As we saw in recent 2011 NFL mock drafts by Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is the projected pick for the Denver Broncos at No. 2 overall. Even SB Nation's Brian Galliford has the Broncos selecting Dareus at that pick. You can add CBS Sports' Rob Rang and Chad Reuter to that list as of April 4.
Rang believes Dareus would be the best pick to stuff the run on the Denver defensive line, something the team has failed to do recently. He does note, however, that the Broncos could also look to trade down. But without a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place by the time of the draft, it would be hard to trade that high of a draft pick. Reuter goes with Dareus because defensive end Da'Quan Bowers failed to answer his critics during his workout concerning his health. Dareus, therefore, would be the easy pick to help Robert Ayers and Elvis Dumervil, both of who will play defensive end in the new Broncos defense.
I just wonder at this point that, if all these draft prognosticators believe Marcell Dareus should be the pick for the Broncos, will he actually be the guy on April 28? No one appears to be giving much credence to the Broncos' interest in the quarterbacks--maybe because that interest is a smokescreen. But that's a lot of smoke given the number of quarterbacks they are interested in. And since trades are too hard to predict, that rules out scenarios to see who the Broncos could draft by dropping down a few spots.
And maybe Nick Fairley could still be in play that high. With three or so weeks until the draft, experts and fans still have plenty of time to dig into the mind of the Broncos' front office.