Denver has a team ready to go out and win a Superbowl in 2013. They have the luxury of not having to worry about filling any major holes and can use the draft to instead add depth in areas that need it. Champ Bailey has been great for them but isn’t getting any younger and the rest of the backfield (both at CB #2 and S) could use some additional fine tuning. The RB situation seems to be at hand with Moreno and Hillman, but look for Denver to draft at least one more back to round out and strengthen their stable.
Jan 01, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Johnthan Banks (13) warms up before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats in the Gator Bowl at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Round 1 – Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State – Denver can use a boost to the secondary and needs to find Champ Bailey’s eventual successor. Jonathan Banks can hit both these birds in one stone. He’s a two time all-SEC CB. Ran a sluggish 4.6 40 at the combine but can makes up for this because he can also play Safety (earned All-SEC Freshman honors starting at safety in 2009). This is a player whose technique is elite in this draft and whose only true knocks are at speed and build, something that can easily be fixed by the end of a tough Broncos training camp.
Nov 24, 2012; Norman OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Joseph Randle (1) dives for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-USA TODAY Sports
Round 2 – Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State – Denver saw spark from Knowshon Moreno at the end of last season but should add some insurance to their stable. Joseph Randle, if available to Denver in the 2nd would be a great compliment to Moreno and can make Denver one of the strongest 1-2 punches in the NFL. This guy is an all purpose back that can do it all, catch screen passes, pass blocks and can be an aggressive blocker in bubble and 2 back screens. Basically this is a guy that can pick up the slack in any area that Moreno may see challenges in while providing him his must needed constant competition for carries.
Jan 04, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas A
Late Round Sleeper – Jonathan Stewart, MLB, Texas A&M – Jonathan Stewart helped himself out with a great pro day where he improved his combine 40 from a 4.68 to a 4.55. He also had a very impressive positional workout. Denver should keep in mind that in college he had to share stats with some highly productive defensive players like Damontre Moore, Von Miller and Sean Porter, which means the stats (which includes a hearty 179 tackles for his junior and senior seasons) may be skewed a bit. He may have a higher ceiling than originally thought. What his college stats do prove is that he can be a consistent player and with development can potentially be an NFL starter. He’d be a great project player to develop in one of the weaker spots in Denver’s 2nd level and can use the success of his college buddy, Von Miller as motivation to go for a climb on the depth chart