The Broncos have put the finishing touches on their draft board this week as the clock winds down to the selections, starting Thursday at 6 p.m. (ESPN).
Coach John Fox has taken a long look at what the Broncos need and which players are available. And Tuesday morning, he said he sees some help where the Broncos need it long after the first round is done.
He rated the strongest positions in this draft as offensive tackle and defensive line, saying, “There could be anywhere from 10 to 15 defensive linemen taken in the first round.”
Fox is including the outside linebacker/pass-rusher types who will play in 3-4 defenses.
The depth is the two places Fox mentioned falls nicely into what the Broncos need, because they have openings in the defensive line and at right offensive tackle. It also means they can show some patience and can stick to the “best player available” strategy.
And with a management draft ensemble that includes first-timer John Elway to go with general manager Brian Xanders, who has more authority over personnel now than at any other time in his NFL career, the ability to show patience would help the outcome.
There is no need for the team to jump out and reach on a player to fill a need. There is depth at some of their biggest need positions, so the Broncos can stick to the board and play it by the numbers.
In the offensive line, that means players such as Texas Christian’s Marcus Cannon, Villanova’s Ben Ijalana, Georgia’s Clint Boling and Miami’s Orlando Franklin could be on the radar on Day 2.
Cannon is an absolute bruiser, one of the biggest linemen on the board at 6-foot-5, 358 pounds. He was a three-year starter at TCU. Ijalana was a four-year starter and will not turn 22 until August.
Ijalana started 53 games in his career; 50-game college starters in the offensive line have a fantastic success rate as NFL prospects.
Boling was a 49-game starter at Georgia, with starts at both guard spots and right tackle. Franklin plays with a nasty streak and started 39 games at tackle and guard combined for the Hurricanes.
In the defensive line, Oregon State’s Stephen Paea, North Carolina’s Marvin Austin, Miami’s Allen Bailey and USC’s Jurrell Casey are just some of the players pushed down the board some because of the depth in this year’s class.
Paea and Casey may fit a 3-4 scheme slightly better, but Casey in particular is an intriguing player because he is so quick off the ball. That often translates to becoming a productive NFL defensive tackle.
The Broncos had Austin and Bailey in for visits. Austin is talented but missed the 2010 season because of a suspension. Somes scouts question his effort.
Bailey projects more as an end but could play inside in some situations. He played 50 games for the Hurricanes, tied for third-most in school history.
Bailey struggles to get off blocks at times, but he is a physical phenomenon, having appeared in his first game at Miami as a linebacker. He won the school’s strength training award this past season while weighing 285 pounds.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
