When your NFL franchise's greatest asset is an aging, injury-prone quarterback, it behooves you to create the strongest offensive line possible in order to keep said signal-caller upright and tossing touchdowns for as long as his increasingly frail body possibly can.
For the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning, even at age 34, is still far and away the best player on the team and the component on which their success as an organization hinges next season.
While many pre-2015 NFL Draft projections have Broncos GM John Elway looking to plug holes along the offensive line, presumably to aid Manning to a healthy 2015 campaign, recent reports suggest that Elway may actually be targeting additions for the defensive side of the ball in the early rounds later this week.
"While offensive line has to be in play, sources say that generally Gary Kubiak preferred to get linemen later," writes Charlie Campbell of Walter Football. "He had the view that good offensive linemen could be found and developed from picks after the first round. In his time with the Texans, Houston only took one offensive lineman in the first round during his 8-year tenure. That player was Duane Brown in 2008."
"Sources say that it shouldn't be a foregone conclusion that the Broncos go with an offensive lineman. They say that a defensive lineman or linebacker is also in the discussion for Denver."
Losing Orlando Franklin in free agency and the several difficult stretches the line faced would certainly make it seem like a first-round lineman is possible, but considering Kubiak's history and the needs also facing the Broncos on the other side of the ball, it seems defense and specifically linebacker, could be set to see the investment of a high 2015 NFL Draft selection.
One player Elway and Kubiak are reportedly high on is former Mississippi State 'backer, Benardrick McKinney.
"The Denver Broncos are another team I'm hearing linked to McKinney as they believe he'd fill their linebacker need," reports Tony Pauline of Draft Insider. "The other name associated with Denver in league circles is Paul Dawson of TCU. It must be mentioned the team has not shown a lot of interest in Dawson via the visit/workout route."
Dawson, of course, was viewed as one of the top linebackers in all of college football last season. He has since seen his draft stock tumble thanks to reports of a questionable work ethic and a poor showing at the NFL rookie scouting combine.
Still, Dawson finished last season for the Horned Frogs with 136 tackles - 20.0 for loss - six sacks, four interceptions and two forced fumbles.
His limited agility numbers may point to a two-down player, but his college production says Dawson has every chance of becoming a legitimate impact defender at the NFL level.
As for McKinney, he's a big, long defender known for playing a downhill, attacking style.
He also didn't perform as well at the scouting combine as many expected and thus should be available for the Broncos later in the first.
McKinney was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs and last year led the team with 71 tackles - eight for loss - and three sacks. He has experience at both inside and outside linebacker and could potentially prove to be a force on defense for the Broncos if put in the right situation.
