Denver Broncos: Reviewing the 2011 NFL Draft class

By Fansided and Bruce Matson/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone
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Dec 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Denver Broncos Von Miller (58) celebrates after a defensive stop in the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. The Titans won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Examining the Denver Broncos 2011 NFL Draft to see which players developed into studs and which players became duds.

The Denver Broncos had one of their most successful drafts ever in 2011. The team had nine selections, including the number two overall pick followed by two second-round picks. The Broncos managed to draft the best pass rusher in the draft by selecting Von Miller with the second overall pick in the draft. Since then he has been a cornerstone defensive player for the team.

Denver finished the 2010 regular season with a 4-12 record, while placing dead last in the AFC West Division. The four teams they managed to defeat that year was the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans.

Quarterback was the Achilles heel for the offense, with Kyle Orton, who passed for 3,653 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing just 58.8 percent, as the teams starting quarterback that season. Tim Tebow also started three games, passing for 654 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 227 yards and six touchdowns.

The defense finished the 2010 season ranked 32nd in the league with 471 points allowed. The pass rush was one of the keys to the defense's dismal output by only sacking the quarterback just 23 time during the entire season. D.J. Williams led the team with just 5.5 sacks. The aging secondary led by Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey was starting show a depreciation in their skill sets. The entire defense needed an entire overhaul and the Denver Broncos planned to add some key pieces in the 2011 draft to increase the talent level on the defense.

The 2011 draft class was a key building block for the team's resurgence and was a major stepping stone towards their Super Bowl victory in 2015. If it wasn't for some of the players drafted in this draft class the Denver Broncos might not have made it to the Super Bowl in 2015. The team vastly improved with the players selected in the 2011 draft and some of the players from this draft are still contributing to the team's roster.

Jan 1, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) celebrates after a play in the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1, Pick 2: Von Miller, LB – Texas A&M

Due to their horrendous season in 2010, the Denver Broncos earned the second overall pick. The Broncos made the obvious choice by drafting Von Miller, linebacker from Texas A&M to hopefully be the team's main pass rusher for the future. He was considered one of the top talents in the draft next to Carolina Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton.

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    Miller started his rookie season off with a bang by accumulating 11.5 sacks while obtaining 50 tackles. He accounted for 11 or more sacks in six of his last seven seasons. He's considered one of the best pass rushers in the league and probably one of the most dominate defensive players Broncos history. He has sacked the quarterback 73.5 times since 2011.

    In July 2016, Miller signed a six-year, $114.5 million deal, making him one of the highest paid pass rushers in the league. In this deal he initially received a $17 million signing bonus and will receive $70 million in guaranteed money.

    Miller has turned out to be one of the best draft picks in the history of the Denver Broncos and is currently a cornerstone piece to the team. He is the heartbeat of the defense, the face of the franchise and one of the top players in the NFL.

    Sep 7, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos safety Rahim Moore (26) reacts after catching an interception during the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

    Round 2, Pick 45: Rahim Moore, DB – UCLA

    The Denver Broncos went into the 2011 NFL Draft with an aging defensive backfield which was one of the oldest in the league. The Broncos attempted to remedy the situation by drafting Rahim Moore, defensive back from UCLA.

    Moore finished his three-year collegiate career with 186 total tackles and 14 interceptions. In 2009 during his sophomore year he lead the nation with 10 interceptions. Moore was considered one of the top defensive backs in the draft that year and was considered a big steal for the Broncos in the second round.

    As a prospect, Moore was one of the least athletic defensive backs in the draft, ranking well below average in the 40-yard dash, bench press and vertical jump. At 6-1 and 202 pounds, he was considered one of the smaller safeties in the NFL.

    He started seven games in his rookie season while acquiring 28 tackles and one interceptions. His career with the Broncos spanned from 2011-14 where he made a total of 54 starts, 181 tackles and nine interceptions.

    Although he wasn't a perennial Pro Bowler for the Denver Broncos, he did manage to be a productive player during his four year tenure with the team. This pick was defiantly not a bust and was pretty successful when compared to most second round picks.

    Oct 30, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers offensive guard Orlando Franklin (74) defends against Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

    Round 2, Pick 46: Orlando Franklin, T – Miami

    One of the biggest needs for the Denver Broncos going into the 2011 NFL Draft was defensive line. The Broncos addressed the need by selecting Orlando Franklin, offensive tackle from Miami with their second second-round pick.

    Franklin was a two year starter for the Miami Hurricanes where he proved to be a dominate force at both run and pass blocking. He started 26 games during his junior and senior seasons and was considered one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2011 draft class.

    He started his career as a key component for the Denver Broncos by starting 16 games. He was one of the main contributors  to the offensive line as he was the Broncos starting tackle from 2011-14. After his rookie deal expired, he signed a five-year, $36 million deal with the San Diego Chargers in March 2015.

    This was a decent pick by the Broncos, because they landed a four-year starter in the second round, which is hard to do, considering a large percentage of second round picks become busts or afterthoughts within a couple years. Of course, he wasn't the steal of the draft, but he proved to be one of the key contributors to the team during his four-year tenure with the Broncos.

    Dec 29, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) holds onto the ball against Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nate Irving (56) during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Denver Broncos defeated the Oakland Raiders 34-14. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

    Round 3, Pick 67: Nate Irving, LB – North Carolina State

    Nate Irving, linebacker from North Carolina State fell to the Denver Broncos in the third round, making an easy selection to make for the Broncos. He was the seventh linebacker off the board and the second linebacker selected in the third round.

    He was a three year starter at North Carolina State, totaling 116 solo tackles, three forced fumbles and four interceptions. He led the ACC with three forced fumbles in 2010 during his senior season. Irving was considered one of the top linebackers in the 2011 draft class at the time and was considered a tremendous value for the Broncos in the third round.

    Irving played four years for the Denver Broncos, starting in just 12 games. His best season was in 2013 when he accumulated 29 tackles and one sack. The next year he started eight games while making 26 tackles and one sack.

    His four year tenure with the Broncos was a disappointment since he only accumulated just 78 tackles in that time span. The expectations were high for Irving, but he couldn't deliver, making him one of the worst picks in the draft for the Broncos. He's a total bust, considering he barely contributed anything towards the team.

    Nov 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) is sacked by Denver Broncos strong safety Quinton Carter (38) and defensive end DeMarcus Ware (94) in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

    Round 4, Pick 108: Quinton Carter, DB – Oklahoma

    The Denver Broncos used the 108th pick in the fourth-round to select Quinton Carter, defensive back from Oklahoma. The team needed to infuse youth in the defensive backfield and with the addition of Carter the team appeared to be heading into the right direction when it came to acquiring talent in the defensive backfield.

    Carter accumulated 222 total tackles and eight interceptions during his four year career at Oklahoma. In 2010, during his senior season, he was a Consensus All-American. One of the reasons why he wasn't considered one of the top prospects in his draft class was due to his lack of athleticism. Standing at 6-1 and 208 pounds, Carter could only muster a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Explosiveness was also a concern, considering he only had a 34.5-inch vertical jump, ranking in the 34th percentile at his position.

    He was on the team from 2011-14, but only played sparingly due to injuries. His rookie season was his best year, starting ten games while making 45 tackles and one sack. Things went downhill from there as his 2012 and 2013 were engulfed with serious injuries. It appeared like things were trending upward for Carter in 2014 until he started suffering from knee injuries, causing him to be placed on the IR.

    It's sad to say, because injuries derailed his career, but ultimately, Carter was a bust for the Broncos. The team only garnered ten starts out of him and he only accumulated 64 tackles and two sacks during his entire career.

    Jan 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty (32) breaks a pass in the end zone intended for Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas (80) in the second half during the 2013 AFC championship playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

    Round 4, Pick 129: Julius Thomas, TE – Portland State

    The Denver Broncos nabbed Julius Thomas, tight end from Portland State, with their second pick in the fourth round. The team needed a talented pass catcher at tight end and the Broncos hoped Thomas was the guy for job when they drafted him in the fourth-round.

    Thomas was considered an athletic specimen going into the draft due to his size-speed ratio. He stands at 6-5 and weighs 246 pounds, but can also run a 4.64-second 40-yard dash, making him of the fastest tight ends in the league. He size creates a miss match for defensive backs while his speed makes it hard for linebackers to cover him.

    He only played one year of college football at Portland State, catching 29 receptions for 453 yards in 2010. But he did manage to play four seasons of college basketball, setting school records in games played (121), career wins (78) and career field goal percentage (.663).

    His career started slow with Denver, catching just one reception during his first two seasons with the team. He eventually caught fire during his third season, catching 65 receptions for 788 yards and 12 touchdowns. Injuries curtailed some of his production in the following year, but he did manage to reel in another 12 touchdown season for the Denver Broncos. In 2015 he signed a five year $46 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in free agency.

    Even though he had two years with the team where he contributed zero production, his last two season with the franchise was productive enough to make him worth the pick in the fourth round. Tight ends typically take a few years to develop, which is what exactly happened to Thomas. For a short period, he was considered one of the top tight ends in the league.

    Nov 16, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Houston Texans inside linebacker Mike Mohamed (54) and the Texans defense celebrates his fourth quarter interception against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Texans beat the Browns 23-7. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

    Round 6, Pick 189: Mike Mohamed, LB – California

    The Denver Broncos took a stab at Mike Mohamed, linebacker from Cal in the sixth round of the draft. The team drafted him to provide depth for the linebacker corps and to eventually develop into a contributing asset to the team.

    Mohamed accumulated 339 total tackles, seven sacks and seven interceptions during his four year collegiate career. He led the then Pac-10 with 112 total tackles in 2009. Going into the draft he was considered an under sized linebacker who happens to be highly athletic. His lack of size was one of the reason why he fell in the draft.

    He spent most of tenure with the Broncos on the practice squad where he was constantly battling the odds to make the active 53-man roster. He appeared in just three games with the Broncos, but unfortunately he didn't tally any tackles, sacks or turnovers. He eventually got released from the team in 2012.

    There are no busts in the sixth-round due to every player in that range of the draft being a long shot to be a contributor to their team to begin with. There are more busts in the sixth and seventh rounds then there are players that actively start in the league.

    Oct 30, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Virgil Green (85) in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

    Round 7, Pick 204: Virgil Green, TE – Nevada

    The Denver Broncos took another tight end in the seventh-round to hopefully add depth to the tight end position on the roster. They snagged Virgil Green, tight end from Nevada with the 204th pick in the draft, making him the team's second tight end selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

      Green caught 72 receptions for 939 yards and 11 touchdowns during his three year collegiate career and ranked tenth in the WAC in 2009 and 2010 in touchdown receptions. During Green's tenure at Nevada, the school was more of a run-first team, limiting his receiving statistics.

      He is currently still on the active roster and is one of the few players from the 2011 NFL Draft that is still on the team. He has caught 57 receptions for 616 yards and three touchdowns during his six year career with the Denver Broncos. His best season came in 2016 when he caught 22 receptions for 237 yards and one touchdown.

      Green isn't a mega producer but he has contributed to the team in one way or another every year in the last six years which is tremendous for a seventh round pick. He is considered a slam dunk for the Denver Broncos seventh round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

      Sep 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Denver Broncos helmet on the field against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

      Round 7, Pick 247: Jeremy Beal, LB – Oklahoma

      The Denver Broncos drafted Jeremy Beal, linebacker from Oklahoma with their second pick in the seventh round, which happened to be their last pick in the draft. They drafted him to help add depth to the linebacker corps with the hopes that he could eventually develop into a contributing asset to the team.

      Beal made 224 total tackles, one interception and 29 sacks during his four year collegiate career. He finished his collegiate career ranking seventh all time with 58 tackles for loss. He also led the Big 12 with 19 tackles for loss during his senior season in 2010.

      Although he was very productive during his collegiate career, Beal was considered one of the most unathletic linebacker prospects to ever come out for the draft. He managed to run a 5.14-second 40-yard dash, which was awful for a linebacker.

      Beal spent his entire NFL career on the Broncos practice squad fighting to get on the team's active roster. He was eventually cut on Aug. 31, 2013. Like I stated earlier, there are not busts in the later rounds, because most players drafted in this area are highly unlikely to contribute to their teams. Beal's career was very uneventful, but it wasn't outside the norm for a seventh-round pick.