There’s so much uncertainty about what the Broncos will do in the first round of the NFL Draft that someone could develop a migraine thinking about the various scenarios.
From the Broncos potentially adding to their offensive line to addressing the need for an explosive running back, here are five storylines to watch out for during the draft, which starts on Thursday night.
Trade up, trade down, or stand pat
This is one of the biggest questions for the Broncos. Head coach Sean Payton is known for being aggressive and trading up in the draft. Meanwhile, general manager George Paton doesn’t mind trading back to acquire more assets.
Even if the Broncos want to move up, it might be hard for them to beat out teams like the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings –two teams that could use a quarterback. But say the Vikings traded up to No. 3, and the Giants decided to draft a wide receiver or offensive tackle with the sixth pick: Denver could stay at No. 12 and see if J.J. McCarthy falls. Or it could try to acquire the No. 8 pick from the Falcons without giving up multiple first-rounders.
Paton said the Broncos have received calls from other teams, asking if they wanted to move back. This could be a more reasonable move since Denver would obtain more picks and potentially be in the mix for quarterbacks Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.
How does trade for Zach Wilson impact the team’s draft plans?
The Broncos acquired another veteran quarterback, but not the one most fans would expect. Denver traded for New York Jets signal caller Zach Wilson, who will join a quarterback room featuring Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci.
Acquiring Wilson is an inexpensive move with potential gain if the franchise can help revive the former BYU star’s career. But it shouldn’t stop the team from pursuing a quarterback during the draft. If the Broncos want to be aggressive in their pursuit of a rookie quarterback or trade back to nab one, they still can.
Stidham and Wilson do not seem like long-term answers, leaving room for a rookie to come in and compete for the starter job right away. But at the least, the Broncos have some kind of insurance at quarterback if they have to wait until 2025 to address the future of the most important position on the roster.
Running back is a sneaky need
Even though there’s so much talk about quarterbacks, don’t forget about the running back position, which feels like an overlooked need for the Broncos. Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine are entering the final year of their deals. Jaleel McLaughlin showed potential as a rookie, but his lack of size makes it hard for him to be an every-down running back.
If Williams is a part of the Broncos’ future, they could still use more speed and explosiveness out of the backfield. Last season, no Denver players recorded 100 rushing yards in a game. The Broncos have looked closely at running backs during the draft process and could find a starting-caliber player on Day 2 or 3 like Ray Davis (Kentucky) or Jaylen Wright (Tennessee).
If the Broncos don’t take a QB in the first round, what’s next?
Unless Georgia tight end Brock Bowers is available at No. 12, the Broncos might be better off strengthening their defense since they have to face Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice a year.
Denver signed former Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace to a one-year deal on Monday. However, the move doesn’t solve the problem of a long-term starter who can play on the opposite side of Pat Surtain II, meaning they could still draft a cornerback in the first round.
Outside of the top three edge rushers, Dallas Turner, Jared Verse and Laiatu Latu, the Broncos could also target Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II. Denver has been committed to improving its defensive line, signing Malcolm Roach and Angelo Blackson. Murphy, a one-year starter for the Longhorns, could be an immediate impact player in the trenches, improving the interior pass rush. He had five sacks and 29 tackles in 2023.
Will the Broncos finally draft an offensive tackle?
The Broncos haven’t drafted an offensive tackle since taking Garett Bolles with the 20th pick in 2017. Bolles, 31, is entering the final year of his deal, meaning it might be time for Denver to figure out what the future would look like at the position. And with this year’s class being strong at tackle, the Broncos could address that question this week.
Penn State’s Olu Fashanu could start right away if needed. Troy Fautanu is projected to play guard at the next level despite being a left tackle at Washington. He could add versatility up front. Meanwhile, Amarius Mims has tremendous upside even though he only was a starter for one season at Georgia. And if the Broncos don’t target a tackle in the first round, Javon Foster (Missouri), Roger Rosengarten (Washington) and Kiran Amegadje (Yale) could be intriguing options in the later rounds.
Payton values offensive linemen. And the possibility of adding a tackle who can be a staple of the offensive line for a decade could be intriguing for the former Saints coach.
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