The Denver Broncos had a poor start last season, opening 1-4. That had people writing them off and thinking they would have another poor finish in the AFC West. But after quarterback Kyle Orton was replaced in the starting lineup by fan favorite Tim Tebow, the Broncos made one of the most entertaining runs in NFL history. Tebow would lead the Broncos to the AFC West title and a first-round playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Denver would bow down to the New England Patriots in the second round, in what ended up being Tebow's last start as a member of the Broncos. Denver was able to get future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning in the offseason, which led to Tebow being traded to the New York Jets. With Manning under center, the Broncos believe that they are primed to make another Super Bowl run. Here are some of the Broncos' big additions and subtractions so far in the young offseason, plus a breakdown of their biggest needs heading into the draft.
Additions:
Nfl 2012
QB Peyton Manning
CB Tracy Porter
TE Jacob Tamme
TE Joel Dreessen
WR Andre Caldwell
Subtractions:
QB Tim Tebow
WR/KR Eddie Royal
DT Brodrick Bunkley
DE Derrick Harvey
CB Jonathan Wilhite
TE Daniel Fells
Top 5 Needs:
1. Defensive Tackle
The loss of Brodrick Bunkley really hurt the Broncos, as they now have a glaring hole at defensive tackle. Pass rushers Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil are excellent, but the Broncos need to have somebody who will be able to stop the run on first and second down for the two to be successful. If the Broncos decide to address this need in the first round, they may look into drafting Penn State's Devon Still, but that might be a risk they are unwilling to take. Denver might use its 25th pick in the first round on a different position, filling this need via free agency or later on in the draft.
2. Linebacker
Middle linebacker Joe Mays clearly has no business being in the field as much as the Broncos are playing him, because he is a huge liability, and outside linebacker D.J. Williams will likely miss the first six games of the season for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. The team needs to add some help at both spots, whether it is through free agency or the draft.
3. Running Back
Last year, the team led the NFL with 164.5 yards/game on the ground. But with the addition of Manning and the loss of Tebow, the Broncos might not rely on the run as much as they did. It wouldn't hurt to look for an upgrade at running back, however, as Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno are no longer very reliable options moving forward.
4. Cornerback
Before they pried Tracy Porter away from the New Orleans Saints, the Broncos had this position as their biggest need. Porter will take over for Andre Goodman opposite Champ Bailey, but there isn't a whole lot of talent behind these two. And, at the age of 34, Bailey is no longer the same dominant player he once was. Denver could still use its first-round pick on one of the top corners left on the board, if the Broncos are unable to fill one of their primary needs with the pick.
5. Offensive Line
Left guard and center are certainly two positions at which the Broncos could use an upgrade. Starting right tackle Orlando Franklin could take over for Zane Beadles at guard, but for that to happen, the team will need to find a replacement for Franklin at tackle. Center J.D. Walton looked completely lost most weeks, and the team is already losing its patience waiting for him to figure it out. They need to strongly consider finding a replacement for Walton, or else we might see Manning chew out Walton a lot in 2012.
2012 Denver Broncos Offseason Needs
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