Broncos Final 7-Round Mock Draft

It's time for one last swing at a full Denver Broncos mock draft.

With the Denver Broncos not picking all the way until pick No. 67 (and 68) in the 2023 NFL draft, attempting to guess which prospects might be available is a next-to-impossible task. However, thanks to the multitude of big media mocks, big boards, and an understanding of Denver’s team needs, one can at least craft a mock that makes sense.

There will always be shocks in the draft. Last season, the second quarterback wasn’t selected until Round 3, and center Cole Strange, whom many had as a mid-third-round prospect, wound up going in the first to the New England Patriots. A mock is an exercise in futility but fun to do every year all the same.

With all that said, here's my final Broncos mock draft of 2023. 

67. Tucker Kraft | TE | South Dakota State

© Erin Woodiel / Argus Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Broncos are looking for tight end. After recent comments from 9NEWS' Mike Klis about the position and Greg Dulcich’s fit for Sean Payton's offense, it seems safe to say that Denver's new head coach wants someone with better blocking chops to be an all-around player in multi-tight-end sets.

Enter the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Kraft. A do-everything weapon for the Jack Rabbits, Kraft proved to be athletic enough to play in space as a weapon either lined up in the slot or out of the backfield. 

When healthy, it was obvious Kraft was the best player on the field and his offense often played matchup football to get the ball in its best player’s hands. However, it's his potential in-line that makes him stand out in comparison to many modern-day tight ends.

Kraft gets after it when tasked as a blocker and can be a real addition to a team’s run-blocking attack. While he still needs to work on some of the technical aspects of blocking and route running, his ability to play in-line while also being a valuable receiving weapon would make him TE1 out of the gate in Denver.

Losing a chunk of his senior season due to an ankle injury, the Broncos take advantage of an ascending player at arguably one of the deepest positional groups in the entire 2023 draft class. 

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68. Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois

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The Broncos have questions entering the season at safety and cornerback. With limited draft capital, why not draft a player who can do both? Martin played nearly every spot in the secondary over his career at Illinois, primarily lining up in the slot or at deep safety.

Always around the football and making plays on the ball, Martin’s versatility and above-average testing would give the Broncos competition for Caden Sterns at safety as well as a potential long-term option for life after K’Waun Williams in the slot.

A consistent tackler, Martin won’t blow many plays up with physicality but finds the ball carrier and consistently makes the play. Considered a great leader, worker, and coachable player by his college coaching staff, he would find a spot impacting the Broncos’ defense on Day 1.

Martin’s smarts and physical profile also project him as a plus-player in special teams. While not possessing a massive frame, Martin’s click and close and willingness to be physical all are positive traits one expects from a potential special teams standout, giving Martin yet another avenue to the field in 2023 and beyond.

A great showing in Indianapolis, with Martin putting up the best vertical jump, broad jump, and 10-yard split of all safeties this year, showed his twitch and explosiveness. Due to the safety/slot not being as valuable of a position in today’s NFL, the Broncos find a potential starter early round 3 and a player with many avenues to the field in 2023.

108. Ricky Stromburg | C | Arkansas

© Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos are going into 2023 with a massive question mark at center. After three uninspiring seasons with Lloyd Cushenberry III at the position, Denver needs to find some competition and depth for the interior offensive line and someone who can, specifically, play center in a gap-centric scheme.

Stromburg fits the bill. At 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds, Stromberg started games at center, right guard, and left guard over the duration of his career for the Razorbacks. While not an outstanding athlete for the position, his size offers him enough mass and power to drive defensive tackles in the SEC.

Winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded to the best SEC offensive lineman last year, Stromburg’s positional versatility on the inside and tenacity as a blocker should give the Broncos another option at center if Cushenberry continues to struggle as well as more depth at both guard spots entering the 2023 season.

139. Kenny McIntosh | RB | Georgia

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The Broncos need help at running back. With Javonte Williams’ health uncertain at this point in time and Samaje Perine as the team’s only viable back on the roster, it would be shocking if Denver didn’t walk away with someone who could take some snaps and play the position come the end of the draft.

Fortunately for the Broncos, there's almost always a seemingly endless supply of running backs each and every year in the draft. The 2023 draft class is no exception. While the Broncos might go running back earlier than Round 5, given the team’s need at the position, waiting until mid-Day 3 should give Denver a few options.

Given how much Payton loves to utilize the running back in the passing game, a back like McIntosh would make a lot of sense for Denver if he falls to Day 3. A middling athlete with average size at 6-foot and 205 pounds, it’s McIntosh’s overall game and consistency in all areas of playing the position that make him a valuable asset at a devalued position. 

McIntosh is not an explosive playmaker, but he is smooth and in control at all times. Landing a fine pass protector with a solid frame and the ability to be a plus player in the passing game at this point in the draft is a good get for Payton and this offense.

195. Bryce Ford-Wheaton | WR | West Virginia

© Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Continuing to add to the offense, the Broncos take a lottery ticket in Ford-Wheaton, a boom-or-bust athlete. An NFL Combine standout this year at 6-foot-3.5 and 220 pounds, he ran a blazing 4.38-second 40-yard dash and excellent jumps with a 41-inch vertical and a 129-inch broad.

The highlights for Ford-Wheaton will have one thinking his grade should be a Day 2 player, but his lowlights are also maddening as he dropped way too many 'gimme' passes for West Virginia. His ability to make plays vertically and attack the football above the rim match the athletic testing, but the overall skills necessary to play wide receiver from a catching and route running perspective are still lacking.

An athletic ball of clay for the Broncos to draft and develop, Ford-Wheaton could develop into a viable X receiver if his coaches can get him to fine-tune the skills of playing the position. With the Broncos having shopped Courtland Sutton all season, Tim Patrick coming off of an ACL injury, and both receivers’ contracts easy to move on from after 2023, taking a late-round flyer on a supreme athlete with high-end flashes at a valuable position is a worthwhile gamble at this junction of the draft.

Summary

The Broncos have more needs than draft picks, unfortunately, as picking all the way down at No. 67 and 68, as well as only having five picks in the 2023 draft, makes it a nearly impossible task to walk away with a great draft class. It’s up to GM George Paton and Coach Payton to maximize each selection and hit above average when Denver is finally on the clock.

In my mock, the Broncos didn’t walk away with defensive line talent, offensive tackle depth, or boundary cornerback competition, but just like I did, Denver will have to pick and choose this week what players and positions it values with such a limited volume of draft capital.

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