Chad Muma bleeds orange and blue. Yet he says that his Patriots still would’ve beaten the Broncos in the AFC Championship at Empower Field, even if Bo Nix had played quarterback for Denver that frigid day.

“Everyone is always playing the what-ifs,” the New England linebacker and former Legend High star told me Monday morning. “But you know, I would say we still win that game.

“I think Bo is a tremendous player. But we also have to scheme up for who you’re playing. And at the end of the day, we’re the ones that came out on top.”

True. Barely. In a pinch of irony, a native son helped to send his childhood team out of the AFC playoffs six months ago, playing on 21 snaps in a soggy, sloppy 10-7 Pats victory that ended the greatest Broncos season in a decade prematurely.

“And after we won that game, it was the first time that my parents were on the field (at Empower), that my wife was on the field, my brother was on the field,” Muma told me by phone.

“So having that moment after we won that game and we’re doing the trophy presentation and they’re running out there and we’re all celebrating together, taking pictures with the AFC Championship trophy — it was very surreal. And so cool.”

Muma, 26, is one of the NFL’s cool dudes, which makes it awfully hard to hold a grudge. Especially when he gives so much back to a Front Range community that made and shaped him.

to Parker Fieldhouse on Friday. The midday session starts at 10 a.m. and runs through 1 p.m. Admission is free.

“It’s not only a camp for the kids, but it’s also a camp for the parents and caregivers, siblings as well,” Muma, a former Jaguars draftee who spent the ’25 season with the Colts and Patriots, explained. “Because I think that’s one of the biggest things with having Type 1, is to be able to bounce ideas off each other and see what works for some people. Because (even if) it might not work for you, it might work for someone else.”

Muma was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 13. He’d found himself chugging water to stay hydrated and constantly taking bathroom breaks. He lost 30 pounds. The kicker came at a friend’s house when he drank a whole gallon of milk and thought nothing of it. That friend’s Mom called Chad’s folks.

“(She was like), ‘Hey, you know, Chad just drank a whole gallon of milk.'” he recalled. “My parents had me walk in their room that night and they had a checklist of all the symptoms. And I was hitting every single one.”

One of the first things Muma did after being diagnosed was Google “NFL players with diabetes.” Can I still play this game? Should I still do this thing?

He didn’t need ChatGPT to tell him the answer to both was a resounding “Heck, yes.”  The search engine came up with  ex-Broncos QB Jay Cutler, then slinging it for
the Bears.

“And that little amount of hope was all I needed just to be like, ‘OK, I can play sports.'” Muma said. “‘(That) I can keep doing this.'”

The wind beneath his wings came from Cutler — and from Mark Andrews, the Ravens tight end who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 9.

“Everyone has a different amount of insulin that they have to give themselves,” Muma continued. “Their bodies react differently to exercise — some kids, while they’re playing football, drop super far, whereas when I’m playing, my adrenalin skyrockets. So it’s very different.

“But the whole premise of the camp is kind of to put it into a perspective of day in the life of a professional Type 1 diabetic.”

Muma tests his blood sugar for campers before they start working out. Then he’ll do it again during a “first-quarter” break. Then again at a “halftime,” after a “third-quarter” break, and so on — just to get them used to the routine. Campers are given Glow Gummies, a sponsor, to regulate their blood sugar, and also work out with small, portable insulin pumps provided by Tandem Diabetes.

It’s about the kids. It’s about Stella Piety. She’s from Indianapolis. Stella became a Muma Mover last year, at age 11, while he was rolling with the Colts. The Muma Movement had a sweepstakes to design Chad’s shoes for Stella won tickets to a game and got a chance to see her design up close. They swapped jerseys — Chad gave her a Colts No. 55; she gave him a flag football top. Muma says her family’s traveling all the way from Indy for Friday’s camp, and using it as the waypoint for a little summer getaway to the Rocky Mountains.

“So it will be fun to have her at this camp and kind of see her lead the other Type 1 diabetics,” Muma said. “It’ll be cool to see that whole family again.”

It’s for the kids down in Jacksonville, the ones who still follow No. 49 in blue. Including one who came up to Chad at a Muma Movement camp last year with a confession.

“I was diagnosed with diabetes four months ago,” one young man in Florida told Chad in 2025.

“When I was diagnosed, the first thing I did was search online for ‘NFL players with Type 1 diabetes.’  And your name came up.”

Muma smiled at that one. Some of the best blessings are blindside jobs. It’s amazing how far a little bit of hope can fly.

***
For more information on the Muma Movement Camp, or visit .

The anticipation the Jaguars rookie and Legend High School alum felt ahead of his first NFL start in Week 12 proved to be the good kind of jitters. Since that game, the linebacker has emerged as a consistent playmaker for a team that won seven of its final nine games to win the AFC South.

“Once I was told I was going to be starting that game, the nerves set in a little bit,” Muma said. “But as soon as I was out there on the field I feel like… it all came together. At the end of the day, it was just playing football again. I felt really prepared.”

Drafted in the third round at No. 70 overall out of Wyoming, Muma played primarily on special teams in the first half of the season. He recorded nine tackles in his first start, the Jaguars’ 28-27 comeback win over Baltimore on Nov. 27, while playing every snap.

After that game, Muma drew praise from Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, who said the rookie “calmed everything down at times.” Muma rode that momentum into another start the next week, with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks against the Lions.

Both he and the Jaguars are in a much better place now than they were at the end of October, coming off a 21-17 loss to the Broncos in London. That marked Jacksonville’s fifth consecutive defeat, sinking them to 2-6. Muma played only two defensive snaps at Wembley Stadium.

“We had a long flight coming home, so we had a lot of time to really think about the past games we had, not just the Broncos game but all the other games we lost,” Muma said. “We couldn’t look too far into the future, but we had a sense of urgency that we need to take a 1-0 mentality each week. From that, we were able to build on each win and we learned from all the situations earlier in the season that led to us losing games.

“We came together as a team and put our whole trust in one another.”

Muma, a 2017 All-Colorado selection at safety for Legend, grew into his role down the stretch of the regular season alongside fellow rookie Devin Lloyd. The Jaguars took Lloyd 27th overall out of Utah, and Muma said the duo “has been building off of each other” since training camp. Muma has 47 tackles while Lloyd has 115 tackles and three interceptions.

“It definitely helped coming in with a fellow rookie inside linebacker,” Muma said. “We’d watch film together, say, ‘Hey you need to do this better, you’re doing this good.’ We have that good, healthy communication that’s allowed both of us to grow.”

In Saturday’s wild-card matchup against the Chargers (6:15 p.m. MT at TIAA Bank Field, NBC), the Jaguars will need quarterback Trevor Lawrence to continue his elite play.

But Muma also knows a big onus is on him, Lloyd and veteran inside linebacker Foyesade Oluokun to contain L.A. running back Austin Ekeler. The Eaton and Western State product leads the league with 38 rushing and receiving touchdowns over the last two years, including 18 this season as one of the NFL’s top dual-threat tailbacks.

“We always have to understand where (Ekeler) is at, and rally to him as a defense,” Muma said. “One of our keys to victory is limiting him, as well as continuing to create that pressure (on the quarterback) and continuing to create takeaways.”

Ekeler and Muma, the first Legend player ever drafted and to play in the NFL, are two of 10 former Colorado high school stars on a roster in the NFL playoffs. Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (Ralston Valley) is also on that list, while both the 49ers (Cherry Creek’s Kyle Shanahan) and the Dolphins (Smoky Hill’s Mike McDaniels) are coached by local alums.

Jacksonville’s pick of Muma at No. 70 overall wasn’t a big surprise, seeing as Muma had a second- or third-round grade entering the draft and that the Jaguars were one of three teams that he had visits with.

Muma also visited with the Panthers and the Broncos.

“Going into tonight talking with my agent, we expected mid-third round,” Muma said. “You see the picks going by, and you’re thinking, ‘Okay when’s it going to be my opportunity?’ Also, it’s that external motivation piece of, ‘Okay they picked him (instead),’ and there’s another reason why I should’ve gone sooner and I’m going to prove it to them now. I think that¶¶Òőap kind of another motivation going forward now.”

Under-recruited out of Legend, Muma established himself as a defensive force in Laramie, where he earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2020 and ’21. Last year, he was a finalist for the Butkus Award for college football’s best linebacker. He boosted his draft stock with impressive performances at the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine.

“I feel like I’ve proved myself to be one of those green-dot type of players (who can relay defensive play calls),” Muma said. “My film showcases what I do best.”

A heady player who can wrap up ballcarriers in open space, Muma was Wyoming’s leading tackler in 2020 and had 142 total tackles last season, the fourth-best single-season tally in Cowboys history. He also had two pick-sixes, and pairs his tackling ability and ball skills with the ability to make dynamic plays in open space.

The Jaguars traded up in the first round to select Utah inside linebacker Devin Lloyd at No. 27 overall on Thursday, leading Muma to wonder if Jacksonville would come back around to him when they came up again in the third round.

“Seeing him go off in the first round, I was thinking, ‘Okay, they got their linebacker,'” Muma said. “That¶¶Òőap kind of why I wasn’t expecting Jacksonville (when they called).”

The Broncos currently have the 64th pick (last in the second round) on Friday night.

Here are the best available players remaining from a Broncos’ perspective:

Arnold Ebiketie, Edge, Penn State: Had 15 1/2 sacks in 36 games for Temple and Penn State. Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds at his pro day.

Chad Muma, ILB, Wyoming: The native of Lone Tree (Legend High) was a third-team All-America selection last year after making 142 tackles. He averaged 11.3 tackles per game over his final two seasons.

Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia: Most of the Bulldogs’ defensive standouts were drafted Thursday night, but Dean was a first-team All-America last year and had 72 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions.

Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State: A native of Fort Morgan, McBride saw no tight ends selected in the first round and he should be the first off the board Friday. He caught 90 passes for 1,121 yards as a senior.

Troy Andersen, ILB, Montana State: A running back and quarterback early in his college career, he moved to linebacker in 2019. He had 147 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions as a senior.

Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor: The Broncos re-signed Kareem Jackson last week and like the potential of Caden Sterns. But Pitre had 70 tackles (14 for lost yardage) while playing a hybrid linebacker-safety spot for the Bears.

Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson: Booth started 15 of his 35 college games, but had five interceptions in 981 snaps. Cornerback may not be a second-round priority for the Broncos, but they do need to add depth.

David Ojabo, LB, Michigan: Ojabo tore his Achilles during his Pro Day workout, but if he is somehow available at 64, the Broncos should take him. He played only 20 games, but had 11 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Drake Jackson, Edge, USC: Projected throughout the offseason as a Day 2 prospect, Jackson had five sacks and 37 tackles in 11 games last year.

Nik Bonitto, Edge, Oklahoma: A third-team All-America last year, Bonitto had seven sacks and three fumble recoveries for the Sooners. He had 18 1/2 sacks in 39 career games.

Logan Hall, Edge, Houston: He’s listed as an edge, but weighed 278 pounds last year; Bradley Chubb is listed at 275. Hall had 99 tackles and eight sacks in 46 games.

Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn: McCreary can play outside and inside in coverage and intercepted six passes in 42 games.

Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan: A native of Austria who moved to the United States as a high school exchange student, he started his college career as a tight end. He was a two-year starter at left tackle.

Abe Lucas, OT, Washington State: Lucas started all 42 of his college games at right tackle and was first-team All-Pac 12 last year.

1. A record eight teams will enter Thursday night without a first-round pick (including the Broncos). The current record is seven teams in 2019-20. What the teams got for trading their first-round pick (quarterback unless noted): Broncos (Russell Wilson), Chicago (move up last year for Justin Fields), Cleveland (Deshaun Watson), Miami (move up for receiver Jaylen Waddle last year), Las Vegas (receiver Davante Adams), San Francisco (move up for Trey Lance last year) and the Rams (Matthew Stafford). The Broncos, 49ers, Browns, Rams and New Orleans have already traded their 2023 first-round picks.

2. Why are teams suddenly fine with the big swing? “The reason why we’re seeing it is we have so much more cap room and flexibility,” said former Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik, now an analyst for Sirius XM. “The cap is going up and clubs have more flexibility in who they want to part with. And players are feeling more empowered than ever before. They’re getting more aggressive in their stance. Especially some of these guys who are elite, they’re better than having a first-round pick.” To Dominik’s point, all of the aforementioned veteran players (Wilson, Stafford, Adams and Watson) engineered their exits.

3. Last year, the Broncos stayed at No. 9 and drafted cornerback Pat Surtain II, who is arguably their best defensive player. Carolina made Surtain-to-the-Broncos happen when it selected cornerback Jaycee Horn eighth overall. I asked general manager George Paton what spot Surtain would go if he was in Thursday’s first round. “He could be the first pick, definite top-five,” Paton said. “You compare him to the other corners, they’re all good, but my guess is he would be in the top five (picks) somewhere based on what teams need.”

4. In Paton’s NFL career, which began in 1997 with Chicago, this is the seventh time his team does not have a first-round pick. The Bears didn’t have one in ’97 (traded for quarterback Rick Mirer), Miami in 2002-03 (for running back Ricky Williams), Minnesota in ’08 (for defensive end Jared Allen), ’10 (traded down from No. 30 to 34) and ’17 (for quarterback Sam Bradford).

5. Dominik on Colorado State tight end/Fort Morgan native Trey McBride: “My favorite tight end in this draft class and probably the top-rated tight end. He’s athletic, he can move around really well and I think he’ll be able to continue to do that and produce at the level he did (at CSU). He’s going to be a guy that a lot of clubs are hoping they can sneak into the second round. I think he would be a really good fit (for the Broncos).”

6. Currently, the Broncos’ first pick isn’t until No. 64 to wrap up the second round, their latest starting point since 1995 when they didn’t draft until, gulp, No. 121. What happened to those earlier picks? First round — sent to Atlanta in a package that included receiver Mike Pritchard. Second round — sent to Minnesota two years before in trade that included guard Gary Zimmerman. Third round — sent to Philadelphia for cornerback Ben Smith. Fourth round — sent to Minnesota to move down 10 spots; the Broncos took running back Terrell Davis at No. 196, one of the picks from the Vikings.

7. Look for the undrafted free agent market to be competitive Saturday night. More players are available because of the bonus COVID-19 year afforded by the NCAA. “We did anticipate that,” assistant general manager Darren Mougey said. “After last year’s class being smaller and knowing that there was almost a double class this year, we had talks after the draft last year — our entire staff, (saying), ‘OK, how should we address this?’” Mougey said senior personnel executive Roman Phifer hit the road last fall to provide an “extra set of eyes” on prospects. “We wrote (up) a lot of players this fall,” Mougey said. “We had nine reports on one player. We feel good about our plan.”

8. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah on the draft: “I don’t know that I can remember a year with more uncertainty. The great example is (defensive end George) Karlafitis from Purdue. There are teams that think he’s one of the top 15 players and there are teams that think he’s not worth a first- or second-round pick. That¶¶Òőap how all over the board teams are on some of these guys.

9. Evidently, Paton wasn’t confident in this year’s running back class to trust one as a backup to Javonte Williams or he wouldn’t have brought back Melvin Gordon on Tuesday. The Broncos took advantage of Williams’ rookie contract to re-sign Gordon (one year), but it should be with the clear message that Gordon is Williams’ backup. This running game needs to go through Williams.

10. Jeremiah on Wyoming linebacker Chad Muma (Lone Tree/Legend): “He’s got incredible instincts. He is so quick to see things. He’s just always around the football. He trusts his eyes. There’s no hesitation in his game. He’s got timing and bursts as a blitzer. Outstanding in coverage. I think he’s probably going in the 30s, 40s. I think he’s going to be a great player.”

During 15 months on the job in Denver, Paton has peddled as fast as any NFL exec possibly can. He has dealt away linebacker Von Miller and dealt for quarterback Russell Wilson, letting the Hall of Fame chips fall where they may in blockbuster moves.

“It¶¶Òőap hard to stand pat and hope,” Paton said Friday, when I asked him about his affinity for wheeling and dealing.

So why would we expect the Broncos to stand pat in the NFL draft?

They won’t be on the clock until the second night of the draft on Friday, when the Broncos have the final selection of the second round. But if Peddlin’ Paton doesn’t swap the 64th overall pick, I’m guessing it won’t be for lack of trying.

“I think it¶¶Òőap really important to have flexibility in the draft,” said Paton, richly rewarded a year ago, when he traded up in the second round to land a running back from North Carolina. “The ability to move up, there’s a rush in getting that player. Javonte Williams, when that trade was done, the (war) room went crazy.”

Championship windows are for wannabes, stuck on the outside looking in, a nose stuck against the glass, left to wonder why a ring always seems so frustratingly out of reach.

While the Broncos are delighted to finally have a legit franchise quarterback back in the building for the first time since Peyton Manning retired, I doubt Russell Wilson alone can allow Denver to make a deep playoff run, because this team has many holes to fill. Offensive line, inside linebacker, edge-rusher, cornerback and tight end are all areas of concern.

While trading into the first round would almost certainly cost the Broncos more draft capital than Paton is willing to surrender, everything we’ve learned about how this GM operates gives an indication he will work the phones to move up 10-15 slots in the second round, if there’s a rookie with the skills to make an impact in 2022.

“Getting on the phone with other GMs, having fun with it and making trades, I just think it¶¶Òőap fun to work the draft to try to build your football team as best you can,” Paton said. “We aren’t making trades just to make trades. We’re working to build this thing the best we can.”

Wait patiently to make a pick at No. 64?

“It’s tough. To wait that long and there’s going to be players falling?” Paton said. “I know I’m going to get jumpy.”

I’m not privy to how the names stack up on Denver’s draft board. But I know what I like in a prospect. And I’m certain Paton won’t be bashful to make a move, if the cost isn’t prohibitive.

So let me guess how a general manager addicted to that action is thinking, and offer six draft prospects that could be worthy of the Broncos moving up in the second round to acquire.

Alabama linebacker Christian Harris: Tired of the Broncos getting pushed around in the fourth quarter? So am I. Let¶¶Òőap add some muscle. Harris plays with ferocity and brings sideline-to-sideline speed to the second level of a defense. Wilson wanted to lure longtime Seahawks teammate Bobby Wagner to Denver. Harris could make for an extremely appealing consolation prize.

Alternative target: Wyoming ILB Chad Muma, who grew up in ¶¶Òőapountry.

Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary: While the defense desperately needs to find a way to make Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes uncomfortable in the pocket, there could be more defensive backs available in the second round with plug-and-play ability. Although Florida CB Kaiir Elam would bring an imposing physical presence to the field, McCreary could infuse the Broncos with the don’t-mess-with-us attitude that made the No-Fly Zone famous.

Alternative target: Baylor safety Jalen Pitre, a versatile defender unafraid to deliver a hard hit in the box or track a tight end in pass coverage.

Colorado State tight end Trey McBride: Am I nuts for suggesting the Broncos might be well served to consider drafting offense early, in order to let Russ cook with all the best ingredients? A tight end with the strength to muscle his way into open space within the tight quarters of the red zone is a QB’s best friend. Yes, there’s a chance he could fall to Denver at No. 64. But if the best tight end prospect is available in the middle of the round, why wait?

Alternative target: Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker, who could give the Broncos a dangerous backfield tag team with Williams.

Denver Post sportswriters Kyle Newman and Ryan O’Halloran break down the Broncos’ pre-draft press conference with GM George Paton and assistant GM Darren Mougey.

Plus, why scouts are so high on CSU’s Trey McBride, the draft prospects for locals Chad Muma, Max Borghi and Noah Elliss, a prediction for who the Broncos will draft at No. 64 overall and more analysis.

Subscribe to the podcast
Ž„ÌꎄÌę Ž„Ìę

Subscribe to our Broncos Insider newsletter to get the latest team news sent straight to your inbox.

In that game, the former Legend High and University of Wyoming star boosted his profile following consecutive seasons of first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors. He led all players with nine tackles (five solo), including an impressive chase down of Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the open field to prevent a touchdown.

“Willis was at the 40-yard line, and he decided to run and he came across the field from right to left, and all of a sudden it looked like Willis was going to score a touchdown by running it all the way in,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recalled. “But at the five-yard-line, who tackled him? It was Chad Muma.

“And that’s what he does — he’s a really good tackler, a smart and instinctive football player.”

Plays like that have Muma projected as a second- or third-round pick in next week’s draft. Teams see a heady inside linebacker with speed and hustle, capable of evolving into a tackling machine in the NFL like he was in Laramie.

In 2021, Muma was a finalist for the Butkus Award for college football’s best linebacker. He followed that up with eye-catching performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL combine, where he ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash. At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Muma says he’s confident he can fit in either a 3-4 or 4-3 system after playing in the Cowboys’ 4-2-5 scheme.

“I see myself as an impactful linebacker no matter the system,” Muma said. “I could really make a difference as one of those green-dot type of players where I’m able to make the calls, make the checks. I’m confident in my ability to do that.”

Muma’s taken visits with the Broncos, Panthers and Jaguars, had workouts in Laramie with the Bills and Saints and jumped on video calls with a handful of other teams.

The Broncos’ roster demands (inside linebacker depth is needed) and draft position (their first pick isn’t until No. 64 in the second round) could very well produce a Denver homecoming.

But no matter where he lands, Muma appears to be a lock to hear his named called next weekend and get an NFL shot, just a few years removed from being an unproven talent.

He spent his first two seasons at Wyoming backing up Logan Wilson (Bengals starter) and Cassh Maluia (Patriots draft pick in 2020). Once he became a full-time starter his junior year, Muma put himself in position to break out immediately.

“Even when he didn’t have a shot of sniffing the field as a freshman with those guys in front of him, he prepared the exact same way and was so intent with every drill he did, every note he took,” Wyoming linebackers coach Aaron Bohl said. “So when he stepped into that role, he was ready to excel. It wasn’t like there was a learning curve for him, and the same will be in the NFL. He’s ready for that.”

Muma was the Pokes’ leading tackler in 2020 before amassing 142 total tackles last season, the fourth-best single-season tally in school history. That got people’s attention.

“I really like the way he can change directions and really accelerate,” says former Tampa Bay GM Mark Dominik, who is currently an analyst for Sirius XM. “He’s a guy who can go find the football quickly and some people think he’s a third-rounder, but I really think he’s going in the second. I’m really confident in saying that. He’s a guy, because of his size, he can fit a 3-4 or 4-3 so he is an open door to every team.”

Muma, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 13, has also learned how to juggle his chronic condition with football. During games, when he’s not wearing his insulin pump and glucose monitor, he checks his blood sugar levels by pricking his finger. At halftime, he gives himself an insulin injection if he needs one.

“It’s about understanding the intensity of having diabetes, and if you’re not managing it well, it can be difficult to do the things you really want to do,” Muma said. “I want to use my position to really preach that you’re still able to do all these great things in life, and accomplish goals and aspirations that you have, but it’s about managing it well.”

With diabetes a non-concern on the field, the biggest question marks about Muma concern his relative lack of length and need to improve his use of leverage. Critics are also sure to point out that none of Muma’s 21 career starts came against a Power 5 opponent.

Count Bohl among those who think that latter criticism is balderdash.

“One thing people sort of blow by, just because he wasn’t starting at the time, was we beat Missouri in 2019 (in Laramie), the last Power 5 game we played,” Bohl said. “It was (Muma’s) first actual game playing on defense. He probably played about 30 percent of the snaps, and he had 10 tackles in the game. That just showed — he’s always been a player. He’s going to step up to whatever talent is against him, and exceed them.”

Broncos in-house offseason moves: Re-signed ILB Josey Jewell, OLB Malik Reed and ILB Jonas Griffith and signed ILB Alex Singleton (Philadelphia) and OLB Randy Gregory (Dallas).

Under contract: OLB — Gregory (five more years), Reed (one), Bradley Chubb (one), Jonathon Cooper (three), Andre Mintze (two) and Aaron Patrick (two). ILB — Singleton (one), Jewell (two), Griffith (one), Baron Browning (three), Justin Strnad (two) and Barrington Wade (two).

Need scale (1-10): 6. Yes, this position remains a high priority even after signing Gregory and Singleton and retaining Jewell. The key is how they view Browning. If they see him as a starting inside linebacker alongside Jewell, it means edge rusher should be a focus; if they see him as an edge player, it means inside linebacker should be a need.

Top Five

1. OLB Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan: Consensus safe pick to go first overall to Jacksonville and be paired opposite rusher Josh Allen. One-year wonder — 4 1/2 sacks in 2018-20, 14 sacks last year.

2. OLB Travon Walker, Georgia: Draft season riser because of size (6-foot-5, 272 pounds), 40 time (4.51 seconds). Six sacks, 37 tackles last year for Bulldogs.

3. ILB Devin Lloyd, Utah: Ultra-productive college player (255 tackles, 16 1/2 sacks, five interceptions) who can be immediate every-down NFL player.

4. OLB Jermaine Johnson, Florida State: Had to leave Georgia to get playing time and capitalized, leading ACC in sacks (12), tackles for lost yardage (18) in winning league defensive player of the year.

5. OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon: Nineteen sacks in 32 career games, but opinions vary — could go second to Detroit or fall to Giants at No. 7.

Broncos’ Options

The Broncos don’t have a first-round pick, but do have nine selections. A look at five possibilities:

1. ILB Chad Muma, Wyoming: Native of Lone Tree (Legend High) nearly doubled his tackle total from 2020 to ’21 (72/142). Intercepted three passes. An option for Broncos at No. 64?

2. ILB Troy Andersen, Montana State: Played running back/linebacker in 2017 and ’19, quarterback in ’20. As full-time linebacker last year, had 147 tackles, two interceptions.

3. OLB DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky: Played whopping 62 college games with 34 sacks, 60 tackles for lost yardage. Weighed 243 pounds at combine so can he hold up against the run?

4. ILB Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma: A light player (226 pounds), could be a sub-package cover linebacker option for Broncos. Had 178 tackles and 13 tackles for lost yardage in 37 games.

5. OLB Micheal Clemons, Texas A&M: At 263 pounds, has girth to set the edge in Broncos’ 3-4 base front. Eleven sacks in 15 games over last two years for Aggies.

Thursday: Running backs.

Ryan, which member of the Broncos’ receiving corps benefits most from quarterback Russell Wilson’s arrival? I think Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick are primed for big numbers, but Jerry Jeudy is the guy who stands to gain the most. What do you think?

— Mark, Arvada

I’ll go with KJ Hamler. The Broncos should hope Sutton is better Year 2 post-ACL surgery and they know what they have in Patrick (team-high 15 “explosive” catches last year, which are gains of at least 16 yards). Jeudy didn’t have a touchdown last year, but if he’s connecting with Wilson, he will have a passer who can take advantage of his route-running.

But what about Hamler, who tore his ACL in Week 3 of last year? He has the speed to get down the field and Wilson is one of the best downfield passers in the NFL. That makes Wilson-to-Hamler a match so long as Hamler can get back on the field in training camp and stay on the field.

A receiver or tight end who gets open downfield will see his numbers increase.

Now that we got safety Kareem Jackson back, what are our biggest needs heading into the draft? I’d love to see us find a replacement for either of the lines.

— Tim J., Cheyenne, Wyo.

Jackson is back on a second consecutive one-year deal and remember, after re-signing him last year, the Broncos used a Day 3 pick on safety Caden Sterns so don’t rule out taking a safety at some point in this year’s draft as well.

To your point about the offensive and defensive lines, I agree. The Broncos need to find a right tackle they can develop into a starter for 2023 and also another big body to play a rotational early-down role on defense.

Ranking the biggest needs: 1. Pass rusher; 2. Tight end; 3. Right tackle; 4. Running back; 5. Cornerback. If an edge rusher is on the board at No. 64 that they like, the Broncos should take him.

Ryan, our special teams have been downright awful the past few years (Tom McMahon, you will not be missed). Do you see us picking anyone up to help beef up our punt/kickoff crews? Outside of his penalties, Mike Ford was kind of that guy for us last season.

— Marshall, Parker

The special teams is undergoing a rebuild under new coordinator Dwayne Stukes.

Gone from the roster or unsigned: Eric Saubert (302 special teams snaps), returner Diontae Spencer, inside linebacker Micah Kiser (138) and cornerbacks Nate Hairston (241) and Mike Ford (240).

But the Broncos have signed tight end Eric Tomlinson (165 special teams snaps for Baltimore), inside linebacker Alex Singleton (214 for Philadelphia) and safety J.R. Reed (101 for Rams/Giants) in addition to re-signing fullback/tight end Andrew Beck (189).

The Broncos need to figure out their return game.

Who is your top guy with the Broncos’ first pick? I’d like to see Wyoming’s Chad Muma fall to us there. He’d help shore up our inside linebacker crew.

— Devon Reed, Commerce City

Muma, the Lone Tree native, is expected to be drafted in the second round, but I’m not sure how big of a need inside linebacker is for the Broncos after re-signing Josey Jewell, adding Alex Singleton and having Justin Strnad and Jonas Griffith in backup roles plus Baron Browning, who ended last year as a starter.

Last week, I mocked Georgia safety Lewis Cine to the Broncos at No. 64, but that was before they re-signed Kareem Jackson. Now, I’m thinking about an edge rusher like Oklahoma’s Nic Bonitto (15 sacks last two years), South Carolina’s Kingsley Enagbare (10 1/2 sacks last two years) or Western Kentucky’s DeAngelo Malone (34 sacks in 62 games). Remember, Randy Gregory and Bradley Chubb have fought injuries so the more edge rushers, the better.