2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 2

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the Denver Broncos, at No. 2 overall.

John Bena of MileHighReport.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Broncos, and checking out Mile High Report for all of your Broncos needs.

John Bena explains: This pick could have easily gone three or four different ways - especially with the Panthers taking a quarterback at No. 1. The most likely avenue now for the Broncos would be to put the pick up for grabs, looking for a team like Arizona or San Francisco to move up. That would allow the Broncos to acquire more picks and be in a position to get one of the top-end defenders.

All that said, there are no trades in this mock draft, so I am left to make the pick myself. Marcell Dareus is a strong possibility here, but I feel the Broncos could address the DT position with one or both of their second-round picks. The draft is deep at DT, and the Broncos can take advantage of that. Patrick Peterson is an option as well, though I think the NFL rules changes on kickoffs may hurt his value a bit – at least in the short term.

For me, that left Von Miller. Linebacker is another huge position of need for the Broncos, and a position synonymous with Broncos football. I wanted the Broncos to get Rolando McClain in 2010, but the Raiders were able to grab him first. This year, the Broncos can get that impact linebacker and should take advantage of the opportunity. Miller would instantly inject athleticism onto a team that needs it, and with the Broncos going back to the 4-3 defense, they have need at the position. A group of D.J. Williams, Miller and Mario Haggan (or Wesley Woodyard) would be an upgrade - especially with Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers moving back to defensive end.

There were plenty of ways the Broncos can go, and they could do a lot worse than Von Miller at No. 2.

Dan Kadar reacts: No one, as far as I can tell, is projecting this pick. Everyone is under the impression, and for good reason, that Dareus is going to be the selection. However, the draft typically proves that none of us really know exactly what will happen.

With that in mind, the reasoning for picking Miller is sound. After coming from a rush linebacker/defensive end position, he may not make an immediate all-around impact in a 4-3 scheme. He may start out as a situational player, and that might not be the best usage of the second overall pick. Dareus, though, would fit right into Denver’s defense and can easily play three downs. While there is depth at defensive line this year, none of that depth possesses Dareus’ talent. [Von Miller Scouting Report]