Denver Broncos Targeting James Laurinaitis with 48th Pick?

Think back with me to the 2007 NFL Draft.

Remember Paul Posluszny?  He was a sure-fire first-round draft pick with star potential, only to fall to the Bills in the second round. 

Remember fellow Penn State linebacker Dan Connor in 2008's draft, who was also supposed to go in the first round? 

His stock collapsed on draft day, and he fell to the Carolina Panthers in the third round. 

Is Ohio State middle linebacker James Laurinaitis set up for the same fate? 

A recent article by Mike Klis of the Denver Post suggests so.

Klis reports that Denver has recently worked out both the former Ohio State star Laurinaitis and Utah linebacker Paul Kruger, likely targeting one of them with their second-round pick. 

Klis also suggests that Denver's first-round pick will likely be a defensive linemen (shocker), preferably B.J. Raji of Boston College.

My take

If the Broncos can come away from the first day of the draft with Raji and Laurinaitis, I will be a happy man. 

I am skeptical that Laurinaitis will fall to round two, but like Posluszny and Connor before him, it could happen. 

The 6'2", 244-pound linebacker has the potential to start at either MLB or OLB at the next level, and would be a great addition to the Broncos. 

Early speculation put him in the No. 12 slot overall, and I have heavily criticized it.  I am not sold on Laurinaitis as a high first-round pick, and apparently I was right.

In other news...

NFL.com's Pat Kirwan put out a mock draft recently, and he has the Broncos taking Raji with their first pick, and San Jose State defensive end Jarron Gilbert with their second. 

This would also be a very solid first day, although Denver fans would love to be able to get Evander "Ziggy" Hood in round two as well. 

Stay tuned for more draft news.