6 Burning Broncos Questions Answered by NFL Draft Expert
With the Denver Broncos not having a selection until pick No. 67 overall in the 2023 NFL draft, thanks to the trades to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton, the media coverage of the team has been lacking.
Without early selections, the Broncos miss out on the top prospects of this class and the ample two-round mock drafts littering the internet in the run-up to the end of April.
While the Broncos do not pick until Round 3, they still have prospects to select and decisions to make. Picking so late, which direction could the Broncos go when finally on the clock?
After recently completing his uncontested draft guide known as 'The Beast,' compiling 399 scouting reports, ranking nearly 1,700 prospects, and completing a seven-round mock draft, I had the chance to ask The Athletic’s Dane Brugler a few questions pertaining to the Broncos and the directions they could go come Day 2 and beyond in the draft.
NK: Given Sean Payton's lineage as a Bill Parcells coaching disciple, it's not surprising his first offseason in Denver has been very trench-oriented. Who are a few offensive linemen to help further bolster the offensive line that Denver would target at picks 67 and 68?
DB: I expect we’ll see double-digit offensive linemen drafted in the top-60 picks. And honestly, I think the position drops off pretty quickly after the first two rounds, especially at tackle. There are a handful of offensive linemen expected to be drafted in the third-round range that might make sense for Denver.
Old Dominion’s Nick Saldiveri was a right tackle in college and teams are split about whether he will stay at tackle or move inside to guard. He has only average traits, but does a great job “losing slowly” due to his efficiency as a position blocker.
Alabama’s Tyler Steen is well-liked, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he goes in the third round. On the interior, LSU’s Anthony Bradford is an athletic big man at 6-foot-4 and 332 pounds. He is still young in his play and will need some development time, but he has NFL starting potential.
NK: On the offense right now, one could argue the biggest hole remaining on the roster is that of the center position. While a center of proper value might not make it to when Denver is on the clock, is there a center that could fall within the range for a slight trade-up? Would you deem any center in this class worthy of trading up for?
DB: Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz has a lot of third and fourth-round grades around the league, but because it isn’t a great group of centers in the top-100 picks, it won’t be surprising if Schmitz goes as high as the top-50 picks. Is it possible the Broncos could stay put at 67 and 68 and get him? Yes, but more likely he goes in the first two rounds, requiring a trade-up.
Schmitz went 57 overall in my seven-round mock draft. After Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann (my top-ranked center) and Schmitz, we’ll see if another center is drafted on Day 2. There are split opinions on players like Luke Wypler (Ohio State), Ricky Stromberg (Arkansas), and Juice Scruggs (Penn State) — but any of the three could sneak into those top-100 picks.
The player that would interest me in a potential trade-up is North Dakota State’s Cody Mauch. No, he didn’t play center in college, but it won’t be surprising if he turns out to be the best center from this class. Superior athlete for the position with the toughness and smarts to help at multiple positions. Versatility is the key with Mauch.
NK: On the opposite side of the ball, the Broncos could further look to bolster their defensive front. Are there any defensive tackles or edge rushers Broncos Country should keep an eye on that could go early Round 3 to help add talent along the defensive line?
DB: Three defensive tackles to keep on the radar in the early third-round range. Florida’s Gervon Dexter. 6-foot-6, 310-pound athlete with a high ceiling. Baylor’s Siaki Ika, who's more of a plugger at 6-foot-3 and 335 pounds. And South Carolina’s Zacch Pickens, a former five-star who can be an interchangeable tackle in the Broncos front.
On the edge, the Broncos like their front-seven Buckeyes, and Zach Harrison could be next. 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds with freaky speed and length. He is a linear rusher with limitations but would be a nice add to the rotation. Tennessee’s Byron Young has some issues vs. the run, but if you’re looking for an explosive option, he is your guy.
NK: The Broncos are one injury away from an abject disaster at boundary cornerback. The team does roster one of the best defensive players in the entire NFL at corner in Patrick Surtain II, but opposite him is former fourth-round pick Damarri Mathis with exceedingly questionable depth behind him. Who would you deem the boundary corner options that might fall to when Denver picks early in the third?
DB: Does Miami’s Tyrique Stevenson fall to the third? I think that is a natural fit, but may be too good to be true. Syracuse’s Garrett Williams is an interesting case because he would likely be a top-60 pick if not for the ACL injury. He has a discount sticker on his draft tag, would the Broncos take a chance with him?
I’m a fan of Purdue’s Cory Trice in the third round. Not too many 6-foot-3, 206-pound corners with 4.4 speed and elite short-area quickness. This is a deep cornerback class so it’s a position that should stretch more than others, giving the Broncos options on day three.
NK: The long-term future of Wilson seems to be very much in jeopardy. With his inadequate play last season as well as the distance Payton attempts to put between himself and the quarterback, are there any day three quarterbacks that you would deem worth a dice role that could develop into a starter in Denver?
DB: I love this day three class of quarterbacks if you’re looking for a potential back-up, someone that will be an asset in the quarterback room and help you win games if the starter goes down. Fresno State’s Jake Haener, Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell, BYU’s Jaren Hall, and Houston’s Clayton Tune all profile as dependable back-ups in the NFL.
On the flip side, I don’t love this quarterback class in terms of developmental options. Stanford’s Tanner McKee has starting potential, but he’s more in a Mike Glennon type of mold. Shepherd’s Tyson Bagent is an option in the later rounds. Nobody in NCAA history has more touchdown passes than he does and when/if he catches up to the speed of the NFL, he could surprise some people.
NK: Following a free-agent spending spree, the Broncos could arguably go any which way with their first picks in the draft. Simply, the Broncos can let the board fall to them and trust their process; just draft good players. In your opinion, what would be the most realistic/ideal draft haul Broncos Country could walk away with at picks 67, 68, and 108?
DB: I’ll stick true to the seven-round mock I did this past week on The Athletic. I had Denver going Texas A&M RB Devon Achane at 67. You know Payton wants to add a home run threat to that backfield and Achane has elite speed and would be a great compliment to Samaje Perine and Javonte Williams.
At 68, I went with Ohio State’s Zach Harrison. Physical freak who can overwhelm blockers with speed and length. And then at 108, I projected Illinois safety Sydney Brown to the Broncos. I understand it’s not the top need on the roster, but he would upgrade the safety rotation and bring an impact player on special teams.
A special shoutout to Dane Brugler for taking the time to answer these questions. Working arguably as hard as anyone in the industry, Dane’s insights on the backgrounds and profiles of these prospects is unmatched in the NFL draft media landscape. Make sure you check out his work over at The Athletic and follow him on Twitter @dpbrugler.
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