Arguments Against Drafting a Defensive Tackle

Part two in today’s series explores why the Broncos should not draft a defensive tackle in the first round.

The simple answer is that, by luck of the draw, a defensive tackle simply isn’t available at the 12 spot that is worth the 12th overall pick in the draft. Sedrick Ellis will certainly be gone, as early as #5 to the Chiefs, and Kentwan Balmer is pegged in the 20’s of the first round. There isn’t a prospect that fits the 12th pick in the draft.

Or is there?

I’m reminded of former Buffalo Bills coach and GM Marv Levy. In 2006, the Bills stirred the draft pot by selecting S Donte Whitner with the 8th overall pick. Most people had him pegged as a late first rounder, and Levy and the Bills took a lot of heat for reaching for such a player.

Levy responded firmly, saying he was at the top of their board. He didn’t care what other teams had on their boards; he didn’t care what the thousands of mock drafts on the Net had said. He cared about his own grade, and Whitner turned into a more than decent player for the Bills the past few seasons.

So should the Broncos do the same? If Balmer is ahead on their board, of course, they should do the same. But it would surprise me if he was that high.

Should they reach? There’s an argument to that. We have a huge need at a position. No one wants to trade down. We take that guy anyway and improve our biggest weakness. It’s not unheard of.

The problem, of course, is that any team drafting this high in the first round has a number of needs. We don’t have the luxury of targeting a specific position, like our AFC West friend Chargers. There are other players on the board at other positions that are a better prospect than someone like Balmer.

If the Broncos are set on drafting a defensive tackle in the first round, they should trade up high enough to take Ellis or down into the 20’s and target Balmer. It’s that simple. And I’d be happy with that.

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