2. OLB Von Miller C-

Von Miller has #2 pick value as a 3-4 rush linebacker and he has #2 pick value on 3^rd down in a 4-3, but he doesn’t have #2 pick value on all 3 downs in a 4-3, which makes this a bad pick. On 1^st and 2^nd downs, he’s a stand up outside linebacker, a new full time position for him, and while I think he can be an above average outside linebacker, you just don’t take above average outside linebackers in the top 2. The last two teams to pick outside linebackers early are the Redskins (LaVar Arrington) and the Seahawks (Aaron Curry). Both regret it. I think Denver will too.

45. S Rahim Moore A

A lot of people had them taking Moore with their first pick in the 2^nd round, but the Broncos were smart and were able to trade down and still get their guy. Safety was a huge need for them.

46. OT Orlando Franklin C-

They probably drafted Franklin with the intention of playing him at right tackle, because right tackle was a bigger need for them than guard, but I have some doubts about his ability to play there and I think he was a reach of at least a round. I didn’t have a 2^nd round grade on him. Marvin Austin and Stephen Paea would have made a ton of sense here to fill their defensive tackle need.

67. MLB Nate Irving A-

Irving is one of the more underrated players in this draft and he fills a need for them at middle linebacker. He was a minor reach here and I still don’t like that they haven’t taken a defensive tackle, but I’m far from hating this pick like a lot of people do.

108. S Quinton Carter A-

Carter fits the range and they do need another safety because of Brian Dawkins’ age, but I think a 2^nd safety should have been much further down on their list than a defensive tackle.

129. TE Julius Thomas B

A tight end was a need, but I think Thomas was a minor reach at this point and defensive tackle was a much more glaring need than tight end at this point. They needed to get two defensive tackles out of this draft. They’ve gotten none.

189. OLB Mike Mohamed A

Another linebacker actually makes sense with Miller playing end on 3^rd down. Mohamed is a great value at this point. I think he was very underrated and had a 3^rd round grade in my book. He can also play special teams.

204. TE Virgil Green B

Another tight end? Green was a good value at this point and a better value than Thomas was at 129, but they didn’t need two tight ends. Cornerback, defensive tackle, and running back would have been way more sense here.

247. DE Jeremy Beal A

Say what you want about his athleticism, but he has 27 sacks in the last 3 years in a major conference. He was well worth the 7^th round selection and he does have a role on this team. Elvis Dumervil is coming off a major injury. Robert Ayers is currently a bust, though he could turn that around in a 4-3. Von Miller will only play end on 3^rd down and 2^nd and longs. And you can never have enough guys who can get to the quarterback and this guy proved he could at Oklahoma. Beal also played linebacker at Oklahoma.

Overall:

The Broncos actually had some nice picks. I gave 5 of their 9 picks some form of an A, but I think they really messed up their first selection and they also didn’t fill their biggest need, defensive tackle, at all. They needed two players at that position they got none. I think John Elway was pulling the strings more than John Fox was. John Fox loves to build in the trenches and hates tight ends. Von Miller is a very, very, very talented player, but he only has #2 pick value in a 3-4. In a 4-3, he’ll only be able to rush the passer on 3^rd down, 2^nd and long, and on linebacker blitzes. The rest of the time, he’ll just be a stand up linebacker. He’ll have to learn the position and I think he’s going to be an above average linebacker, but it’s the 2^nd pick. I also didn’t like the Orlando Franklin selection.

Grade: C+