2012 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 2, Pick 57

With the 57th pick in the SB Nation NFL writer's mock draft, the Denver Broncos select Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard.

Sayre Bedinger explains: After taking Michael Brockers in the first round, I was prepared to go with either the best running back or best cornerback on the board. I think there is good value here with Chris Polk as well, but getting a guy with the potential of Alfonzo Dennard at the cornerback position is too much to pass up on at this point. Dennard was once considered among the best cornerbacks in the draft, and I still have him ranked 44th overall on my board. The Broncos just cut Andre’ Goodman, and have some guys coming off of injured reserve in Syd’Quan Thompson and Cassius Vaughn, but adding Dennard seems to make sense with what I’ve been hearing they want to do.

Denver also signed Tracy Porter, but just to a one-year contract and I think breakout undrafted rookie Chris Harris is better suited as a nickel defensive back, so this could very well wind up being the pick. In today’s NFL, you can never have enough pass rushers, and you can never have enough guys ready to stop opposing quarterbacks. I think Broncos fans would be very pleased with this selection.

Dan Kadar responds: Dennard has largely gone under the radar. He's not a physical freak size or speed wise and he had some injuries in 2011. But when he's on, there were few better cornerbacks in college football the past two seasons. Don't forget, most considered him better than Prince Amukamara, who was a first-round pick. Dennard shut down Iowa's Marvin McNutt and Michigan State's B.J. Cunningham in 2011, which proves he can handle bigger receivers. It's likely, though, that Dennard slips down this far in the draft. But whatever team gets him, the Broncos in this case, will get a dependable starter and excellent tackler.

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