Sometimes, a team comes around to realizing it can’t have a bunch of choir boys if it wants to win football games. The Broncos filled one of their greatest needs Thursday by selecting highly skilled but troubled Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby with the No. 31 pick in the first round of the NFL draft.

In terms of talent, some NFL scouts believe Roby was among the best cornerbacks in this draft. He has good size (5-foot-11, 194 pounds) and is fast (4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash).

Although Broncos general manager John Elway said Chris Harris would remain the starting right corner opposite Aqib Talib, the plan is for Roby to come in on nickel situations. Roby would then play the boundary, or outside corner while Harris would move in to the nickel, or field back.

Elway did admit the reason why Roby lasted until the end of the first round was because of character concerns. Roby was involved in a bar fight that led to a suspension from Ohio State’s season opener last year. Roby also was cited three weeks ago for operating a vehicle under the influence.

“There’s no question if he didn’t have the couple issues that he’s had there’s no way he would have been there for us at 31,” Elway said. “They’re hopefully for him learning experiences. He’s 21 years old, and young guys are going to make mistakes. I’m thrilled with the locker room that we have. We’ve got a bunch of professionals in there, and I’m sure he’s going to learn from a lot from the guys that are in there. Coupled with his physical talent, we think we’ve got a gem.”

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The Broncos were concerned about Roby’s past. Late last week, though, they talked to Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who strongly testified on Roby’s behalf. Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio also had relationships with the Buckeyes’ coaching staff and after those discussions with the folks in Columbus, Ohio, Denver felt better about Roby.

“I want to start by saying I’m not a bad guy,” Roby said. “The bar fight, in actuality, it was not a bar fight. No punches were thrown. It was a situation where the bouncers were the aggressors against me and I retaliated. I made a bad decision. I chose to push the guy.”

As for the driving under influence charge, Roby published a copy of his citation that said his blood-alcohol content was 0.008, well below the legal limit.

“I was asleep in my car that was parked,” Roby said. “The NFL is about perception. Just because I had run-ins with the law, people want to question my character, but you can ask anybody really close to me, I’m not that way at all. I think people have a misconception about me because of decisions I’ve made in my past. I’m not a bad guy. These guys are not getting a guy you have to worry about off the field. I won’t have any incidents like that. These past two incidents have really taught me about being aware out in public.”

The Broncos also had cornerback Kyle Fuller and middle linebacker C.J. Mosley high on their draft board. Fuller went to the Chicago Bears at No. 14. The Broncos also tried to swap with Pittsburgh at No. 15, Dallas at No. 16 and Baltimore at No. 17 but couldn’t a deal done.

When the Ravens took Mosley, the Broncos turned their attention to Roby, provided he lasted to No. 31, or trading back into the second round.

When Roby was there, the Broncos had their man.

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“I did not have any indication,” Roby said. “I didn’t come for a visit or anything. It was actually a surprise, but I’m actually glad. I think this is going to be a great place for me.”

Roby will get a four-year contract worth about $6.8 million, with about $4 million getting paid out this year.

The Broncos might be able to address their middle linebacker need in the second or third rounds Friday.

Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis

About CB Bradley Roby

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 194 pounds

College: Ohio State

What Elway said: Broncos general manager John Elway said Roby was the top-rated player available when the Broncos selected him with the 31st pick. He’s a physical, tough cornerback who dropped because of some off-field concerns. Considered the most athletic corner in the draft by many scouts.

Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post