Denver Broncos Look to Overhaul Defense in 2009 Draft

The Denver Broncos are a team on the rise for 2009, despite a historic collapse at the end of the 2008 campaign.  Now that they have the offseason to regroup, what direction will they take?

Whoever the new head coach and general manager are, they will be entering the 2009 NFL Draft with eight draft picks. 

Denver traded its sixth round selection to the New York Jets for Dewayne Robertson prior to last season's draft.  They also acquired fifth and sixth round picks from Seattle and Atlanta respectively; Seattle received Keary Colbert, and Atlanta received Domonique Foxworth.

In round one, Denver will undoubtedly be looking to improve the defensive side of the ball, and picking 12th overall, they will likely have many options. 

First priority should be USC safety Taylor Mays, who stands at a very imposing 6'3" and 230 pounds.

Mays isn't the best cover corner, but he has more speed than any other player of his size, and is definitely capable of making an impact in that area.  He is most dangerous as a tackler, and can move well with his reported 4.32 40-yard dash speed.

Another area of need is up front, which could be addressed in free agency.  If not, the Broncos could look at defensive end prospects Michael Johnson of Georgia Tech George Selvie of South Florida, and linebackers Rey Maualuga of USC and James Laurinaitis of Ohio State are also options.

At any rate, expect Denver's round one pick to come on the defensive side of the ball.

In round two, as many of you know, I think the Broncos should seriously consider Iowa running back Shonn Greene. 

Greene was the best running back in the country this season, but for some reason isn't being evaluated outside of the second round.  The Broncos could be getting the best player in the draft at pick 44 if he is still available.

His receiving skills need to be developed, but he hits the gap harder than any other back.  He also has the ability to make plays when he gets into the secondary.  He is truly a special player. 

I love his skill set much more than Chris "Beanie" Wells or Knowshon Moreno, and whoever gets him will have an excellent player.

In the later rounds, look for the Broncos to add depth at cornerback, defensive line, and wide receiver. 

Denver's new GM will have an interesting day come April 25, and you can expect the Broncos to significantly improve their defense in the coming months, hopefully starting with the hiring of Steve Spagnuolo as head coach.

I will be putting out a mock draft sometime later this week, so check there for my official projections of who the Broncos may take.