With the draft done and the slimmest of pickings remaining in veteran free agency, the biggest question the Broncos have remaining is how -- or if -- they have improved in the front seven.
Denver came into the draft with what seemed to be a strong need at defensive line and, to a lesser extent, linebacker. The Broncos drafted Tennessee's Robert Ayers with their second first-round pick. He will start his career at end, although he could play outside linebacker.
Among the Broncos' other nine picks, they didn't select one defensive lineman or linebacker. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he didn't like the available players at those positions in this draft.
"I don't think this was a very deep draft in terms of players that would fit our system in those areas," McDaniels said.
Denver is switching to a 3-4 defense and McDaniels said even before the draft that he had a hard time projecting how a 4-3 player would fit in an entirely new scheme. Two of the top defensive front seven players Denver passed were Texas' Brian Orakpo in the first round and Florida State's Everette Brown in the second.
The Broncos didn't stray from their draft board to fill a need. That seems like it will be a typical strategy for the team under the new regime. McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders had their targeted players an
d they usually took the best one available.
McDaniels said, even though Denver had needs in the front seven, he wasn't going to reach for a player just because the Broncos had an immediate need there.
"When you get to a selection and you have a player you valued much higher than another player, in my opinion, I don't think you want to draft someone just because he plays a certain position," McDaniels said.
