Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Broncos draft preview: Linebackers

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The countdown to this year’s NFL draft is in the final days with the Denver Broncos poised to use 10 picks to create their 2015 draft class, whether that means packaging some for a trade or simply picking the 10 players they believe can pump up the roster.

So, with the bulk of their work in free agency done, this is the seventh of a position-by-position look at where things stand on the roster and what draft prospects could be a fit for the Broncos.

Today: Linebacker.

Monday: Defensive backs.

At the moment: As they transition to their new 3-4 scheme, the Broncos believe they already have their four starters at the position if things go as planned. DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller are expected to start at the outside linebacker spots with both players having already said they are excited about the defense.

And the Broncos would like Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall to start at the two inside linebacker spots. However, Trevathan had knee surgery last season in a year when he had three separate injuries to his left leg, and Marshall had surgery to repair ligament damage in his foot earlier this offseason.

Executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway said this past week he believed the two would be ready for training camp, but that means the two will not participate in the bulk of the offseason work.

“We think they’re going to be (ready),’’ Elway said. “They should be healthy by training camp.’’

The Broncos selected two linebackers in last year’s draft -- Corey Nelson and Lamin Barrow -- on the inside to go with Todd Davis and Steven Johnson. Johnson is entering his fourth season with the team; Davis was a waiver claim last November and started two games for the Broncos last season.

The Broncos also signed Reggie Walker in free agency, who has played all over the formation in his time with the San Diego Chargers and figures to have a prominent role on special teams. Toss in Lerentee McCray and Quanterus Smith, who have played in situational roles in the defense, working at outside linebacker to go with Shaquil Barrett, who finished the year on the active roster, as well as Gerald Rivers, who was on the Broncos’ practice squad last season, and the Broncos already have quite a crowd on the depth chart.

In all, the Broncos currently have seven inside linebackers on the roster to go with eight outside linebackers.

Need factor: Given that crowd, the Broncos still would stick to the best-player-available mantra if the right inside linebacker presented himself on the draft board when their picks rolled around. And certainly if one of the top-tier edge rushers fell to them in the first round they would go as far to make that selection as well.

Trevathan, Marshall and Smith all are coming off injuries -- Smith and Trevathan finished the season on injured reserve in ’14 -- so the Broncos do have reason to add even more players to the depth chart at the position.

Names to keep handy: If for some reason one of the premier edge rushers tumbles down the board, either because a team or two reached on a prospect or teams felt they needed something else, the Broncos would take a long look at Missouri outside linebacker/defensive end Shane Ray or Clemson’s Vic Beasley.

Early on in the draft, Miami’s Denzel Perryman and Mississippi State’s Bernardrick McKinney are two inside linebackers the Broncos would strongly consider as well. Perryman forced seven fumbles in his career and broke up 10 passes in coverage while McKinney, who started 36 games in his three seasons, is a player whose game video shows a potential walk-in contributor who can challenge ball-carriers at the line of scrimmage and drop into coverage when needed.

Down the board some, USC’s Hayes Pullard was a 52-game starter for the Trojans who had at least 81 tackles in all four of his seasons. He doesn’t have the sack numbers of some of the other prospects and some evaluators want to know why he didn’t create more turnovers, but his production and understanding of the game are hard to ignore.

Washington’s Hau’oli Kikaha could be a value pick at the right time. He had 32 sacks over the last two seasons combined, including one stretch when he had at least one sack in 14 consecutive games. A former judo champion, he forced seven fumbles in his career, but does carry some medical concerns given he has torn his left ACL twice.

Wyoming’s Mark Nzeocha is working back from an ACL tear in October, but athletically is worth a look. He played club football in Germany as a high school student, so he still has plenty of room on his developmental curve.

And Newberry’s Edmond Robinson is an intriguing project who played some safety in the team’s defense at times and often lined up on receivers in the slot.

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