The Broncos closed out the 2026 NFL Draft by making the final two selections of the day.
They made Buffalo LB Red Murdock “Mr. Irrelevant” by selecting him with the No. 257 and final draft pick of the three-day process. One pick before that, Denver took Utah TE Dallen Bentley.
Bentley marks the third straight year Denver drafted a Ute in the seventh round, following WR Devaughn Vele in 2024 and fellow TE Caleb Lohner last spring.
Murdock was a second-team All-American in 2025 and forced six fumbles to go along with 142 tackles and 13.5 TFLs.
Broncos nab Illinois safety Miles Scott in seventh round
After a long, long wait from trading up for the fifth-round selection of Justin Joly — and no movement across the sixth or seventh round — Denver set off a slew of late-round picks by nabbing Illinois safety Miles Scott at pick 246 on Saturday afternoon.
Denver has scouted Illinois well in recent years, from the 2023 signing of undrafted offensive lineman Alex Palczewski to third-round receiver Pat Bryant in 2024. Scott, now, is the latest in the line of Fighting Illini to land in Denver, and fills a depth need at safety behind starters Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga.
The 6-foot-0, 203-pound Scott doesn’t have standout speed, at a 4.62-second 40-yard-dash, but combines an explosive vertical with a record of good ball production at Illinois. Scott has seven interceptions across the last three seasons, after converting from wide receiver prior to his sophomore season.
Denver likely sees developmental upside in Scott’s frame, and he’ll compete for snaps as a rookie with safety reserves Devon Key, JL Skinner and offseason signee Tycen Anderson.
Bo Nix had scheduled follow-up with surgeon recently
(3 p.m.): Broncos quarterback Bo Nix visited Dr. Norman Waldrop III last week for a scheduled check-up on his surgically repaired ankle, a source confirmed to The Post.
The visit did not change Nix’s prognosis or rehab timeline this offseason. He is expected to be involved when Denver’s offseason program begins May 4. Broncos coach Sean Payton and owner Greg Penner each said recently that Nix is on track to take part in the workout program when it starts and be fully cleared when Denver gets on the field for OTAs in early June.
Nix had surgery Jan. 19 after fracturing his ankle in overtime of Denver’s 33-30 AFC Divisional round win over Buffalo.
Broncos trade up, land pass-catching tight end Justin Joly (12:35 p.m.)
The Broncos traded back on Friday. On Saturday, they used one of those picks to move up.
Denver traded up to No. 152 overall, sending Cleveland Nos. 170 and 182 to jump up in the fifth round and draft NC State tight end Justin Joly.
Joly is a receiver first and projects as an “F” or move type tight end. In that way, he’s more similar to Broncos veteran Evan Engram than a player like Adam Trautman.
Joly had 49 catches for 489 yards and seven touchdowns for NC State in 2025 averaged 49 and 576 over three seasons spanning UConn (2023) and NCSU (2024-25).
12:15 p.m.: The Broncos are in the midst of a long wait from No. 111 to No. 170, barring a trade further up the order.
So, grain of salt here considering there are at the moment 25 picks between Denver and its next pick, but here’s a quick set of ILBs and TEs that are still on the board.
TEs: Justin Joly (NC State), Jack Endries (Texas), Joe Royer (Cincinnati), Michael Trigg (Baylor) and Tanner Koziol (Houston) and more.
ILBs: Deontae Lawson (Alabama), Keyshawn Elliott (Arizona State), Harold Perkins (LSU), Lander Barton (Utah)
Broncos add intriguing RB Jonah Coleman, versatile OL Kage Casey (10:45 a.m.)
The Broncos are adding to their offensive skill group early on Day 3.
They drafted Washington RB Jonah Coleman at No. 108 overall Saturday morning.
Coleman is a clean fit and took a 30-visit to the Broncos earlier in the spring. He is a powerful early down runner, is adept at catching the ball out of the backfield and is considered one of the better pass protecting running backs in the class.
Coleman said at the NFL Combine in February that he spent his formal visit with Denver there talking about pass protection.
“We talked about the run game, but it was more so my plays, because we run similar offenses,” he said then. “So just being able to recite the plays.”
Coleman scored 25 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Washington and in that span also also caught 51 passes. Coleman averaged 5.2 yards per carry over two seasons at UW and before that 6.1 yards in two years at Arizona.
They barely had to wait after selecting Coleman before coming up on the clock again at No. 111 overall and selecting Boise State offensive lineman Kage Casey.
Casey becomes the highest-drafted offensive lineman of the Sean Payton era in Denver and the first to go in the opening four rounds under GM George Paton since Quinn Meinerz was selected No. 98 overall in 2021.
Casey is listed at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds and played left tackle at Boise State.
Casey was asked about his future position in Denver and he said, simply, “wherever they want me. As of now, I don’t know for sure.”
“In the pre-draft process, me bumping into guard and playing a little bit of center, even, at my pro day, was something that helped me out a lot,” Casey added.
One source told The Post that the Broncos believe he can play any spot on the offensive line. Given Denver’s got a highly paid starting quintet in place in LT Garett Bolles, LG Ben Powers, C Luke Wattenberg, RG Quinn Meinerz and RT Mike McGlinchey, Casey will at least begin his career as part of a reserve group that includes Alex Palczewski, Frank Crum, Alex Forsyth and others.
“Especially Garett Bolles, he’s a guy I try to model my own game after,” Casey said. “I’m excited to actually meet him in person and be part of the o-line with him. Just the whole o-line in general is going to be an awesome environment to be a part of.”
Broncos enter Day 3 armed with seven picks (9:30 a.m.)
The Broncos’ offseason has been one gigantic trade and otherwise a whole lot of nothing.
Denver enters Saturday morning having added a grand total of three external players to its roster since the AFC Championship Game in January.
Acquiring star receiver Jaylen Waddle via trade was a major move. Signing safety Tycen Anderson was not. And drafting defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim early in the third round of the draft Friday night was key, if not exactly flashy.
Saturday may not be chock full of big names, but itap a big day nonetheless.
The Broncos enter the final four rounds of the draft armed with seven picks. Even if they trade up a couple times, they will almost undoubtedly more than double their total of offseason additions.
“These two fourth-round picks will define this draft,” general manager George Paton said Friday night.
There are a bunch of players left at positions like running back, while tight ends flew off the board Friday. There are linebackers and receivers and offensive linemen to sort through and, who knows, maybe a developmental quarterback out there, too.
The Broncos have also swung multiple Day 3 player trades in head coach Sean Payton’s tenure here, from Adam Trautman in 2023 to John Franklin-Myers in 2024.
Denver won’t wait long to get going when the proceedings begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. Their first two picks are the eighth and 11th of the day.
Their total set of selections as action begins:
Round 4, 108 overall
Round 4, 111 overall
Round 5, 170 overall
Round 6, 182 overall
Round 7, 246 overall
Round 7, 256 overall
Round 7, 257 overall
