We are one year away from the 2013 NFL Draft, but that doesn't stop anyone from predicting who will be selected in the event 12 months ahead of time. Over at SI.com, Andrew Perloff takes a stab at projecting the 2013 NFL Draft order and the players taken.
Based on the way things fall here, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos don't make the playoffs and receive the No. 17 overall draft pick. At this point, the Broncos select Texas Longhorns defensive end Alex Okafor:
The Broncos will jump on the tall, athletic defender. Okafor's linemate Jackson Jeffcoat will also get a lot of attention, but he's just a junior, and Mack Brown finds a way to get his players to stay through their senior year.
Okafor had 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a junior in 2011. He certainly appears to be a pass-rushing threat that any team could want. The Broncos already have Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller to attack the opposing quarterback, but it wouldn't hurt to have another outstanding talent there. Robert Ayers has never lived up to being a former first-round draft pick and Jason Hunter and the others are good for depth.
Head over to SB Nation NFL and Mocking the Draft for more on the 2012 NFL Draft. Keep abreast of all matters regarding the Denver Broncos at the Broncos blog Mile High Report.