© Gregg Pachkowski / gregg@pnj.com / USA
Broncos Land QB of the Future & Stockpile Picks in 7-Round Mock Draft
With the NFL draft about two weeks out, how is the board shaping up for the Denver Broncos?
As the 2024 NFL draft approaches, the Denver Broncos have their plan, entering the event with eight picks. And Denver could be looking to add more picks or move around the board.
With the Broncos' poor financial situation due to moving on from Russell Wilson this year, they could use an influx of rookie contracts. The Broncos have a lot of young talent set to enter the final year of their contracts, so if they can find potential replacements in this draft, it would give them options.
In my mock draft, the Broncos don't stand pat at No. 12 overall. After a pair of trade-downs, the Broncos add a lot of pieces to critical areas of need. So, with pitchforks and torches in hand, let’s get into it.
TRADE: The Broncos deal the No. 12 pick to the Los Angeles Rams for picks 19, 83, 196, and a 2025 third-round pick.
The word is that the Rams want to move up and target one of the offensive tackles there. L.A. could look at Troy Fautanu, Amarius Mims, or even Olu Fashanu if he happened to fall there. This would allow the Broncos to pick up extra picks this year and extra ammo in the 2025 draft.
This is similar to the Broncos' 2019 trade, where they sent No. 10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers for 20, 52, and a 2020 third-rounder.
TRADE: The Broncos traded 19 to the Buffalo Bills for 28 and 60 overall.
With the Bills trading away Stefon Diggs, they must find a replacement. There are a lot of teams desiring a receiver in the late first round, and this gets the Bills ahead of them. Denver can move down a little more and pick up an extra selection.
Now, let's get to Denver's first pick of the draft after loading up on "darts" to throw at the dartboard.
Round 1, Pick 28: Bo Nix | QB | Oregon
Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) carries the ball against the Liberty Flames in the first half
Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY
The Broncos have been linked to Nix for most of the offseason, and many people are pushing the connection at 12 overall. Here, the Broncos use teams' desire to trade up for a tackle and wide receiver to move down and get good value in return, while securing the fifth-year option if needed on the QB they've been most connected to.
Nix is a solid fit for what Sean Payton wants to do offensively. He can work in the short and intermediate areas of the field with success. That's a pivotal part of the Payton offense, and the Broncos have good enough receivers to make it work if they have a quarterback who can handle it.
However, Nix’s arm issues can negatively affect the offense. Payton loves to push the ball vertically to open things up underneath, including the run game. That's harder to do with Nix because he has some footwork mechanical issues that don’t help with his arm talent.
Denver can be competitive with Nix, and he has the football IQ and sense to work. The Broncos would need a lot of help with him, as his limitations create issues of carrying teams on his back to victory.
However, with a strong defense and good running game, the Broncos could win many games with Nix at the helm, and that would be a step in the right direction for a team that has been at the bottom since 2017.
Round 2, Pick 60: Ruke Orhorhoro | DL | Clemson
Nov 4, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro (33)
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
Another area for improvement with this Broncos team is their inability to win consistently with four rushers. The Broncos need help inside even more than they need help on the edge. Malcolm Roach is a good free-agent addition to help the run defense, but Denver needs another pass rusher to work with Zach Allen.
Orhorhoro has a lot of upside as a pass rusher, with many of the traits that NFL coaches want to work with. With the addition of Roach and D.J. Jones still in town, the Broncos can focus on Orhorhoro working as a situational pass rusher and developing his skills there without exposing him to the running game. That said, he isn’t a bad run defender either, but he needs growth there as well, and you don’t want to throw him to the wolves.
Round 3, Pick 76: Blake Fisher | OT | Notre Dame
Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Blake Fisher
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
While the Broncos are fine at tackle for the 2024 season, they need a developmental option who can play either side of the line and be poised to take over a starting job in 2025. The Broncos can move on from Garett Bolles, who is entering the final year of his deal, but, they need someone in place to replace him.
Fisher was a higher-rated recruit than Joe Alt, but it took him longer to see the field. While most of Fisher's time has been spent at right tackle, he can switch sides seamlessly.
Fisher is an athletic tackle with good core strength and power and an excellent fit for the scheme. Broncos O-line coach Zach Streif would have to develop Fisher, but in his limited time as a coach, he has done a solid job developing players.
Round 3, Pick 83: Malachi Corley | WR | Western Kentucky
Nov 27, 2021; Huntington, West Virginia, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Malachi
Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
What are the Broncos missing from their receiving room? A YAC-monster (yards after catch). That's what Corely is, and he will tell you that himself.
Corely is often compared to Deebo Samuel. Both are dangerous with the ball in their hands. With a quarterback like Nix in the Payton offense, Corely could have ridiculous production, even as a rookie.
Brennan Jackson is a resilient pass rusher who needs to develop many traits to be more effective. His motor never runs cold, and he will notch multiple wins on his belt because he never gives up on a play.
He is a strong run defender, which the Broncos lack from the position, and gives them another high-ceiling rusher with Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper entering the final year of their deals.
Corley would be a great addition to an offense wanting to get the ball out quickly underneath and allow the receiver to make a play with the ball in his hands.
Round 4, Pick 121: Kamal Hadden | CB | Tennessee
The Broncos are looking for someone opposite Patrick Surtain II, and Hadden could be a great fit. He has the size and length you want in corners, but he also has versatility with coverages to sustain effectiveness through scheme changes.
There is an injury that NFL teams will have to research, and coaches will need to make him more consistent with his technique, but he'd be a great fit for the Broncos defense.
Round 5,Pick 136: Tyrone Tracy | RB/WR | Purdue
Payton loves weapons on offense, especially from the running back position. Tracy is a former wide receiver who moved to running back and did well with the transition.
With how much Payton likes to line up running backs as receivers, Tracy would be a great addition to the offense. He fits the run game and the receiving aspect so well that this could be a perfect match.
Round 5, Pick 145: Maason Smith | DL | LSU
It is all about Smith's size, tools, and athletic traits. He has never put it together in college and has missed time due to injuries that have impacted his development.
If the Broncos can develop those traits and the football aspect of the game, Smith could end up as a dangerous defensive lineman in the NFL. It might take time, but it is a shot worth taking at this point in the draft.
Round 5, Pick 147: Brennan Jackson | Edge | Washington State
Jackson is a resilient pass rusher who needs to develop many traits to be more effective. His motor never runs cold, and he will notch multiple wins on his belt because he never gives up on a play.
Jackson is a strong run defender, which the Broncos lack from the position, and gives them another high-ceiling rusher with Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper entering the final year of their respective contracts.
Round 5, Pick 196: Beau Brade | S | Maryland
With the loss of Justin Simmons, the Broncos are looking at taking a step back with their safety play in the 2024 season. P.J. Locke was re-signed, and Caden Sterns is still with the team, though he is working back from another season-ending injury, and Brandon Jones was signed.
The group has a lot of untapped potential, and Brade is precisely the type of player the Broncos are missing in their current room. He's versatile with how he can be used, has good instincts and awareness, and offers up special teams gunner ability.
Round 6, Pick 203: Nathan Thomas | OL | Louisiana
Thomas is a massive offensive lineman who played at left tackle in college. He projects better to guard for the NFL but does offer that swing versatility.
Thomas would add depth competition and give them a developmental interior option if the Broncos can’t retain Quinn Meinerz beyond the 2024 season or look at moving on from Ben Powers. Thomas is a good fit for the scheme and would be another developmental guy for Strief. Thomas would be the impetus for Denver making the offensive line a consistent strength for the team.
Round 6, Pick 207: Jaylan Ford | LB | Texas
The Broncos lost Josey Jewell and are supposedly moving Drew Sanders to be an edge defender, so they need additional depth at linebacker and more competition for the starting job outside of Cody Barton, Jonas Griffith, and Justin Strnad. There is good size and length with Ford and many tools to develop. He may not start as a rookie, but he can contribute to special teams and compete with the others in the group.
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