On Drafting Based On Need Over Best Player Available

To draft Peterson, or not to draft Peterson, that is the question at hand. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The 2011 NFL Draft is now just two weeks away, and the great debate among Broncos fans has been, “Should Denver draft by need or select the best player available?” Which can be translated as, should the Broncos draft Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, because defensive tackle is their biggest need?  Or, should they draft LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson because he is arguably the best player in the draft?

Four months ago I wrote an article touching on the above mentioned subject, an excerpt of it can be read below:

“[This is] about rebuilding a defense by starting in the trenches. A good pass rush can make any good cornerback look like a great one (just look at New Englands’ Devin McCourty).”

My stance on the matter is as follows; although Peterson is an outstanding cornerback and would be a great commodity to any defense, Denver’s defensive line is in shambles, and needs to be addressed more than the secondary. Seemingly, there is at least one former Denver Bronco that agrees with me.

Every week, the Denver Post gives readers a chance to submit “Fan Mail” for a current or former Broncos player; this week former safety John Lynch answered the fans‘ questions. When asked who he thought Denver should draft, Lynch noted that his instinct tells him they’ll trade back, before going on to say:

“Where I started to see the Broncos unravel was up front. I’m a huge believer that you have to be strong up the middle and up front. When I first came here, we had Trevor Pryce and Reggie Hayward on the D-line and we were looking pretty good. But we lost that talent up front.

“I mean, you can play with Hall of Famers in your defensive backfield, but if you don’t have talent up front, you can’t stop people. I think the Broncos have been putting a band aid on this issue for a long time. It’s something that needs to be addressed.” [Emphasis added]

That is coming from a future Hall of Fame defensive back who knows a thing or two about defenses. Lynch went on to say he thinks Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley would be the best option for Denver. While I would prefer Alabama’s Marcell Dareus, we are in consensus that defensive tackle is the position Denver must address.

That’s my view on the matter, share yours in the comments and vote in the poll below!

Assuming Denver does not (or cannot) trade down, who should they draft 2nd overall?

• Patrick Peterson (LSU Cornerback)
• Marcell Dareus (Alabama Defensive Tackle)
• Other

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