2011 NFL Draft Results: Von Miller Picked By Denver Broncos
With the second pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. It’s an intriguing pick as Miller was thought to be a prototypical 3-4 linebacker, but was seen as a poor fit for a 4-3 scheme. At Texas A&M, he primarily came off the edge and rushed the passer, but in Denver, he’ll be asked to drop into coverage, support the run and rush the passer. How he transitions will be a storyline to watch.
Von Miller may be one of the most athletic prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft and put up off-the-charts measurements throughout the workout circuit leading up to Thursday’s first round. At 6-foot-3, 249 pounds, Miller ran a 4.42 40-yard-dash and recorded a 37-inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine while wowing scouts with his agility and athleticism. Miller was a tweener at Texas A&M, working as a linebacker/defensive end hybrid while primarily rushing the passer. His 10.5 sacks led the Big 12 in 2010, and earned him the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker.
While Miller landed near the top of every draft expert’s big board, concerns about how he’d fit an NFL scheme have persisted. Miller is a pass-rushing linebacker first, but has shown the ability to drop in the coverage at times, including at the 2011 Senior Bow. He’s best suited for a 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker and it remains to be seen if he’s durable enough to hold-up against the run.
For more on Miller’s new home, head over to SB Nation’s Mile High Report.
The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft started at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28th, and SB Nation has everything you need to keep up with it: news, rumors, player profiles, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule, NFL mock drafts, draft projections and more. Check it all out at SB Nation’s NFL Draft hub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft.
