Denver Broncos Mock Draft Roundup

The Denver Broncos are putting together their own mock drafts out at Dove Valley this week. They go through the draft, looking at first-round scenarios that could play out Thursday night.

The Broncos have multiple needs this year, but the bigger needs aren't going to dictate what they do. General manager John Elway does not draft exclusively based on team need; instead, he goes with the best player available every year in the first round.

Here's a roundup of mock drafts from some of the top experts with a focus on who they have the Broncos selecting in the first round.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Jake Fisher

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Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has the Broncos going with an intriguing player in Round 1. Oregon's Jake Fisher is an offensive tackle who plays with a nice blend of size, speed and athleticism.

He is a huge prospect at 6'6" and has room on his frame to add more weight if needed. A former tight end, Fisher moves well and can mirror pass-rushers tasked with getting to his quarterback. Fisher started 35 games for the Ducks, and that experience comes in handy when going up against defenders who love to use second and third moves to create pressure.

Penalties have been a problem for Fisher in college. He'll get beaten on the outside at times and resort to simply dragging his man down to the ground, drawing an easy holding call. Fisher needs to play with better discipline to avoid flags that move the chains backward. He is not an overly powerful player, and he could use work as a run-blocker.

He's athletic enough to work well in the zone-blocking system. Many scouts could be overlooking Fisher right now in terms of connecting him with the Broncos. It's unlikely the Broncos are doing the same thing—he is a real target for Denver in Round 1.

Dane Brugler, CBS Sports: T.J. Clemmings

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Venturing over to NFLDraftScout.com (driven by CBS Sports) shows that both Rob Rang and Dane Brugler have the Broncos selecting Pittsburgh right tackle T.J. Clemmings in the first round.

You could argue that Clemmings has the highest upside of any right tackle prospect in this draft class. If Denver were to add his talents to the roster, it could work out brilliantly for the team.

Clemmings went to Pitt as a defensive end, and he brings that attitude to the offensive side of the ball. He's athletic and has a kick-step that helps him mirror edge-rushers on the outside. Clemmings has functional strength and understands leverage when pushing his man off the line of scrimmage as a run-blocker.

With limited experience at the position, Clemmings has to be categorized as a work in progress. His technique as a pass-protector needs work, and he also has to improve as a run-blocker. When asked to block at the second level, Clemmings will sometimes play a bit out of control.

Last year, the Broncos added Michigan offensive tackle Michael Schofield in the third round of the draft. He'll have a chance to win the starting job this year, and he could be the lead for the Broncos while Clemmings is further developed. If that were to happen, Clemmings might not take that long to become a better pro than Schofield is—or can be.

Clemmings would be a great addition for the Broncos.

Todd McShay, ESPN: D.J. Humphries

John Raoux/Associated Press

Todd McShay of ESPN believes the Broncos will address their offensive line in the first round by acquiring Florida offensive tackle D.J. Humphries.

It's easy to argue that Humphries is the most athletic offensive tackle in this draft class. He plays with natural knee bend, and he can be reliable when blocking a moving target at the second level. At 6'5", 307 pounds, Humphries has the strength and length to stunt edge-rushers who are looking to get after his quarterback.

His elite athleticism can actually be a double-edged sword. He is so athletic that he relies on his speed and quickness instead of proper technique and footwork. Humphries will have to show the willingness to improve and become a better technician as a pro.

The Broncos will be implementing a zone-blocking system this year under new head coach Gary Kubiak. He has a history of selecting athletic offensive tackles in the draft—although many are picked in the mid-to-late rounds. The only offensive tackle Kubiak selected with a first-round pick was Duane Brown in 2008.

Humphries is good enough to consider in the first round.

Matt Miller, Bleacher Report: La'el Collins

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller picks LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins for the Broncos. The move makes sense for a lot of reasons.

Collins would need little time to ramp up as a starter in the NFL. He could beat out both Chris Clark and Michael Schofield for the job in training camp.

He is a mean player who has an aggressive style. This makes him a fantastic run-blocker because he loves to beat his man and defeat his opponent with brute strength. He's a wide-bodied player who has the athleticism to be a "sticky blocker" at the second level of the defense. He has the lateral agility to work well in a zone-blocking system at right tackle.

Collins will struggle with his balance when facing elite edge-rushers. He'll need to work on maintaining his base when pass-blocking instead of lunging at quicker opponents.

Even with the deficiencies to his game, Collins would be a home run pick for the Broncos. He'd give them more power and attitude up front, and Collins could be a star from Day 1. He'll be helped in pass protection by the fact that Peyton Manning gets rid of the ball quicker than nearly every other quarterback in the league.

Mel Kiper, ESPN: Cameron Erving

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The godfather of draft analysts, Mel Kiper of ESPN, believes the Broncos will look for help in the middle of their offensive line. Like Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, Kiper has the Broncos selecting Florida State center Cameron Erving on the first day of the draft.

Erving is a talented player who could immediately contribute for the Broncos. The Broncos selected center Matt Paradis in the draft last year, but he never made it into a game as a rookie and instead developed on the practice squad. The team could add another center via the draft this year.

There's a lot to like about Erving.

A former defensive lineman, he was switched to the offensive side of the ball (as a tackle) two years ago. As a center, Erving fires out of his stance quickly and has the functional strength to control his man at the point of attack. He's athletic enough to work well in space and has the foot speed to get the second level of the defense and block.

Erving does have a few things to work on in order to play up to his potential as a pro. With limited experience as an offensive lineman, he has to hone his technique. He could use a year or two of developing before he's ready to start making line calls for his pro team.

If the Broncos select Erving, it is by no means a bad pick. However, it is interesting to add a center in the draft when you already traded for a center (Gino Gradkowski) earlier this year. It's also a curious move for the Broncos because longtime Houston Texans center (and 2005 Broncos draft pick) Chris Myers is still available in free agency.

Erving is a fantastic player who could be a mainstay at center for a decade. It just seems like Denver has other options out there and larger needs on the offensive line.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions. Draft grades provided by NFLDraftScout.com.