The Super Bowl is coming up this Sunday, but for the 30 teams not in the game — including the Broncos — thoughts are looking ahead to the 2024 season.
In the previous mock draft roundup, many, many analysts had Denver beefing up its secondary with a big-name cornerback. Have things changed?
7-ROUND MOCK DRAFT: Denver strengthens defensive line, trades away key offensive player
Here’s a look at who national draftniks are thinking will land in Denver.
NFL.com | Bucky Brooks | Updated Jan. 22
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
“The Broncos pair Pat Surtain II with Arnold, a polished cover corner. With exceptional instincts and awareness, the former Tide star is a scheme-friendly defensive playmaker on the perimeter,” Brooks writes. See the full mock draft.
CBS Sports | Josh Edwards | Updated Feb. 6
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
“Quarterback is obviously going to be a role that Denver has to figure out this offseason, but it may not find a prospect who it loves at this stage of the first round. Instead, the Broncos draft one Alabama cornerback to play opposite the other,” Edwards writes. See the full mock draft.
NFL.com | Daniel Jeremiah | Updated Jan. 21
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
“I think Arnold could go as high as fifth overall. He’s the best cornerback in this draft and he would pair with Pat Surtain II to give the Broncos one of the best CB tandems in the league, if not the best,” Jeremiah writes. See the full mock draft.
Sports Illustrated | Luke Easterling | Updated Feb. 5
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
No write-up available. See the full mock draft.
Bleacher Report | Joe Tansey | Updated Feb. 5
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
No write-up available. See the full mock draft.
ESPN | Mel Kiper Jr. | Updated Jan. 23
Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
“I love Latu’s ability to bend the edge and get after quarterbacks. He’s a toolsy pass-rusher who has a variety of moves and always has a plan of attack. He ranked second in the FBS in total pressures (57) and pressure rate (20.4%) this past season, and he ranked first in the same categories in 2022 (55 pressures, 19.1% pressure rate). And did I mention he had 23.5 sacks in that time frame? Those are two seasons of phenomenal production. The questions with Latu will come at the NFL combine in a few weeks, as he medically retired from football because of a neck injury when he was at Washington in 2021. He was cleared to play for the Bruins, but what will his medical checkups show?
“For Denver, adding Latu would be a boost to a pass rush that was just OK last season. The Broncos tied for 21st with 42 sacks, but overall they ranked 30th in yards per play allowed (5.8) and 32nd in yards per carry allowed (5.0). Latu has the potential to become a 10-sacks-per-season defender,” Kiper writes. See the full mock draft (subscription).
NFL.com | Lance Zierlein | Updated Feb. 5
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
“NFL evaluators have described McCarthy’s processing as ‘elite”‘ in my conversations with them. Drew Brees was a great processer, but he didn’t have the same athletic ability that McCarthy offers. This just feels like a Sean Payton pick,” Zierlein writes. See the full mock draft.
NFL.com | Eric Edholm | Updated Feb. 2
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
“I know many will pine for a quarterback, but I think the Broncos will be hard-pressed to land a worthy talent at the position in this lofty draft slot. Instead, they could pivot to upgrading the interior D-line with an explosive penetrator such as Murphy, even if this feels a tad high for him,” Edholm writes. See the full mock draft.
The Denver Post | Ryan McFadden | Updated Feb. 4
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Trade: Denver trades the No. 12 pick to the Rams for No. 19, No. 52 and No. 153
“There’s a good chance (Bo) Nix will be available at No. 19, but Denver decides to give the defense a much-needed boost. Last season, the Broncos’ defensive line struggled to generate consistent pressure. Even though Newton is considered undersized for his position, he is disruptive. Newton became the first Illinois player to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 29 years after he totaled 52 tackles and 7 ½ sacks. He will be a major upgrade up front for the Broncos,” McFadden writes. See the full seven-round mock draft.
USA Today | Nate Davis | Updated Jan. 29
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
“Time was, it was unusual to see five quarterbacks in Round 1 of a given draft. But time was, it was unusual for a team to trade a boatload of picks for a veteran quarterback, grant him a $240+ million extension, then give up on him two years later. But it seems that’s where Denver currently is. Nix appears to have significantly more upside than journeyman placeholder Jarrett Stidham, not to mention the accuracy — nearly 75% in two seasons with the Ducks — Broncos coach Sean Payton values, plus having a nose for the goal line (38 rushing TDs in five college seasons),” Davis writes. See the full mock draft.
The Sporting News | Vinnie Iyer | Updated Jan. 29
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
“The Broncos will work to get out of the Russell Wilson contract in the offseason given Sean Payton benched him late in the season and should be looking for his own QB solution going forward. Nix is an ideal prospect for Payton’s system with his arm, athleticism and accurate execution based on his experience,” Iyer writes. See the full mock draft.
ESPN | Matt Miller | Updated Feb. 5
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
“With Russell Wilson expected to be released, the Broncos are on the hunt for a new franchise quarterback. Nix is coming off a solid showing at the Senior Bowl, where team scouts raved about his interviews and the work he did in practice. Nix, who started for three seasons at Auburn before transferring to Oregon in 2022, is experienced and pro-ready, and he has the accuracy (nation-leading 77.4% completion rate) and second-effort mobility to work well with coach Sean Payton’s scheme. This might feel early for Nix, but quarterbacks always rise, and scouts keep telling me that he is going to get drafted earlier than expected,” Miller writes. See the full mock draft (subscription).
Pro Football Focus | Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers | Updated Feb. 5
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
No write-up available. See the full mock draft.
The 33rd Team | Connor Livesay | Updated Jan. 29
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
“Pass rushing wins in the NFL, and Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner can get after quarterbacks. Turner needs to improve his hand technique and strike timing, but his athletic and physical traits will give NFL scouts plenty to dream about,” Livesay writes. See the full mock draft.
The Athletic | Diante Lee | Updated Jan. 30
Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
“Verse is in the conversation to be the draft’s top edge (and would have gone earlier had we included trades here). Like Turner, Verse had a 20-percent pressure rate in 2023, converting speed to power in a fashion reminiscent of Will Anderson Jr. He’s not a natural hip bender like Turner, but his hands are good, and his motor makes him a sack threat on second efforts or counter moves. There’s still room to add weight to his frame without hurting his explosiveness,” Lee writes. See the full mock draft (subscription).
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