2009 Denver Broncos Offseason Update: DT B.J. Raji May Be "Too Hot" for Denver

With such an impressive week at the Senior Bowl, my initial favorite to land in Denver come draft day, defensive tackle B.J. Raji, has now skyrocketed up draft boards. It's now likely he will not be available at pick No. 12.

If the Denver Broncos want to be a "Super" team in 2009, they need to upgrade their defense in the worst way. Josh McDaniels' first pick as Broncos head coach needs to be a good one, and it needs to come on the defensive side of the ball. 

McDaniels stated in an interview earlier this week that Denver's transition to the 3-4 defense is going to be much more gradual than the media anticipates, and I agree with him wholeheartedly.

If Denver wants to capture the same intensity they had on the defensive side of the ball with the Orange Crush units of the late '70s-early '80s, they will need to select a leader with their first-round draft pick.

No player in this year's crop of athletes has proven to be a better leader than USC's standout linebacker Rey Maualuga.

Maualuga was the 2008 Chuck Bednarik Award recipient, as well as a First Team All-American. USC's defense was widely considered to be the best in the country in 2008, and Rey was unanimously the best player among that outstanding group. Denver would be blessed to be able to obtain him all the way down there at No. 12 overall, but they got the best player in the 2008 draft at that same pick.

At 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, Maualuga seems the ideal fit for inside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. While I have noted numerous times that linebacker is not a pressing area of need for Denver, Maualuga would be too good to be passed on.

Another option would be to trade down and take the best player available between Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Peria Jerry, Alphonso Smith, or Louis Delmas.

In round two, look for Denver to take either a running back or a defensive back.  I have gone on record numerous times saying that the second-round pick for the Broncos should be Iowa running back Shonn Greene, and I'm sticking to it.

If there's anything Denver's explosive offense lacks, it is a consistent running back with the ability to take over a game. Greene is a compact, powerful back, with great ability to make plays when he gets to the second and third levels. Remind you of anyone?

Obviously, comparing anyone to Terrell Davis is a stretch, but Greene's abilities warrant the comparisons.

On day two of the draft, the Broncos will have seven picks. With one of those seven picks, I expect Denver to stick with the Samoan "theme", and select Hawaii pass rush specialist David Veikune. 

In my latest mock draft, I have Denver taking Veikune in the third round. That may be a reach, but this guy has an intensity like you will find only in players such as Troy Polamalu. His motor never stops, and he could be a perfect fit for an edge rusher in the 3-4 defense.

After Veikune, I think McDaniels will look to an underrated receiver to be groomed under Brandon Stokley for the slot. That receiver is Rice's Jarrett Dillard, who has been the most statistically impressive wide receiver in the collegiate ranks in the past four years.

Dillard doesn't have the most impressive straight line speed, but he has leaping ability that makes him attractive to NFL scouts, and a nose for the end zone.

As far as free agency goes, I think Denver may need to break the bank for Albert Haynesworth. I just don't see how the Broncos could gamble on Raji being available with the No. 12 pick.

Haynesworth would be the dominant nose tackle that Denver would need to build the 3-4 defense around. 

In addition to the former Titan, I think the Broncos should look at safeties O.J. Atogwe, Jermaine Phillips, Mike Brown, and Sean Jones as other free-agent options.  Denver's defensive woes were not just because of a lack of production up front, but because Denver's starting safeties most of the season were Vernon Fox, Calvin Lowery, and Marquand Manuel.  Ever heard of them?

Josh Barrett has great potential, but may need a veteran presence to help him develop.  Look for Denver to sign two of the safeties mentioned to come in and start in 2009.

Stay tuned Broncos fans, it's going to be a wild offseason.