Whether the Broncos move up, down or stay at No. 12, they are confident in their ability to land an impact player in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday. The quarterback position has been the central focus of draft talks since the team benched Russell Wilson for the final two games of last season. But with the possibility of four quarterbacks taken inside the top eight, Denver could shift its focus to address other areas of need.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of draft night.

NFL Draft date and times

TV/Streaming: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, NFL+ and YouTube TV

Round 1: Thursday, 6 p.m. MT

Round 2-3: Friday, 5 p.m. MT

Round 4-7: Saturday, 10 a.m. MT

Broncos draft picks

Previous Denver Post mock drafts: Aggressively pursuing a QB | Trading back in first round | Post-combine mock draft | Strengthening the DL | Adding playmakers on offense

Draft needs

Quarterback: No surprise here. Acquiring Zach Wilson doesn’t change the fact that the Broncos are looking for a long-term answer at quarterback. Can they find a guy in a crowded first round? Do they have somebody in mind on Day 2 who they think the rest of the league is too low on? One way or another, it would be a major surprise if Denver didn’t take one at some point during the draft. And it would not surprise at all if Sean Payton and company are aggressive in their pursuit.

Defensive line: Disruptive interior defensive linemen are among the most coveted commodities in football. The Broncos struggled against the run and rushing the passer in 2023. You’re not likely to find a rookie who can reverse those fortunes in one fell swoop, but drafting and developing up front is the goal and Denver needs to improve in that regard. They’ve added pieces in free agency, but could still target the front line early in the draft.

Edge rusher: Denver’s got a trio of edge players it likes in Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper. All the same, Browning and Cooper are entering the final year of their rookie deals and you can never have too many edge guys. If not quarterback in the first round, edge might be next in terms of likelihood. Game-altering talents don’t grow on trees and normally are found in the early rounds.

Tackle: You might be saying, “Wait, don’t the Broncos have a pair of high-priced starters at tackle?” Yes, but Garett Bolles is entering a contract year and this is a deep class. Denver has immediate needs on the roster, but it’s usually good draft hygiene to also consider needs a year out. And boy, could the Broncos use a long-term option here. That’s before considering the long odds that Bolles, McGlinchey and the rest of the front line stay as healthy in 2024 as they did last year.

Joker: OK, Joker is not actually a football position. But it is a Sean Payton position. An offensive weapon — usually a tight end or running back — who can produce matchup problems for a defense. Who is that on Denver’s roster right now? Hint: He doesn’t exist. Jaleel McLaughlin might be the closest. Greg Dulcich or Lucas Krull? Maybe, but health and inexperience cast doubt. Whether it’s Georgia TE Brock Bowers, Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright or somebody else, this is likely a Payton focus after QB. And though it’s stretching the definition, let’s not entirely discount the possibility the Broncos love somebody like LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 12.

Potential first-round targets

QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan: Most don’t think he’ll be available at No. 12, but Denver could get aggressive in trying to move up. He’s a winner, he’s tough and he’s the youngest quarterback in the class. Somebody will bet on his upside and do it early.

QB Bo Nix, Oregon: Accurate, smart and a productive runner, Nix is a high-floor option. The ceiling? Different conversation. He should be ready to play early, considering his 61 college starts and that he’s older than fourth-year Denver CB Pat Surtain II.

TE Brock Bowers, Georgia: If QB wasn’t such a need, this would be the guy everybody tied to Payton and the Broncos. He’s a matchup nightmare, makes plays after the catch and would be instant juice for Denver’s passing game.

EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State: A big, powerful pass-rusher with a different build (6-foot-4, 255 pounds) than the Broncos’ young trio. This kind of motor and tenacity would serve Denver’s front seven well.

CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo: Mitchell has the length and speed teams covet at cornerback. With those traits and elite  production, the future is bright. He and Pat Surtain II could become one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL.

EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA: Latu is a crafty pass rusher with great hands. Denver hasn’t had a player record double-digit sacks since Bradley Chubb and Von Miller in 2018. Latu, who recorded 23.5 sacks in two seasons with the Bruins, has the potential to end that streak.

LT Olu Fashanu, Penn State: Fashanu has been one of the best offensive tackles in college over the last two seasons, as he was an exceptional pass blocker for the Nittany Lions. He could be a long-term answer at left tackle.

DT Byron Murphy II, Texas: Denver struggled to generate quarterback pressure from the interior. Murphy, who recorded five sacks in 2023, could step in right away and be disruptive up front.

Staff Predictions

Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat reporter: Four QBs are likely gone by No. 12, but so too are Joe Alt and Brock Bowers. Denver has many needs, but quarterback is the biggest. The Broncos stay put and surprise many by taking Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.

Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat reporter: Denver could very well trade back and acquire more draft picks. However, the Broncos will lean on taking the best available talent. Brock Bowers has a chance to become a dynamic pass-catching threat in the Broncos’ offense for years to come.

Troy Renck, sports columnist: The most important position in professional sports is the quarterback. The Broncos don’t have one. There are a lot of variables in play on whether they move up or back. But I don’t believe they leave Thursday night without J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix.

Sean Keeler, sports columnist: With the quarterbacks they want off the board and with Zach Wilson in the fold, Payton & Paton stay put and stay boring, using the BPA route to nab UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu. Spencer Rattler, keep those phone lines open Friday.

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