We interrupt this non-stop Broncos quarterback draft talk to deliver a message to general manager George Paton: Don’t forget about Vic.
If Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain is there at 9 on Thursday night, consider him to help coach/defensive play-caller Vic Fangio.
If Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons is available after trading down into the teens, take him.
And during rounds 2-3 on Friday, draft an edge rusher and a defensive end.
Going defense-defense-defense may be a practical plan, but also the right one, even if a quarterback is taken in the first round.
Fangio’s first two Broncos drafts have been all about the offense — only six of the 16 picks in 2019-20 played defense and none in the first two rounds.
The only “hit” among the defensive picks so far is end Dre’Mont Jones.
The offensive focus the past two years is evident by the Broncos’ on-paper starting defense. Only five of the 11 were drafted by the organization compared to eight on offense.
During pre-draft meetings, Fangio has spent ample time with the Broncos’ scouts, and especially Paton, describing the characteristics he wants out of edge rushers and cornerbacks, defensive ends and inside linebackers.
“All of the scouts have to be an expert and I have to be an expert and Vic’s been so great with the scouts and with myself in articulating exactly what he needs on defense,” Paton said. “It’s really important.”
This weekend’s draft is really important for the Broncos’ present and future.
The present: There are defense-wide depth issues. Name a starter the Broncos can afford to lose. Who replaces safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson? Or outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Von Miller. Or cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. Or defensive ends Jones and Shelby Harris. The season would be kaput if even two of those players missed significant time.
The future: In 2022, the Broncos could have new starters at edge rusher, inside linebacker, No. 1 or 2 cornerback and strong safety.
Teams Fangio has worked for in the past have used the first round to add several dependable defensive starters.
This will be Fangio’s 22nd draft as a defensive play-caller — three apiece with the Broncos and Indianapolis (1999-2001) and four apiece with Carolina (1995-98), Houston (2002-05), San Francisco (2011-14), and Chicago (2015-18). His teams have used a first-round pick on a defensive player 11 times.
The standouts were cornerback Tyrone Poole (Carolina ’95), who also played for Fangio in Indianapolis, defensive end Aldon Smith (San Francisco ’11), safety Eric Reid (San Francisco ’13) and the best – inside linebacker Roquan Smith (Chicago ’18).
Smith made 121 tackles as a rookie and Fangio has been looking for a Roquan-type ever since.
The Broncos passed on linebacker Devin Bush in 2019 (trading down 10 spots) and seemed focused on linebacker Patrick Queen last year until receiver Jerry Jeudy was surprisingly available. Queen went to Baltimore.
One more stat: In those 21 drafts, Fangio’s teams have had 41 picks in rounds 1-3 and only 17 have been defensive players.
The Broncos can go in multiple directions defensively in this year’s draft. Parsons could check the linebacker boxes Fangio covets (range, coverage ability, blitzing prowess). Miami pass rusher Jaelan Phillips (eight sacks last year) would be a good late first-round pick. And the Broncos should act if Central Florida safety Richie Grant fell to No. 40.
Seven players on the Broncos’ current two-deep defense are free agents, not including Chubb who is expected to have his fifth-year option exercised after the draft.
The Broncos’ modus operandi this year, if the quarterback is Drew Lock, Justin Fields, Teddy Bridgewater or Somebody Else, should be to win with defense. That started in free agency and should continue in the draft.
Fangio’s first-rounders
This week will be Broncos coach Vic Fangio’s 22nd NFL draft as a defensive play-caller. A look back at his teams’ first-round defensive players:
| Year | Name | Team | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CB Tyrone Poole | Carolina | 18 INT in 144 games |
| 1998 | DE Jason Peter | Carolina | 7 1/2 sacks in 38 games |
| 2000 | LB Rob Morris | Indianapolis | Two 100-tackle seasons |
| 2004 | CB Dunta Robinson | Houston | Six INT as rookie |
| 2004 | DE Jason Babin | Houston | Played for eight teams |
| 2005 | DT Travis Johnson | Houston | Two sacks in four years |
| 2011 | DE Aldon Smith | San Francisco | 33 1/2 sacks first two years |
| 2013 | S Eric Reid | San Francisco | Made Pro Bowl as rookie |
| 2014 | DB Jimmie Ward | San Francisco | Still with 49ers as FS |
| 2016 | OLB Leonard Floyd | Chicago | 18 1/2 sacks for Bears |
| 2018 | ILB Roquan Smith | Chicago | 121 tackles as rookie |
April 27, 2021 at 10:09PM
https://www.denverpost.com/2021/04/27/broncos-vic-fangio-defense-nfl-draft/
Amid QB talk, Broncos can’t forget about adding to Vic Fangio’s defense - The Denver Post
https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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