ESPN Proposes Massive Broncos-Eagles Draft Trade
The Denver Broncos will not go on the clock amid the opening round of next week's 2023 NFL Draft. Unless they do.
It'd be a stunning turn of events given Denver's already-scant war chest but technically not impossible. Here's how that could work, per ESPN's Bill Barnwell: the Broncos send a third-round pick (No. 68 overall) this year and a 2024 first-rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 30th overall choice and a third-round selection (No. 94).
"Bet you didn't think the Broncos were going to make an appearance!" Barnwell wrote in his latest mock draft. "After trading away a first-round pick for QB Russell Wilson and sacrificing their first-rounder from the Dolphins to acquire new coach Sean Payton, this would be a move for Denver to get back into Round 1. Payton's Saints teams were naturally aggressive in trading future assets for present value and placed an emphasis on building their offensive line; this could be a move for a prospect such as guard O'Cyrus Torrence (Florida) or defensive lineman Bryan Bresee (Clemson)."
While either of Barnwell's recommended prospects would fill a major roster need, neither qualifies as a necessity for the Broncos, whose general manager, George Paton, admitted he's likelier to trade down and stockpile precious capital in Kansas City.
“It’s hard to move up when you only have five picks,” Paton said last month. “We won’t rule anything out, but it’s hard. I would say we’d be more inclined to move back, to get some more picks. So, we’ll see how it goes.”
Never say never with Paton. But it's safe to say the chances of seeing Denver on Day 1 — and surrendering yet another first-round pick to get there — are highly improbable.
File this away in fantasy land.
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