The player the Broncos need in the NFL draft?

It’s a no-brainer: Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley.

But how is Denver going to get Mosley?

Now that’s the tricky part.

Would John Elway, the team’s director of football operations, dare trade up in the draft to acquire Mosley, who on any given Saturday during 2013 was the best college player in the land?

Answer: The Broncos pursue Mosley only if Elway wants to build a truly dominant defense.

With DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller rushing the passer, Aqib Talib as a shutdown corner and safety T.J. Ward providing thump from the back of the secondary, all the Broncos really need is Mosley, who’s trigger-quick at blowing up the run as a wicked tackling linebacker this team has missed since the departure of Al Wilson.

Inside linebacker is a position whose value has slowly declined, as NFL offenses pass more and run less. That trend is the lone reason it’s possible Mosley might slide past the middle of the first round, and that’s where the Broncos could pursue a trade to move up from the 31st selection overall.

Even if Mosley is still on the board at No. 17 with a pick held by Baltimore, however, it would be difficult — and costly — to swing a deal.

According to a chart commonly used by NFL teams to measure the trade value of every pick in the draft, the 17th selection in the opening round is worth 950 points. Scan the same chart to put a value Denver’s choices at 31, 63 and 131, you get a total of 917 points.

So should the Broncos really give up their picks in the first, second and fourth rounds merely to begin a conversation about acquiring Mosley?

Answer: Only if the Broncos want to win a Super Bowl while veteran quarterback Peyton Manning wears orange.

With the exception of Miller, taken with the second overall pick in 2011, it seems as if Elway generally views rookies more as prospects to be developed rather than impact players to be immediately trusted.

Maybe it’s time to tweak that philosophy.

Anybody who has seen Mosley tackle knows he could make a sudden impact for Denver.