NFL Draft 2012: Broncos Free Agent Frenzy Leaves DT as Biggest Draft Day Need

The Denver Broncos have been one of the more active teams in free agency this season, adding the crown jewel of this year's class in quarterback Peyton Manning and picking up complementary pieces such as cornerback Tracy Porter.

However, the interior of a defensive line that ranked 22nd against the run in 2011 is still an area of need for the Broncos, and as ESPN's Bill Wiiliamson reports, defensive tackle is a position that Denver may look to address early in April's NFL draft. According to Williamson:

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Even though [Tracy] Porter is signed for just one year and [Champ] Bailey will turn 34 in June, the Broncos will probably draft a defensive tackle or a cornerback in the first round. Why? It’s more of an immediate need.

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Should the Broncos indeed look toward selecting a beefeater with one of their early choices in the 2012 draft, then there are a number of options that could be available to them, including the collegiate standouts listed below.

Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State

The 6'4" 298-pound Cox was a disruptive force in the Southeastern Conference last season, racking up 56 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble en route to being named a second team All-SEC performer.

Cox was also one of the stars of his position at the NFL combine in February, and as Chris Low of ESPN reported at the time, Cox impressed coaches and scouts in Indianapolis with his combination of strength and speed. Low said:

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Cox, who gave up his senior season to turn pro, was on display for the first time for the scouts, and at 6-4 and 298 pounds, ran a 4.79 in the 40-yard dash, which was one of the fastest times at the combine for an interior defensive lineman. Cox also showed impressive strength by doing 30 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press.

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It's possible that Cox won't make it to the 25th pick, but anything can happen once the clock starts ticking in New York in April, and in fact, it's Cox that I have the Broncos choosing in the first round of my latest mock draft.

Devon Still, Penn State

Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after a senior season that saw the 6'5" 303-pounder tally 55 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble while disrupting opposing offenses in a magnitude that those stats don't accurately reflect.

Still had a decent showing at the combine, but as Rob Rang of CBS Sports reports, the first team All-American was able to improve his draft stock significantly with an even better outing at Penn State's pro day on March 15. According to Rang:

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Still gave pro scouts more to think about Thursday at his pro day with a 4.95-second 40-yard dash and also did the short shuttle and L drill. Still battled injuries throughout his Penn State career. He had suffered from a back injury and turf toe late in his senior year but looked healthy at the combine and again at pro day.

He doesn't know which teams will be targeting him in next month's draft but is confident he'll be an early pick. 'I met with about 22 teams at the combine and they all showed real high interest,' he said.

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Even with that interest, Still has a better-than-average chance in this writer's opinion of being available when the Broncos' turn rolls around in the first round, and while Cox may be a slightly better prospect on paper, Still would be an excellent consolation prize who would slot nicely into Denver's 4-3 defense.

Mike Martin, Michigan

Should the Denver Broncos choose to wait a bit before addressing the defensive tackle position, then John Elway and company may want to take a look at Mike Martin of Michigan, who had 64 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a senior last season.

The 6'1" 306-pound Martin was one of the stars of the Senior Bowl in January, and even before that, Martin caught the eye of ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., who extolled the Wolverine standout's virtues in a conference call covered by AnnArbor.com. Kiper said:

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To me, if you look at the guys this year, Mike Martin, quick out of the blocks. You’ve got to like the fact he’s a former high school wrestler, and all the great things he did at Michigan.

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Martin followed up his success in Mobile with a solid performance at the scouting combine, where he was among the top players at his position in every one of the combine's drills. AnnArbor.com reports:

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[The combine is] designed to help sort the top prospects from the riffraff, and Martin responded spectacularly well. He came to the combine touting his bench press, but it was his overall performance in the field drills Monday that will leave the greatest impression.

He finished among the top four defensive tackles in every event, a display of power and speed.

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So, while the Denver Broncos have already had a very successful offseason, there is still plenty of room for the team to improve.

If the Broncos can continue to bolster their defense by strengthening the interior of the defensive front through the draft, then all that Super Bowl talk that accompanied Peyton Manning's arrival in the Mile High City may not have been so premature after all.

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