not out of the question that Richardson could as well.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. To learn more about the NFL Draft and the college bowl season head over to SB Nation NFL and SB Nation NCAA Football.

NFL Draft 2012: TicketCity Bowl Will Provide Broncos With Look At Penn State DT Devon Still

Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still has been one of the popular choices for the Denver Broncos in many 2012 NFL Mock drafts since it is a position the team does appear to have a need at entering the offseason. Steve Muench at ESPN Insider's NFL Draft blog highlights Still as one of the Big Ten players to watch during the bowl season and believes Denver would be a good landing place for the defensive tackle:

Still can line up on the inside in a four-man front and outside in a three-man front. It will be interesting to see how Denver addresses the defensive tackle position in terms of free agency, but adding Still late in the first round or early in the second makes sense for a Broncos team that could strengthen its run defense.

The arguments for this are tiresome now: Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas are impending free agents, Ty Warren is injury prone and Kevin Vickerson is a decent player. Adding Still would be the infusion of young talent the Broncos didn't add in 2011.

Still will battle against the offensive line of the Houston Cougars in the TicketCity Bowl on Jan. 2, which takes place at the Cotton Bowl (since the actual Cotton Bowl game is no longer played there). Will he be able to overpower those linemen and knock Case Keenum to the ground?

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Denver Broncos Could Look At Washington RB Chris Polk

It's no secret that the Denver Broncos rushing attack has been revived in 2011 with the arrival of Willis McGahee, but the 30-year-old back isn't aging backward. The Broncos will likely need to address the position in the 2012 draft. WalterFootball.com sees the Broncos looking at Washington running back Chris Polk in the second round.

It makes sense even if McGahee still has several serviceable years left in the tank. Knowshon Moreno tore his ACL earlier in the season and is likely to not return in 2012. Lance Ball is a decent backup, but he should not be considered a starter if the need ever arose.

Polk has rushed for 1,341 yards and 11 scores so far, and he has the Alamo Bowl against the Baylor Bears to show off his running skills. While Robert Griffin III is likely to the star of the bowl, keep an eye on Polk.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cornerback Needs To Be Addressed For Denver Broncos, CBS Sports' Dane Brugler Predicts

Sure, defensive tackle appears to be the position the Denver Broncos should look at in the 2012 NFL Draft, but the obvious position isn't always the correct one. CBS Sports' Dane Brugler still needs to have an updated mock draft now that Matt Barkley will return to USC for his senior season. But that doesn't affect the Broncos too much since Barkley was going to be a top 10 pick and unlikely to be the team's pick even if he fell down that far. Instead, Brugler opts for the Broncos to select Nebraska Cornhuskers cornerback Alfonzo Dennard with the No. 23 pick.

He makes a solid case for the selection. Champ Bailey, arguably one of the best corners in the league, is an aging veteran who needs help in the secondary. Andre Goodman isn't all that great while rookie Chris Harris has shown promise. But Dennard compares favorably to former teammate Prince Amukamara, who went in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

We'll know for sure that the Broncos are selecting among the playoffs teams should a victory over the Chiefs come on Sunday.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Denver Broncos Targeting DT Makes Sense In Early Mocks

Some positions on the field are likely feeling left out when it comes to the Denver Broncos' selection in 2012 NFL mock drafts. Defensive tackle appears to be the early favorite for the Broncos' selection in the April draft, but that's four months way. Right now, all those other positions are screaming (in a Jan Brady voice), "Defensive tackle, defensive tackle, defensive tackle."

And that's what is happening in WalterFootball.com's latest mock draft. With the No. 26 selection, the Broncos select Clemson defensive tackle Brandon Thompson, who has five sacks and 15 tackles for loss in his career as a Clemson Tiger. There's nothing wrong with selecting a defensive tackle -- the Broncos do need some new talent at the position (impending free agency for some, injury risk for others already there).

But as we saw in the 2011 draft, John Fox and John Elway really do stick to their board and draft the best available player, which was linebacker Von Miller over defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. Four months out and people don't want to have fun with their mock drafts?

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Draft Tek Predicts Penn State DT Devon Still For Broncos

The majority of the 2012 NFL Draft order will be set at the end of the day on Jan. 1, and the Denver Broncos will know whether they will pick among the non-playoff teams or if they will need to wait until a playoff run ends to determine if the selection will be in the 20s or 30s.

Before Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Broncos were still selecting at No. 23 in most mock drafts. Draft Tek had to run two different mock drafts earlier in the week once USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley announced his return to school for a senior year. However, neither draft projection forced the Broncos to look elsewhere for a defensive tackle. Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still is selected both times for Denver.

Here is an excerpt of what Scott Nelson had to write in his blurb:

While I admit I'd prefer to look in other directions here (LaMichael James or Vontaze Burfict anyone?), the Broncos could do much worse than taking the 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Either would appear to be a good fit for the Broncos as well. Burfict could replace Joe Mays in the middle of the linebacker corps. While Mays has proven effective, Burfict is perhaps the top linebacker in the draft should he come out and would form an outstanding trio with Von Miller and D.J. Williams (provided the latter is still with the team).

James would help the Broncos establish an even stronger ground game. Willis McGahee has found new life as a 30-year-old back, but we've seen over the last few weeks of the season that he is still an injury risk.

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NFL Mock Draft 2012: CBS Sports' Rob Rang Likes DT Jerel Worthy For Broncos

The 2012 NFL Draft might just be the year the Denver Broncos make an upgrade at defensive tackle in the first round. Most mock drafts four months away from the even see the Broncos going in that direction. CBS Sports' Rob Rang goes in that direction when he comes to the Broncos at No. 23.

Rang has seen improved play in the middle of the defense as a result of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, but adding a first-round talent on the defensive line could make it even stronger. That's why Rang goes with Michigan State's Jerel Worthy:

Worthy is a gamble as he lacks consistency, but he could be a star -- especially when protected by the type of talent John Fox has already on this roster.

Worthy would likely not be expected to start right away, either. Ty Warren should be back from a tron pectoral muscle, barring another injury. Kevin Vickerson will also be back from his season-ending injury while Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas could both be back. The latter two are playing on one-year contracts.

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2012 NFL Draft: Andrew Luck Looks To Follow In John Elway, Jim Plunkett's Steps As No. 1 Overall Pick From Stanford

Stanford Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in April's 2012 NFL Draft. Should that happen, Luck will be the fourth Cardinal to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick. All three have been quarterbacks: Bobby Garrett in 1954, Jim Plunkett in 1971 and John Elway in 1983.

Elway, as we all know, demanded a trade from the Baltimore Colts and wound up becoming a legend for the Denver Broncos. Luck has already broken several of Elway's record at Stanford and has been hailed as the next John Elway. In his ESPN Insider mock draft, Todd McShay calls Luck a "once-in-a-generation quarterback prospect."

The pressure on Luck to live up to labels like that is going to be immense. And if the Indianapolis Colts decide to select Luck and move Peyton Manning, Luck will need to convert an entire franchise to support him almost immediately.

Can Luck be the next Elway?

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NFL Mock Draft 2012: Denver Broncos Appear To Need Help At DT, RB

Now that USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley has decided to bypass the 2012 NFL Draft and return for his senior year of school, mock drafts are going need to adjust now. Stanford's Andrew Luck and Baylor's Robert Griffin are the only sure-fire top 10 selections at quarterback. But for the Denver Broncos, this is rather irrelevant for the most part.

While this is a pre-Barkley mock draft, Optimum Scouting tries its hand at a two-round mock draft. Just like many other mock drafts out there now, the popular selection is for the Broncos to look at defensive tackle in the first round. OS, however, steers clear of players like Jerel Worthy or Devon Still and goes with Nebraska's Jared Crick. Crick had 18.5 sacks the previous two seasons before a torn pectoral muscle ended his 2011 season after just a few games.

Then with its second pick, the Broncos take Virginia Tech running back David Wilson. He's picked up 1,627 yards on the ground and has plenty of speed to run through NFL defenses.

Adding Crick, if healthy, and Wilson would be a solid first two picks for the Broncos. Prospect evaluation time is just beginning, though.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Todd McShay Predicts Offense For Chiefs, Defense For Chargers

In Todd McShay's ESPN Insider mock draft, we saw that the Denver Broncos had selected Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still with the No. 23 overall selection. But we can't view a mock draft (or any real draft) in isolation. Where did the Broncos' division rivals upgrade their teams at?

The Kansas City Chiefs currently hold the highest draft pick and are selecting No. 12 in McShay's mock. He sees the Chiefs taking Stanford tackle Jonathan Martin because of impending free agency for Barry Richardson and Branden Albert's tenuous hold on being a tackle in the league. Depending on who is brought in as the new head coach, a quarterback could possibly be looked at, but maybe the team decides between Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton.

The San Diego Chargers select just a few spots later at No. 15. Had McShay not given the Chiefs in this scenario, Martin might have been McShay's selection here (had he not had the Cardinals select him, either). Instead, McShay goes with the best player available (you know, according to him) and has the Chargers grab Alabama safety Mark Barron. He and Eric Weddle in the same secondary might be scary for Tim Tebow, Carson Palmer and whoever is under center for the Chiefs.

The Raiders traded its first round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Palmer trade.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Denver Broncos Could Look At Washington RB Chris Polk

If doing a one-round mock draft in December is awfully presumptuous, doing a two-round one is an even harder task. However, over at Mocking the Draft, Dan Kadar attempts to piece together a two-round mock without any trades (those are always hard to predict). For the Denver Broncos, this means choices at Nos. 24 and 57 right now. Who does Kadar believe the Broncos will bring in during the draft?

With the first pick, Kadar predicts the Broncos would like Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still. We already went over Still in Todd McShay's selection of the defensive tackle, but it is enough to say that drafting Still would definitely be a good move for the Broncos -- at least from the vantage point of December.

With the No. 57 pick, the Broncos address the backfield:

57. Denver Broncos - Chris Polk, RB, Washington
If the Broncos want to be a run-first team going forward (which they should), help for an aging Willis McGahee is needed. Polk is a strong running back, and head coach John Fox may see a little Jonathan Stewart in his game.

This is also another solid pick for the Broncos. McGahee has had a resurgence as a 30-year-old back, but even that can't last for long. Lance Ball isn't an ideal backup and Knowshon Moreno has proven to be injury-prone. Moreno is more than likely to not be a Bronco next season.

Polk, 5-foot-11 and 222 pounds, rushed for 1,341 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011. He will go up against the Baylor Bears in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: ESPN's Todd McShay Sees Denver Broncos Looking At DT, Like Penn State's Devon Still

With Tim Tebow nearly a lock to be the Denver Broncos 2012 starting quarterback and the team likely headed to the playoffs, John Elway and John Fox won't be looking to draft a quarterback in the first round come the April NFL Draft. Over at ESPN, Todd McShay has an Insider mock draft for the full first round. While he still leaves it open about the Broncos looking for a quarterback, he actually makes a sensible selection for the Broncos:

Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Tim Tebow is not yet locked in as the Broncos' long-term starting quarterback, but assuming Tebow does hold on to the job, Denver would do well to continue building on defense to complement a low-risk offensive philosophy. Still could help do that with his ability to disrupt plays and cause havoc in the middle.

In the 2011 draft, the lead up to the actual even was mostly centered on the Broncos selecting a defensive tackle since the team had an awful run defense and little in the way of talent on the line. Alabama defensive tackle and ultimately Buffalo Bills draft selection Marcell Dareus was thought to be the selection. Ultimately the Broncos went with linebacker Von Miller, who was their top-rated defensive player on the board.

Defensive tackle isn't any longer a glaring weakness for the Broncos as it was last season, but adding a talent like Still (11 career sacks, 4.5 in 2011) would anchor the line in the years to come. Brodrick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas are both free agents, and Ty Warren is coming back from injury. He would definitely be a solid addition to the Broncos, but, as always, four months remain until we know what actually happens.

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NFL Draft 2012: John Elway Hopes Tim Tebow Is 'That Guy,' Will Likely Avoid Quarterback Early In Draft

While many Denver Broncos fans are pretty sure that Tim Tebow is the starting quarterback for the team in 2012, neither head coach John Fox nor executive vice president have explicitly stated that Tebow has the position. And even John Elway's most recent comments to Associated Press reporter Arnie Stapleton are a mild endorsement for Tebow in 2012:

"Tim Tebow's not going anywhere," Elway said. "I mean, he's going to be a Bronco and we're going to do everything we can and hopefully he's that guy."

That's probably the closest we'll find Elway endorsing Tebow's future as starting quarterback, but it does also seem to mean that the team isn't considering using a high draft pick on a quarterback in April's draft to compete with Tebow to be the starter. The Broncos are looking at a pick somewhere in the 20s unless they lose the last two games of the season or make it all the way to the Super Bowl. Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Matt Barkley all likely to be taken within the top 10 picks.

Better yet, the Broncos should look for a quarterback in the mid to late rounds that can be developed as a backup who can run the system if Tebow for some reason is unable to play. Right now, the Broncos would need to go to a different playbook if Tebow got injured and Brady Quinn needed to play.

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NFL Draft 2012: Miami's Lamar Miller Compared To Former Denver Broncos RB Clinton Portis

One of the things draft analysts like to do is compare prospects to current NFL players who attended that school. We've heard all about Andrew Luck and John Elway at Stanford. Down in Florida, Miami Hurricanes redshirt sophomore Lamar Miller is garnering comparisons to former Hurricane and Denver Broncos Clinton Portis, according to Russ Lande of the Sporting News:

From everything we have seen on film and heard from scouts, Miller is a similar athlete to former Hurricanes back Clinton Portis, but Miller is not as aggressive a runner as Portis was.

Portis, as we recall, fell to the second round in the 2002 draft and was selected behind the likes of William Green, T.J. Duckett and DeShaun Foster before his name was called with the 51st overall selection.

Miller ran for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns in 2011, and Lande believes Miller's speed and burst-through ability will make him a first round pick. Depending on where the Broncos are selecting, Miller could be worth a look at. Knowshon Moreno is likely gone and while Willis McGahee has turned his career back on the right track, he will be 31 years olf next season and not getting any younger.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Denver Broncos Could Look For Help At DT

With just three weeks left in the NFL regular season, the 2012 NFL Draft order is close to being set for the non-postseason teams. At the moment, that means the Denver Broncos and 11 other teams are waiting to make their quest for the Super Bowl a reality. But for purposes of mock draft, the Broncos are picking in the early to mid-20s at this point since they are 8-5 and still in a tight race to win the AFC West.

Over at Mocking the Draft, a pre-bowl game mock draft has the Broncos selecting Memphis Tigers defensive tackle Dontari Poe with the No. 24 overall pick. The defensive tackle position is certainly a position where the Broncos could use an upgrade at, but it is wrong to characterize the current state of the team's tackles as thus:

The stop gap DT's in Denver, Bunkley and Thomas, have held up surprisingly well.

Marcus Thomas and Brodrick Bunkley have turned into more than stopgap players, and the team will likely try to re-sign both of them. The team is also expected to have back Kevin Vickerson and Ty Warren, both of who were lost to injury for the seasons.

Poe is 6 foot 5 and 350 pounds, a real run stuffer. He has 87 career tackles and five sacks.

Adding a rookie first-rounder at the position certainly helps depth and will push the others to perform at their peak, one would hope. As always, four months.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Clemson DT Brandon Thompson Turned Out For Broncos In Draft Tek's Model

Making NFL mock drafts during the regular season is likely a model of futility because we don't know the final draft order, free agency can affect a team's plans and there are still months of evaluations to go. Nonetheless, speculation is always fun.

Over at Draft Tek, the computer model the team over there uses has plugged in Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Brandon Thompson for the Denver Broncos at the No. 24 overall pick. As the blurb on the selection points out, Marcus Thomas and Broderick Bunkley have provided solid play at the position for the Broncos at the position, though both are free agents. The Broncos, though, would also get back Ty Warren and Kevin Vickerson next season, two players lost to season-ending injuries. And that goes to show that a team needs depth at the position.

Thompson would be a solid addition as a run-stuffer. If he does spend as much time in the opposing backfield, as Scott Nelson writes in the blurb, the Broncos or whoever drafts him will have a great addition to the defensive line. But always keep in mind, there's four months to go.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Would DT Jerel Worthy Be A Good Addition For The Denver Broncos?

If there's one thing the Denver Broncos have learned over these past two years, it is that a team can never have too much depth on the defensive line. It hurt the Broncos in 2010 and it could have hurt them in 2011. Ty Warren was lost before he even took a regular season snap for the Broncos and Kevin Vickerson was lost as well. However, the team also brought back Marcus Thomas as a free agent and traded for Broderick Bunkley, both a huge part of a resurgent Broncos defense this season.

However, the Broncos are far from settled at the position. In Chad Reuters' latest mock draft for CBS Sports, the Broncos select Michigan St. Spartans defensive tackle Jerel Worthy with the No. 23 overall pick. Reuter's writeup is mostly about John Elway trading down or waiting until some time in the second round to select a quarterback, which really doesn't mesh so well right now.

However, Reuter is correct that the Broncos need an upgrade at the position. Worthy has 12 sacks in his career as a Spartan and the team could certainly use a push up front. Still, we've got four more months to figure this all out.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: Is A Tight End In The Denver Broncos' 1st Round Future?

We're a bit more than four months out from the 2012 NFL Draft, but that won't stop the mock drafts from coming out. The draft is finally reaching a point where most of it will be settled and the week-in, week-out results won't fluctuate wildly over the final three weeks of the regular season.

If we look at CBS Sports' Rob Rang and his latest NFL mock draft, he has the Broncos selecting Clemson Tigers tight end Dwayne Allen at the No. 23 slot. Allen, 6 foot 4 and 255 pounds, had 48 receptions for 577 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2011. Rang writes that Allen is a "solid blocker."

The tight end position has mostly been non-existent for the Broncos this season. Daniel Fells has not had much of an impact, rookie Julius Thomas has dealt with injury and the transition to being a full-time football player and Dante Rosario has been silent as well.

Allen might be a good player, but the Broncos could certainly do better in April by looking elsewhere. And we only have four months to go before we find who the Broncos will select.

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2012 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation Predicts Baylor's Kendall Wright To Denver Broncos

There are still a few weeks until the end of the 2011 NFL regular season, but it's never too soon to start with the SB Nation 2012 NFL mock drafts.The Denver Broncos have risen from what looked to be a lost season a high draft pick to now holding the No. 25 overall pick. And that means no Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III or Matt Barkley for the team -- however, one feels about that.

As for whom the Broncos will select, Ryan Van Bibber has the Broncos selecting Griffin's wide receiver at Baylor, Kendall Wright. He has 101 receptions for 1,572 yards and 13 touchdowns. Van Bibber terms Wright a "downfield threat."

It would be a decent selection. The Broncos have Demaryius Thomas emerging as a go-to receiver (his multiple drops on Sunday, notwithstanding) and Eric Decker is likely better suited as the No. 3 receiver in the future. Tebow will need a strong supporting cast around him in order to continue to succeed.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL.

NFL Draft 2012: Mel Kiper Lists Boise State's Doug Martin, Nate Potter As Top Seniors At Positions

While the Boise St. Broncos wait to play in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl in a couple of weeks, many seniors will also prepare to move on to the level, te NFL. The Broncos should have a a few guys this year who make it in some form to the league.

If we look at Mel Kiper's top five seniors by position, the Broncos have two players on this collection of lists. At running back, Doug Martin is listed as the top senior back available. Martin, 5 foot 9 and 215 pounds, has rushed for 1,148 yards and could break his season-record during the bowl game with 113 yards. He has 42 career touchdowns, 15 this season. He won't find himself taken in the early rounds of the draft.

The other Boise State player to appear is tackle Nate Potter as the No. 4 guy at his position. He isn't former Boise State Bronco and current Denver Broncos Ryan Clady, but Kiper sees Potter's versatility helping his draft stock.

Also making the list is Colorado Buffaloes guard Ryan Miller as the No. 4 offensive guard.

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NFL Draft 2012: Denver Broncos Keep Moving Toward End Of Round 1

The Denver Broncos, once staring a top 10 draft pick in the face, have improved their place in the NFL standings and are now scheduled for a selection in the early 20s. Right now, that pick comes at No. 22, but that is as part of a glut of nine teams with a 7-5 record.

Yet, questions still remain on whether the Broncos should draft a quarterback. As the Denver Post's Jeff Legwold recently examined, should the Broncos keep Tim Tebow as the starting quarterback the team still needs a backup for him. Brady Quinn is a free agent and Adam Weber is only on the current practice squad. Weber doesn't have the same football game as Tebow does, and the Broncos ideally wouldn't want to have two playbooks.

The Broncos don't need to draft a quarterback in the first round, obviously, but until or if John Elway and John Fox give Tim Tebow their seal of approval in 2012, there will certainly be much speculation about what the team should do at quarterback.

For in-depth coverage of the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. For more on the NFL, be sure to check out SB Nation NFL.

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Peter Schrager Says Denver Broncos Will Add To Defensive Line

With the NFL regular season past the mid-point and the college football regular season nearing an end, some NFL mock draft speculation has begun. Fox Sports' Peter Schrager has compiled his first mock and projects the Denver Broncos will strengthen their defensive line:

15. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State: The Broncos struck gold with Von Miller in the first round last year. Look for John Fox to scoop up some interior defensive-line talent in 2012. A 6-4, 310 pound run-stuffer out of Wilmington, Delaware, Still is a four-year starter in Happy Valley. The Denver defense has played extremely well of late. Adding a big presence like Still would only make the young Denver D more dangerous.

The Broncos currently rank 18th in the NFL in total defense and 16th in rushing defense. Still has 16-1/2 tackles for loss at Penn State this season.

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2012 NFL Draft Order: Denver Broncos Looking At Top 10 Pick Midway Through 2011 Season

The 2012 NFL draft is still months away, but the Denver Broncos are already staring at a top 10 pick for a second year in a row.