Broncos' 5 Biggest Roster Holes on the Doorstep of the NFL Draft

The Denver Broncos are two days away from the 2023 NFL draft kicking off. This time around, the Broncos will be waiting even longer to make their first draft selection, after trading away first and second-rounders in consecutive offseasons to land quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton.

The Broncos hold five picks in this year's draft, starting with back-to-back selections in the third round. What direction will the Broncos go with picks No. 67 and 68?

While the team did much to fill its most glaring roster holes in free agency, Denver still has needs. The best NFL draft artists walk a fine line between selecting the best players available with one eye focused on roster needs. That need could be immediate, or preemptive.

So what are the Broncos' biggest remaining roster needs? Breaking it down could help signal to fans what's coming starting on Friday night when Denver begins picking players.

1. Edge Rusher

The Broncos have Randy Gregory as the clear No. 1, a veteran, and while there are some young players with upside behind him on the rush linebacker depth chart, the depth the team has epitomizes the term 'unproven.'

Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, and Jonathon Cooper all have upside in spades, but they're, to a man, short on proven production. The Broncos wouldn't be able to solve the 'unproven' component by drafting an edge rusher, but it would help bolster the unit both in the short term and the long. This is priority No. 1.

2. Offensive Line

I could break this need down into two areas: interior O-line and tackle. At this stage, while the Broncos' starting five is formidable, it's lacking depth. And an argument could be made that the Broncos should prioritize finding a center upgrade over Lloyd Cushenberry III.

The Broncos signed left guard Ben Powers and right tackle Mike McGlinchey in free agency, and while that averted a potential crisis upfront, the team needs further investments inside to hedge against the vagaries of the injury bug.

What happens next for the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

3. Cornerback

Similar to the O-line, Denver's starting trio of corners is more than solid, but depth at the position is lacking. All-Pro Patrick Surtain II, veteran nickel K'Waun Williams, and the second-year Damarri Mathis make the Broncos' cornerback depth chart talented but top-heavy.

Williams struggles to stay healthy, as good as he is, which is why the Broncos re-signed Essang Bassey. Nobody will mistake Bassey for a rising star, though. Further investments are required before the season kicks off.

4. Safety

All-Pro Justin Simmons can cover a lot of ground, but his starting partner of the past four years — Kareem Jackson — has yet to be re-signed. In a perfect world, Caden Sterns fills that starting spot, but he's coming off a severe hip injury that cost him most of last season.

P.J. Locke was brought back, and Bassey can play some safety, too. And while Delarrin Turner-Yell was drafted last year, and perhaps possesses some untapped upside, the Broncos could really use another body here.

5. Running Back

If Javonte Williams was healthy, this would be a non-issue, especially after the Broncos signed Samaje Perine — an RB1-caliber back. But Williams isn't healthy, and Denver's other free-agent pickup — Tony Jones Jr. — isn't proven enough to solidify a top-3 running back depth chart.

The Broncos also have a trio of practice squad/futures-type backs on the offseason roster, but considering Coach Payton's specific plan for the position, the depth chart is lacking insurance. One more addition here could set the Broncos up for success, and hedge against any potential setbacks in Williams' recovery from a multi-ligament knee injury that claimed 75% of his 2022 season.

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!