1,300 miles away, the biggest news of the day inside a quiet Broncos facility in Dove Valley: ?

The Broncos’ brass, of course, all took their seats in the war room for the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. They sat. And continued to sit, for 32 picks, as the rest of the league maneuvered around them. This was the reality all but ensured since March 17, when general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton and the rest of the staff decided that trading for Dolphins star receiver Jaylen Waddle would be well worth the ultimate price of their first-round pick.

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"We spent a lot of time looking at that selection, and trying to determine — we could safely say that pick would’ve been one of these 7 or 8 players," Payton said at league meetings in late March. "And we didn’t feel like that would help us as much as Jaylen Waddle.”

In a pre-draft press conference last week, Paton all but promised that Denver's draft festivities wouldn't start until Day 2 on Friday night, with the Broncos' current capital too limited to swing a massive trade to leap back into the first round from their No. 62 selection. And a handful of potential Denver options already leaped off the board in the first round as the Vikings swung on high-upside but injury-concern DT Caleb Banks at No. 18 (a Broncos top-30 visit) and the Seahawks snagged Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the last pick of the first round.

There's even more urgency for the Broncos to hit on their Day 2 selection now, though, as other AFC West teams leveled up Thursday night. The Raiders, of course, took their franchise man in quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. The Chargers added a potentially instant-impact edge rusher, Akheem Mesidor, late in the first round. And the Chiefs to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane as a new antidote to the Waddle-Courtland Sutton combination in Denver.

The Broncos, however, will enter Day 2 with a slew of targets still left on the board, as Paton said last week, there's "six players we're kinda focused on" that the Broncos feel could fall to them at No. 62. Most of those six should still be there, come Friday night — whether the Broncos move up or back to get them.

Here's a breakdown of the 10 best remaining fits for Denver at their late-second-round slot Friday.

10 best remaining for Broncos at No. 62

RB Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas: One NFL assistant coach who's heavily evaluated this RB class told The Post that "some team will take (Washington) higher than they should" because of his size and speed. Maybe that's Denver. It'd be incredibly hard to imagine Paton spending back-to-back second-round picks on a running back, but Washington's upside — at 223 pounds with a 4.33-second 40-yard-dash — is as high as any RB in his class not named Jeremiyah Love.

WR Germie Bernard, Alabama: Denver won't — and shouldn't — take a receiver here, after the Jaylen Waddle trade. But Bernard is too good, and too perfect a fit in a Sean Payton offense, not to be listed here. The production (64 catches, 862 yards) is solid, the size (6-foot-1, 206 pounds) is good, and the blocking mentality is even better. Alas, in a different timeline.

TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt: The Post's second-round selection in our final mock draft of this cycle, Stowers still lingers, an explosive receiving threat who profiles as a hybrid receiver at the next level. But Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, the consensus top tight end in this class, went relatively early at No. 16 to New York. That could well mean a team will swing on Stowers early in the second round.

TE Max Klare, Ohio State: This draft, as Payton said in a pre-draft presser last week, is ripe in both in-line "Y"-type tight ends and versatile "F"-type receiving threats. Klare combines the best of both worlds into one tidy Day 2 package, a 6-foot-4 pass-catcher who thrived from both the slot and as a run-blocker last year for the Buckeyes. He's not as athletic as a Stowers, but he'd be an excellent option for Nix.

OL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon: Similar to Stowers' situation, Pregnon could find himself flying off the board early in Round Two after Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge went higher than consensus (No. 26 to Houston). The Denver native took a top-30 visit in Denver, but the Broncos might have to move up to grab him.

OT Travis Burke, Memphis: No. 62 might be high for Burke, but Denver's done plenty of work here for a reason. Burke has rare size at nearly 6-foot-9, and a nasty disposition to match. With veterans Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey both still locked in as 2026 starters, Burke could be a fascinating investment for offensive-line coach Zach Strief.

LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech: One of ¶¶Òőapountry's original favorites at the beginning of the draft process, Rodriguez has risen considerably up boards across the last few months — but not high enough to be off the table before Day 2. That could be good news for Denver, whether he manages to slip into a trade-up situation in the middle of the second round or simply prolongs an inevitable run of linebackers to fall into the Broncos' lap at No. 62.

LB CJ Allen, Georgia: Take your pick of Rodriguez or Allen as the second-best linebacker in this class. Allen revealed to reporter Brett Kollmann late in February that Georgia largely let Allen run calls and checks at the , and he could slot into the heart of Denver's defense for a long time.

LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas: Everything about Hill, traits-wise, screams star. 4.51 40-yard-dash. 37-inch vertical. Good size at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds. He led the SEC with 16.5 tackles for loss in 2024, and has some upside as a blitzer in Vance Joseph's scheme. He'd be a perfect fit to push Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad for starting reps while contributing in a third-linebacker role as a rookie.

S A.J. Haulcy, LSU: Not a frequently-discussed option for Denver at No. 62, given the Broncos' positional needs beyond safety. But Haulcy has fantastic ball production across his last two seasons, with eight interceptions total for Houston and LSU. Starting Broncos safety Brandon Jones will be a free agent after next season, and Haulcy played a season for new Broncos defensive backs coach Doug Belk with the Cougars in 2023.

No. 1: Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, QB

The entire world has known this would be the pick for months. The Broncos will see a new franchise QB in the AFC West. Grade: A

No. 2: New York Jets — David Bailey, Texas Tech, Edge

Seemed New York might trade this pick, but the Jets stay put and grab a foundational pass-rusher. Grade: B+

No. 3: Arizona Cardinals — Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, RB

The Cardinals aren’t ready for a star running back from a roster-building standpoint, but they’ve got a special one in Love. He might be the most talented player, regardless of position, in the draft. Grade: B

No. 4: Tennessee Titans — Carnell Tate, Ohio State, WR

Probably the best receiver in this draft and Cam Ward’s new best friend, but Tennessee passed up big-time on defense here. Grade: C+

No. 5: New York Giants — Arvell Reese, Ohio State, OLB

Regarded by many as the top player in the draft, the only question is if he plays on the edge or in the middle of the field. Either way, the Giants have another monster for their front seven. And they just got to sit right at No. 5 and let him come their way. Grade: A

No. 6: Kansas City Chiefs — Mansoor Delane, LSU. CB

Kansas City gave up a haul to get here — Nos. 9, 74 and 148 — and land their Trent McDuffie replacement in a pro-ready corner. Grade: B-

No. 7: Washington Commanders — Sonny Styles, Ohio State, ILB

In all the times Washington ran through how the top of the draft might go, there probably weren’t many where they thought Styles would be available at No. 7. Easy, easy call for Dan Quinn and company. Grade: A

No. 8: New Orleans Saints — Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, WR

Highest-upside WR in the draft lands in a promising situation in New Orleans. A solid fit with hopeful franchise quarterback Tyler Shough. Grade: B+

No. 9: Cleveland Browns — Spencer Fano, Utah, OT

Cleveland slides back three spots and still gets its choice of the draft’s offensive linemen. That’s pretty good work. Fano is a big, athletic guy, but is a mild surprise as the first off the board. Grade: B+

No. 10: New York Giants — Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL), OT

If Mauigoa’s much-discussed herniated disc is healthy, this is a key protector for Jaxson Dart. But that’s a not-unsubstantial “if” at No. 10. Grade: C+

No. 11: Dallas Cowboys — Caleb Downs, Ohio State, S

The Cowboys traded a pair of fifth-round picks to move up one spot and make sure they landed S Caleb Downs. They must have thought another team was in the mix. The extra Day 3 picks are well worth the acquisition cost for one of the best players in the entire class. Grade: A

No. 12: Miami Dolphins — Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, OT

The 6-foot-6-plus Alabama tackle has been a steady pre-draft riser, but this is…high. High. It makes some sense, though, to land a
protector for Malik Willis, but Proctor might not have even the best tackle available here. Grade: C-

No. 13: Los Angeles Rams — Ty Simpson, Alabama, QB

The first true stunner of the night. The Rams, with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, take a quarterback. Stafford, of course, is 38, but all the same, this is the biggest surprise of the night. If it works, Sean McVay has a succession plan in place. But when will that be? Grade: C-

No. 14: Baltimore Ravens — Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, OG

Baltimore needed offensive-line help, and gets it here. Ioane was the clear top of the guard class. This could set up a slightly earlier-than-expected run of guards. Grade: A-

No. 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL), Edge

Bain might have short arms, but most thought he’d be long gone by the middle of the first round. Tampa landed an instant impact guy in this range last year in WR Emeka Egbuka and probably just did it again with Bain. Grade: A-

No. 16: New York Jets — Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, TE

Former Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey strikes. Sadiq is an unreal athlete, and will instantly become an irreplaceable piece of New York’s offense. Grade: A

No. 17: Detroit Lions — Blake Miller, Clemson, OT

The Lions were a near lock to select an offensive lineman. They go with Miller based and will have to decide whether he or Penei Sewell move from their more natural right side to left. Grade: B

No. 18: Minnesota Vikings — Caleb Banks, Florida, DT

A Broncos top-30 visit off the board early. This is a boom-or-bust pick, as Banks has some of the highest pass-rushing upside in the draft but major injury concerns. Might be early. Grade: C

No. 19: Carolina Panthers — Monroe Freeling, Georgia, OT

The Panthers were a surprise division winner in 2025 and now they bolster their front line as they try to defend the NFC South behind QB Bryce Young and company. Freeling’s one of the players in this class who is a natural left tackle. Pretty good business for Carolina to land him given he’s the sixth OL off the board. Grade: A-

No. 20: Philadelphia Eagles — Makai Lemon, USC, WR

Ballplayer. Lemon falls right into the Eagles’ hands, who move up to grab him — all but sealing the departure of WR1 A.J. Brown. Jalen Hurts has a new slot weapon. Grade: A

No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers, Max Iheanachor, Arizona State, OT

The big man has only been playing football for a few years after moving to the United States from Nigeria. He’s young at 22, has a world of talent and, even if he has edges to smooth out, the future is bright. Grade: B

No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers — Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL), Edge

Mesidor’s age — 25 — has drawn scoffs aplenty throughout the draft process, but he had some of the best pass-rushing production in the country last year. Instant impact. Grade: B-

No. 23: Dallas Cowboys — Malachi Lawrence, UCF, Edge

Lawrence has been steadily gaining steam through the spring and ends up solidly in the first round. The Cowboys figured to be a strong candidate to double up on defense and they indeed end up with a safety and a rusher with their extra capital after trading Micah Parsons last summer. Grade: B

No. 24: Cleveland Browns — KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, WR

Stud inside-outside threat at receiver in Cleveland. But do the Browns have the offensive juice, and the quarterback, to justify this pick? Grade: C+

No. 25: Chicago Bears — Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, S

Thieneman is a rocket ship. He ran 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash and is capable of playing deep, in the box or in the slot. He’s a terrific chess piece for Bears DC Dennis Allen and it’s a mild surprise he’s available this late in the first round. Grade: A

No. 26: Houston Texans — Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, G

Big theme of this first round: offensive linemen have largely flown off the board quicker than expected. Rutledge has elite traits and athleticism, but this is a reach. Grade: D+

No. 27: Miami Dolphins — Chris Johnson, San Diego State, CB

Johnson didn’t have a lot of buzz through the fall but exploded into the conversation in the past few months. The Dolphins need help across the board as they prepare to take on a record amount of dead money by a wide margin. They’ve now got two building blocks in Proctor and Johnson. Grade: B-

No. 28: New England Patriots — Caleb Lomu, Utah, OT

The Patriots need help up front and they find it late in the first round. Lomu and Fano go as college bookends in the first round. Impressive for the Utes and a solid, if not exactly flashy, move for New England in front of QB Drake Maye. Grade: B

No. 29: Kansas City Chiefs — Peter Woods, Clemson, DT

The Chiefs double up on defense in the first round, adding Woods to Delane in coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system. What will Patrick Mahomes think about that rather than adding firepower offensively? K.C. passed on WRs Omar Cooper Jr. and Denzel Boston here. Interesting. Grade: C

No. 30: New York Jets — Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana, WR

Mougey and the Jets have been busy all offseason and they keep it rolling, moving up a handful of spots to get back into the first round for a third selection. It’s Cooper, a rugged and talented receiver out of IU who joins a really fun young group of talent including Garrett Wilson, RB Breece Hall, Sadiq and TE Mason Taylor. Grade: A-

No. 31: Tennessee Titans — Keldric Faulk, Auburn, OLB

Faulk is a massive player and one of the youngest in the draft. He’ll be a developmental piece for Robert Saleh’s defense in Nashville. It may take some time, but he’ll learn from John Franklin-Myers and others and has the chance to play on the edge or inside depending on the situation — and how much he grows. Grade: B-

No. 32: Seattle Seahawks — Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, RB

Two running backs go and they’re college teammates from Notre Dame. Price played second fiddle to Love in South Bend, but he’s got lead NFL back written all over him. As talented a ballcarrier as anybody in this class, Price will get a long look right away for the Super Bowl champs. Grade: A-

THINGS TO KNOW

Broncos draft guideÌꎄ GM on trading into first round | Manning on Nix
5 things for Broncos | Broncos mock draft | More Broncos news

Broncos draft previews
Offense: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive line
Defense: Defensive line | Outside linebackers | Inside linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties

Broncos draft previews
Offense: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive line
Defense: Defensive line | Outside linebackers | Inside linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties

Broncos’ in-house offseason moves: Signed Tycen Anderson to a one-year deal.

Under contract: Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, JL Skinner and Anderson.

Need scale (1-10): 6. When healthy in 2025, Hufanga and Jones played like one of the best safety tandems in football. Key is a first-team All-Pro special teams player, Skinner is valuable in the kicking game as well and Anderson was signed to be yet another quality player in the third phase. The task for 2026 is to figure out who replaces P.J. Locke as the next man in after he signed a one-year, $5 million deal with Dallas. The questions don’t end there, however. Jones is entering the final of a three-year deal and Skinner the final of his four-year rookie deal. Anderson is on a one-year contract. This group could look much different after the upcoming season. Not only that, but the Broncos have not yet developed a long-term solution at the position in-house. Perhaps a draft class that is considered to be just OK overall but deep and talented at safety can generate the solution.

The Top Five

Caleb Downs, Ohio State

It¶¶Òőap pretty simple: Downs is on the shortlist of best overall players in the class. If his position were considered a premium one by the league, he’d be in contention to be the first non-quarterback drafted. Even with the way safeties are generally valued, it’d be a surprise if he waited longer than the first 10 picks to hear his name called.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

A rangy, play-making safety who draws comparisons to Nick Emmanwori in last year’s draft. McNeil-Warren is one of three safeties likely to go in the first round. He’s almost 6-4 and checked into the Combine at 201 pounds before running 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Had five interceptions for the Rockets over the past three seasons and also forced eight fumbles, including four in 2023 and three last year.

Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Thieneman isn’t as big as McNeil-Warren but he’s a rocket ship. Ran 4.35 seconds in the 40 at the Combine at 6-0 and 201 pounds. Also jumped 41 inches vertical and 10-5 broad. He’s explosive and versatile and is a player who should be able to play deep, in the box or in the slot depending on what team he lands on. Like the two above, a near surefire first-rounder.

Zakee Wheatley, Penn State

Wheatley is another physically imposing player at 6-3 and 200-plus pounds. The Nittany Lions have churned out defensive prospects in recent years and Wheatley is another, though likely a Day 2 pick. Two-year starter whose most productive year was 2024 when he had 96 tackles and three picks.

A.J. Haulcy, LSU

A candidate to be one of the six players Broncos GM George Paton referenced targeting with the No. 62 overall pick. Haulcy played at New Mexico his first year, then Houston for two and LSU last year and started all four. He checked into the Combine a shade under 6-foot and 215 pounds, then ran 4.52 in the 40. Had five picks in 2024 for UH and three last year for LSU. Denver always has good insight into LSU players given the staff’s deep connections to the school and state of Louisiana, plus new Denver DBs coach Doug Belk coached him at Houston in 2023.

More Broncos options

Bud Clark, TCU

Clark’s an older player and stayed at TCU for the duration of his six-year college career. Another player Denver will have a good read on in part because head coach Sean Payton’s son, Connor, attended school and worked for the TCU football program during Clark’s tenure. Clark’s played in 61 college games and come away with three or more interceptions in four straight years. Ran 4.41 in the 40 at 6-1 and 188 at the Combine.

Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina

Kilgore is a freaky athlete, having checked into the combine at 6-1 and 210 pounds and ran 4.40 in the 40 while jumping 37 inches vertical and 10-10 broad. He played in the slot and at safety in college and is still a young player, having just turned 21 years old. Not the most refined prospect, but would be a fascinating development project for new secondary coaches Belk and Rob Livingston if Denver finds itself maneuvering around Day 2.

Michael Taaffe, Texas

A defensive back from Texas, you say? The Broncos have had a ton, from Jones and Jahdae Barron on the active roster to the recently departed Locke and Caden Sterns before him. Taaffee told The Post he had a Zoom call with Livingston. Denver clearly knows the school well and will have seen a ton of him before even digging into this class, having fallen in love with Barron last year. Taaffee is slightly bigger than Jones at 6-0 and 198 and regarded similarly heading into the draft or perhaps a bit lower – maybe a Day 3 guy but could slide up like Jones did.

Kamari Ramsey, USC

Yet another Broncos connection here as Ramsey played for Belk the past two years in Southern California. Didn’t have a pick in nine games last year but one the year before to go along with a pair of sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Ramsey ran 4.46 in the 40 at the Combine at 6-0 and 202 pounds. Could be available when Denver’s fourth-round picks come up. If you’re looking at the Belk connections, fellow former Trojans safety Bishop Fitzgerald fits, too.

Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma

Yet another college the Broncos have drafted heavily from. Spears-Jennings ran a blistering 4.32 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine at 6-2 and 205 pounds. His most productive year was 2024 when he picked off a pass, forced four fumbles and had 2.5 sacks and five TFLs. The Broncos love back-end players who can make plays behind the line of scrimmage. They drafted an OU safety in the fifth round in 2022 in Delarrin Turner-Yell. Maybe they’ll swing at another on Day 3 this year.

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Hey Ed, thanks for writing in and getting us going in a draft-a-palooza version of the Broncos mailbag.

Denver is almost certain to move some of its picks around. Will they go up from No. 62? Back from their fourth-rounders? Vice versa? That, of course, all depends and the most likely outcome is we won’t know until Friday evening as the second round unfolds.

Teams move picks, though, and the Broncos have moved them at a high volume recently under general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton. Last year alone they made their own selection at No. 20 in the first round — through Paton said they considered trading back from there — and then got busy. They didn’t actually pick at any of their original spots from then on and engineered four trades that included a total of 20 draft picks. They went back from 51 to 57 and then to 60. They went up from No. 111 to No. 101 to draft Sai’Vion Jones and in the process also moved back four spots from No. 130.

Generally speaking, it’d be a surprise if Denver wasn’t similarly active this year. Especially with just one pick on Day 2, it would make sense for Paton and Payton to try to move around. That could mean trying to pick up capital by moving back from their first pick at No. 62. They could get into the third round by moving up from No. 108 or No. 111. It could mean some combination of that or something else entirely.

Paton’s reputation is that of a pick collector, while Payton is more gung-ho about trading up. Paton said last week that their styles have melded together well.

A natural inclination going into the draft with seven picks would be wanting to preserve somewhere around that number, but there’s a pretty good argument for being aggressive and moving up. It¶¶Òőap basically the same they used when explaining their trade for Jaylen Waddle. Essentially: This is a deep roster as is. It¶¶Òőap not going to be easy to make. If they take six Day 3 players as their current cache lines them up for, are all of them going to be on the 53-man roster?

The counter: Do you have to move up to get the players you really want? Payton talked last week about the “spray” of evaluations across the league and how it widens as the draft progresses. The Broncos traded back twice in the second round last year and got the guy they wanted in Harvey. They won’t be needlessly aggressive, but their roster is in such a place where they can go get a particular player, even without the benefit of a first-round pick.

What are the top three things you have learned about the NFL draft?

— David Brown, Silverthorne

Hey David, thanks for writing in and great question. I’m going to take this as this upcoming draft particularly.

1. Many of the best players and deepest position groups in this draft are at what the league generally considers non-premium spots. This is a great draft for inside linebackers and safeties. It¶¶Òőap not teeming with top-end tight ends, but there are a boatload of solid options to work through. Similar at running back after the one true blue-chipper in Jeremiyah Love. It¶¶Òőap another good year for edge rushers and receivers, so those groups will go fast in the first round — and offensive line will, too — but there’s hay to be made at some of those other spots.

2. Related to that point, a team is always better off draft-wise if it¶¶Òőap armed with a first-round pick or extra capital, but this weekend actually looks like it sets up fairly well for the Broncos. Their needs — call it tight end, linebacker, running back, safety and offensive line — line up well overall with the deeper parts of this draft class. That doesn’t mean there are going to be Week 1 starters sitting there waiting for them on Day 3, of course, but the Broncos should be looking at their board and seeing realistic options at some positions of need despite having traded away their first- and third-rounders.

3. The 2026 draft is already being colored, to some degree, by next year’s proceedings. You saw it in Denver’s willingness to give up multiple picks this year for Waddle while hanging on to all of its 2027 capital. Teams around the league widely view next year’s class as shaping up to be substantially better than this year’s.

“I think everyone feels like next year is going to be a strong draft and I think that¶¶Òőap based on the quarterbacks and it feels like it¶¶Òőap going to be a strong quarterback draft,” Paton said. “We definitely look at that when we’re making trades.”

Paton earlier in the offseason said the Broncos pay attention to the fact that they’re in line for a fourth-round comp pick for next year due to John Franklin-Myers’ departure and perhaps a seventh-rounder, too, but that it doesn’t dictate how Denver operates. Expect a similar approach when it comes to deciding whether to part with 2027 draft capital during the 2026 proceedings.

Extra picks can benefit the Broncos next year in a strong class, but it could also benefit them this week.

“We have 10 picks, we think, next year, including the compensatories,” Paton said. “So it gives us more flexibility if we need to use one of those to help ourselves now.”

Do you think the Broncos will make a splash at the draft?

— Roger, Aurora

Hey Roger, guess it depends on what you mean by splash. Two years ago Bo Nix’s selection got all of the attention, and rightfully so. The Saturday trade they swung with the New York Jets for John Franklin-Myers and subsequent two-year, $15 million extension flew much more under the radar, but obviously ended up being quite consequential.

It would probably be bigger news if Denver acquired a veteran player during the draft — especially if that player were at a clear position of need like tight end  — or if they traded a player off their existing roster to acquire more draft capital.

Not saying one or the other is a guarantee, but certainly you can’t count out the possibility of a trade involving an active player one way or the other.

Any chance we move back into the first round? We need a tight end and if Kenyon Sadiq slips, I could see us making some moves to grab him in the late 20s. What say you?

— Tim, Denver

Hey Tim, thanks for writing in. That would be spicy, but it just doesn’t seem feasible without making a dramatic sacrifice either from the existing roster or from the club’s stash of 2027 draft picks. Even then, the math is tough to square. Let¶¶Òőap use the Jimmy Johnson trade chart as a guide. There are other ways of valuing picks and every team does so slightly differently, but Payton’s draft trades generally follow the Johnson chart.

Denver’s pick at No. 62 is worth 284 points. San Francisco’s pick at No. 27 is worth 680. So even if Sadiq made it that far and the 49ers were willing to deal the pick rather than take him, the gap is 396 points. Denver’s pair of fourth-rounders (Nos. 108 and 111) are worth 150. Not even close, so now you’re talking 2027 capital. Maybe 108, 111 and a 2027 second-rounder gets you there. Given the way teams generally value future year picks and the fact that Denver is likely to be good this fall, the 49ers wouldn’t be out of line asking for No. 62 and next year’s first-rounder. Maybe with a later-round pick this year coming back in return.

That just seems like an awfully steep price, which Paton said himself last week.

“You never say never, but it¶¶Òőap unlikely,” Paton said about getting to the first round. “It would cost quite a haul for us to get up there. Most of our draft we would have to trade and then something next year.”

Do you think we’ll find our answer at tight end in the draft? Kenyon Sadiq is expected to go in the first round, so I know it’s not him. How about someone like Eli Stowers or someone else who’s under the radar in the middle of the draft?

— Mike, Denver

Hey Mike, it¶¶Òőap possible. Sadiq will definitely be off the board and Vanderbilt¶¶Òőap Eli Stowers may well be, too, by the time Denver’s pick rolls around. There will be options, though.

The terrific draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has an interesting clump of tight ends graded right in Denver’s range. His top 150 includes this run: No. 66 Stowers, No. 71 Oscar Delp (Georgia), No. 81 Max Klare (Ohio State), No. 83 Sam Roush (Stanford), No. 84 Marlin Klein (Michigan).

Stowers and Klare are pass-catchers first. Roush and Klein are more accomplished blockers than receivers in college. Delp is tantalizing as an all-around player but never had more than 24 catches in a collegiate season. There are others that could go in the Day 2 range, among them NC State’s Justin Joly. It’ll be fascinating to see if Denver is set on one of them or if they take the view that the group’s depth will present a quality option somewhere along the way.

Parker, what do you think about the Broncos picking up Washington RB Jonah Coleman? He’s got a little shake-and-bake. I’m not sold on RJ Harvey being our back of the future and J.K. Dobbins is a liability with his injury history.

— Mike, Denver

Hey Mike, I like Coleman and my beat partner, Luca Evans, is even higher on him. The 5-foot-8, 220-pounder — Coleman, not Luca — certainly looks like he fits what the Broncos like and what they need in that room. He visited the Broncos last week, too.

Coleman’s not the only option, of course. Does Denver feel the need to use an early pick on a running back after taking Harvey in the second round last year? Or are they looking more for a late-round add or even a post-draft veteran? One of many questions we’ll soon learn the answer to for certain.

I still don’t understand why they let John Franklin-Myers walk in free agency. I think he was a very good defensive end, an important spot next to Zach Allen, and they re-signed everybody else on the defensive line, why not him? Another thing I don’t get, if Adam Trautman is such a good blocker, how come RJ Harvey couldn’t get more than 2 or 3 yards? And if he is in the game instead of Engram, aren’t you telegraphing a running play?

— Anthony, Venice, Fla.

Hey Anthony, thanks for writing in and for the questions.

First question: Franklin-Myers got as much per year from Tennessee as the Broncos gave D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach combined, so that¶¶Òőap part of the equation. They could have paid him, but they knew he was going to make a ton of money and they’re planning around having already paid a bunch of other players while knowing that they may well be looking at a massive Bo Nix extension a year from now. Plus, they like their depth on the defensive line. And they get a fourth-round comp pick in next year’s draft. Doesn’t guarantee that letting him go was the right move, of course, but they didn’t wake up one day in early March and say, oh, dang, we can’t pay JFM. It¶¶Òőap been part of the plan.

Second question: Easy to point at Harvey’s numbers, but if Trautman is such a bad blocker, then how did Dobbins go through 10 weeks as one of the most effective and efficient rushers in football?

And last: Yeah, that¶¶Òőap got to be part of Denver’s calculus as it goes through the offseason and puts together its plan in Davis Webb’s first year as the team’s primary playcaller. They have to find ways to play one, the other or both TEs without being too predictable.

Hey Parker, I’ve been hearing rumors about the Broncos being in the mix to sign De’Von Achane. How serious are these talks and do we have the money to sign him?

— Raj P., Centennial

Hey Raj, thanks for writing in. Achane sure is fun, but reporting out of Miami recently is that he showed up for their offseason program in part because extension talks have progressed. Seems like he’s going to be staying in Miami a while.

Who’s making the biggest jump in 2026? My money’s on Jonah Elliss. I think he’s due for a breakout year.

— Adam Miller, Fort Collins

Hey Adam, thanks for writing in and interesting question. If Elliss broke out while making the switch to inside linebacker, that would have present-day and future ramifications for the Broncos. They’d undoubtedly welcome that.

With the caveat that it¶¶Òőap very early, I’ll put some early breakout chips in for the guy who currently stands to benefit the most from Elliss’ move inside: Second-year outside linebacker Que Robinson. Paton said after the season that Robinson has as much upside as anybody Denver drafted last year. That combined with the flashes on the field are enough to pique substantial interest.

What are the odds that we would bring back some Broncos favorites in Justin Simmons and Von Miller that are available in free agency?  We are very deep at outside edge, so probably a harder sell for Von.  Safety seems to be a point of some need.  Is the price just too high for both of them?

— Michael Horn, Westminster

Hey Michael, thanks for writing. I guess you never say never never, but neither seems at all likely at this point. Miller, of course, would be a tremendous story, but if the Broncos end up adding a veteran edge rusher after the draft I wonder if longtime New Orleans star Cam Jordan is a more likely option.

Nobody, by his own admission, loves draft picks more than Broncos general manager George Paton. And yet, in the pursuit of all-in roster-building, this Denver organization has actually only held a first-round pick in two of the previous five draft cycles.

“I’ve probably traded too many, God darn it,” Paton joked, at league meetings in March. “But I think it’s worked out.”

After trading for Jaylen Waddle in March, the Broncos will pick later in this upcoming NFL Draft (spanning Thursday to Saturday) than any other team in the NFL, sitting with their first selection at No. 62. And it would be nearly impossible for Denver to drum up the capital to trade back into the first round come Thursday — the team is only opening their facility to media for draft coverage come Day 2 on Friday, clearly indicating no plans to leap into Day 1.

But the Broncos could “certainly” move up a few slots from that No. 62 selection, as Paton said point-blank in his pre-draft presser last week.

With that in mind, The Denver Post explored scenarios in which Paton and staff could move a few picks up to snag a key offensive piece for head coach Sean Payton. Spoiler alert: it’s Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers, who has quickly become a darling of the Broncos’ pre-draft media cycle.

Here’s The Post’s final full seven-round Broncos mock draft before the real thing kicks off on Thursday, in which the organization will inevitably take several prospects who nobody on Planet Earth predicted would land in Denver.

Round 2, pick No. 54 (from Philadelphia): TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

°Ő°ùČč»ć±đ:ÌęBroncos receive Nos. 54 and 197; Eagles receive Nos. 62 and 108

The idea of Stowers-to-Denver couldn’t be any more obvious, as he’d give Payton and quarterback Bo Nix a hybrid WR/TE with a record-setting 45.5-inch vertical. The reality is plenty more complicated. Stowers is highly unlikely to fall all the way to No. 62, and could start receiving interest as early as the late first round. With that being said, here’s a scenario that’d make sense from multiple angles.

In this spin through Pro Football Focus’s mock-draft simulator, The Post explored trying to move up to both pick No. 46 (Buccaneers) and No. 51 (Panthers) to leap in front of two tight-end-needy franchises. The price, however, wound up too steep on the Jimmy Johnson draft-pick valuation chart — but not for the Eagles. There are ties, too, between Denver and Philadelphia’s front offices, as former Eagles national scout Jordon Dizon became the Broncos’ director of pro personnel in 2025.

Ultimately, here, the Broncos give up a fourth-rounder for a sixth-rounder and the chance to take Stowers, a 2025 All-American who’d become a tantalizing prospect for Payton. This move would likely mean Denver moves on from Evan Engram; quietly, the organization explored alternatives at tight end through free agency, but the price crept too high. Here, the price is just right.

Also considered: Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price was somehow still sitting available here, at No. 54. There’s a very finite chance of that actually playing out Thursday and Friday, as some RB-needy team will likely stump earlier for Price’s abilities as a runner.

Round 4, pick No. 125 (from New England): LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU

°Ő°ùČč»ć±đ:ÌęBroncos receive Nos. 125, 171 and 247; Patriots receive No. 111

Bonanza! Payton loves trading up, and Paton loves trading back; here, the latter winds up happy. It’s highly unlikely the Broncos would jump up twice within the first three rounds with limited capital to begin with, and instead they sit and wait for a high-upside linebacker late in the fourth round.

Elarms-Orr could wind up flying higher than this if a team takes a swing on his traits, because they are a-plenty: 4.47 40-yard-dash and a 40-inch vertical. He had a low percentage of missed tackles last year at TCU, and added 25 pressures and four sacks. Vance Joseph would have a true weapon here, and let Elarms-Orr develop for a year behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. Denver, of course, likes Elarms-Orr, having completed a top-30 visit with him.

Round 5, pick No. 170: S Michael Taaffe, Texas

Taaffe has told The Post he’d love to play in Denver to reunite with old Texas teammate Jahdae Barron, and had a strong first initial meeting with new Broncos defensive passing-game coordinator Robert Livingston. His leadership skills would be a direct fit in the Broncos’ locker room, as a former walk-on who grew into a star at Texas. Plus, the familiarity would likely help Barron’s development, too.

Taaffe doesn’t have a standout frame or athleticism, at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds with a 4.5-second 40-yard-dash. He’s racked up a combined seven picks across three seasons, though, and would bring instant special-teams value.

Also considered: We thought about trading up again from this slot to select a running back like Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton or Kaytron Allen, but ultimately decided to stay put. Both fell off the board, leaving us with…

Round 5, pick No. 171 (from New England): RB Kaelon Black, Indiana

The Post has mocked Black to the Broncos before, and lands here again. The Hoosiers back will need to show and develop more third-down value, as he caught just eight passes over two seasons at Indiana and fluctuated in pass protection. But he was considerably more productive as a receiver back at James Madison, and Black’s steadiness as a runner — 1,034 yards, 5.6 yards per carry in 2025 — makes him one of the best late-round RB fits for Denver in this draft.

Round 6, pick No. 197 (from Philadelphia): OLB Caden Curry, Ohio State

The Broncos could look to add another depth edge rusher if they shift Jonah Elliss full-time to inside linebacker, and Curry would be an excellent late-round option. The 6-foot-2, 257-pound rusher grew from a reserve into a breakout star last season for the Buckeyes, racking up 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. He’s also quick enough to drop into coverage, and could compete during camp with last year’s fourth-round pick Que Robinson for snaps.

Round 7, pick No. 246: CB Latrell McCutchin Sr., Houston

This kicks off a run of four seventh-round selections for the Broncos, which Paton has used aggressively for years to keep desired prospects from hitting the open undrafted market. Despite a glut of cornerbacks, Denver is exploring late-round options, and has been in frequent contact with McCutchin through the pre-draft process. He’s a big corner with good athleticism — nearly 6-foot-2, 4.43-second 40-yard-dash, 38.5-inch vertical — and would give Denver another developmental option at boundary corner during training camp. He could become a special-teams player, too.

Round 7, pick No. 247 (from New England): OT Enrique Cruz Jr., Kansas

Classic high-upside, low-risk swing here on an offensive lineman. Cruz could certainly go earlier due to his sheer athleticism — a 4.94-second 40-yard-dash and 1.74-second 10-yard-split — but his tape needs work, as he allowed six pressures and received a PFF pass-blocking grade of 0.0 in a game against high-octane Texas Tech this year. He’d be a perfect project for Broncos offensive-line coach Zach Strief, as Denver’s tackles Mike McGlinchey and Garett Bolles continue aging quite gracefully.

Round 7, pick No. 256: QB Haynes King, Georgia Tech

Just a fun one here. King’s athleticism is off the charts, with a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and a 1.55-second 10-yard-split. Payton had immense success with Taysom Hill in New Orleans in converting an athletic quarterback to a skill-position weapon, and a source has told The Post that the Broncos see King the same way. He ran for 953 yards and 15 touchdowns last season at Georgia Tech.

Round 7, pick No. 257: WR Donaven McCulley, Michigan

Another upside swing, McCulley would become the draft’s Mr. Irrelevant. His profile is entirely relevant to Payton, though, measuring at 6-foot-4 despite poor athleticism. A converted quarterback who played four seasons at Indiana, McCulley should have some untapped upside. Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb was on McCulley’s pre-draft Zoom call with Denver, which should raise eyebrows.

He arrived at the Paramount Theater downtown Wednesday evening, after all, to celebrate the Broncos’ championship 2015 team and hosted a meet and greet flanked by the Lombardi Trophy.

There will be no such celebrations for the 2025 Broncos, naturally, because they came up four points short of playing in the Super Bowl back in January.

Manning, though, says Sean Payton’s team should be a contender again this fall.

“I think this team has it figured out,” Manning said before hosting his Night of Champions event celebrating the Super Bowl 50 champs. “Sean knows what they need to do. I think they’ve also got to have a bunch of unselfish guys who all can look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘what can I do to get better this offseason and help the team?’ I think it¶¶Òőap pretty unique from that standpoint. It¶¶Òőap not by accident.

“Sean and (general manager George Paton) have drafted and signed guys that are unselfish. That are team-oriented. And that¶¶Òőap the way you’ve got to have it in order to win.”

Ten years after Manning and the Broncos defeated New England in the AFC Championship Game, the Broncos fell, 10-7, at home. They did so, of course, without Bo Nix, who fractured his ankle in overtime of the team’s 33-30 Divisional round win over Buffalo.

Manning spent time with Nix recently at Augusta National and had a prediction about Nix’s third pro season.

“I saw him down at The Masters last week and he looked good, sounds good — was upbeat and looking forward to getting started,” Manning said. “I think (the injury) is something only he can speak to because to play so well in that game, to beat the Buffalo Bills and then find out you’re not going to play the next week, I can’t speak for him but I know he was disappointed. He’s a competitive guy and he’s a team guy. He wants to be out there. His teammates are out there for him and he wants to answer the bell for them. I’m sure that was the hardest part.

“That’ll push him even harder and make him even hungrier this year.”

Manning may not have experienced exactly what Nix did, but over his Hall of Fame career he tasted both the highs of winning titles and also the sting of coming up just short. In addition to the pair of rings, Manning lost in the Super Bowl two other times — 2009 with Indianapolis and 2013 in Denver.

“I’ve always said, which would you rather do? Have your heart ripped out by the Patriots in the AFC Championship or win your last game of the regular season and finish 7-10 and be so far removed, but it doesn’t hurt quite as much,” Manning said. “It doesn’t sting as much. I’d rather have my heart ripped out because that means you’re knocking on the door. I’m sure Bo would tell you that and Courtland (Sutton) and all the guys that were disappointed that they got so close. It makes you hungrier for the next year, it means you’re doing something right.

“I know Sean and that bunch will rebound and pick up where they left off and I think be even better.”

Denver’s next chance to improve its roster is this weekend in the draft. The Broncos aren’t on the clock until Friday because they traded their first-rounder as part of a package for Jaylen Waddle, but Manning is interested all the same.

“Certainly curious about who the Broncos are going to draft,” he said. “I know we don’t have a (first-rounder) because of Jaylen Waddle. What a great pick-up that was.”

Broncos draft previews
Offense: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive line
Defense: Defensive line | Outside linebackers | Inside linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties

Broncos’ in-house offseason moves: Re-signed Ja’Quan McMillian via second-round tender; re-signed Jaden Robinson to futures deal

Under contract: Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, McMillian, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine, Reese Taylor, Robinson

Need scale (1-10): 2. The Broncos need any more cornerbacks like Sean Payton needs any more doses of caffeine. The Surtain-Moss-McMillian-Barron-Abrams-Draine quintet is as stacked as any room in the NFL; both Barron and Abrams-Draine were reserves in 2025 despite being talented enough to start on a slew of teams across the league. The Broncos need to create more opportunities for Barron, their 2025 first-round pick, to see the field — not create additional competition that could stunt his growth. That being said, both general manager George Paton and Payton love hoarding skilled cornerbacks. One source who’s spoken with the Broncos in the pre-draft process told The Denver Post the organization has expressed interest in adding a boundary cornerback in the late rounds, and Denver’s done diligence on a crop of players in that range.

The Top Five

Mansoor Delane, LSU

Pretty unanimous across the draft-evaluation board: this is CB1. Delane combines elite production (11 PBUs in an All-American season in 2025) with solid traits, . Even more impressive: the 5-foot-11 corner surrendered just 14 catches on 35 targets his way in the 2025 season, according to Pro Football Focus. He could grow into an elite outside cornerback at the next level.

Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Good defensive-back genes run in the Terrell bloodline, as Terrell’s brother A.J. was a Falcons first-round pick in 2020. Terrell was a malleable piece at Clemson last year, playing some snaps from the slot and a handful in the box; he finished with 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and five forced fumbles. His stock is up in the air, though, after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported he .

Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

The talent here is significant enough that McCoy could land in the first round despite missing the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL. He had excellent ball production at Tennessee in 2024, with four interceptions, and has a solid frame at close to 6-foot-1. If teams get a clean medical on McCoy, he’ll go on Day 1.

Colton Hood, Tennessee

The Vols boys. Hood stood out for Deion Sanders at Colorado in 2024, and put together a solid all-around season at Tennessee in 2025. He excelled in run support last year, with just four missed tackles (according to PFF), and jumped 40.5 inches at the combine.

Chris Johnson, San Diego State

A non-Power-Four gem, Johnson blew out the combine: a 4.40-second 40-yard-dash (third amongst CBs), 17 reps on bench press (tied for first), and a 1.54-second 10-yard-split (fourth). He broke out last season, with two pick-sixes and nine passes defensed. The athleticism and development across four years at a non-major program should interest teams, and potentially slot five corners into the first round.

More Broncos fits

Ephesians Prysock, Washington

If Prysock slips into the fourth or fifth round, Denver could take a hard look. The 6-foot-3 Prysock combines elite length with standout athleticism, at a 4.45-second 40-yard-dash and 39-inch vertical. He’s done a Zoom with Broncos defensive-backs coach Doug Belk, according to a source.

Julian Neal, Arkansas

Neal is plenty stout as far as corners go, measuring at 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds, and was excellent against the run last year at Arkansas. His coverage stats were slightly hit-or-miss last year at Arkansas, but Neal’s explosiveness — a 40-inch vertical and 11-foot-2-inch broad jump — should endear him to the Broncos’ brass.

Latrell McCutchin, Houston

Denver’s stayed in consistent pre-draft communication with the nearly 6-foot-2 McCutchin, a source said. His combine numbers were among the best in his class, and McCutchin had a standout 2025 at Houston, with 10 passes defensed and three tackles for loss. The lack of ball production — no picks in four years of college ball — should be a concern, but McCutchin could be a late-round fit.

Brent Austin, Cal

Big-time draft sleeper here. Austin wasn’t a combine invitee, but had an excellent season for the Golden Bears in 2025, with 13 passes defensed and a couple forced fumbles. He could fall into the seventh-round-to-PFA range for the Broncos, and has had several conversations with them in the pre-draft process, a source said.

Blake Cotton, Utah

The Broncos love their Utah boys, and Cotton could be the latest in a line of hard-nosed, under-the-radar Utes to make their way east to Denver on Day 3 or after the draft. A one-time UC Davis product, Cotton made the FCS-to-FBS jump in 2025 and acquitted himself well late in the season. His frame is intriguing, at 6-foot-2.

Broncos draft previews
Offense: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive line
Defense: Defensive line | Outside linebackers | Inside linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties

Broncos’ in-house offseason moves: Re-signed Alex Singleton to a two-year, $15.5 million deal; re-signed Justin Strnad to a three-year, $18 million deal; re-signed Levelle Bailey to a futures contract.

Under contract: Singleton, Strnad, Jonah Elliss (if he’s a full-time ILB), Drew Sanders, Jordan Turner, Karene Reid, Bailey

Need scale (1-10): 8. Doesn’t have to be a top-of-the-line piece, but it’s time for the Broncos to invest actual draft capital at the ILB spot. Strnad will be a member of the room long-term, but Singleton will turn 33 this December, and it’d make plenty of sense for Denver to add another off-ball ‘backer who can develop behind the two — regardless if Denver shifts Elliss to ILB full-time. General manager George Paton has said multiple times that this is a good ILB class, too.

The Top Five

Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Already a first-round lock, the 6-foot-5 Styles blew the doors off at the combine back in February — a 4.46-second 40-yard-dash, a 43.5-inch vertical — and could rise all the way into the top five this coming week in Pittsburgh. His 2024 season for the Buckeyes was a marvel: 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks. He’ll make a linebacker-needy franchise quite happy.

Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Initially considered a mid-round prospect, Rodriguez now looks poised to land squarely in the second round. In a perfect world, the 2025 Bronko Nagurski winner — college football’s top defensive award — would fall to Denver at No. 62. But Rodriguez’s combination of leadership and coverage skills will make that highly unlikely.

CJ Allen, Georgia

Allen was one of the hotter early names for Denver at No. 30 back when the franchise still had its first-round pick, but the Georgia product has fallen a smidge down draft boards the past couple months. The 2025 All-American will likely still be gone by the back of the second round, as he’s a textbook green-dot fit in the heart of an NFL defense.

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

If you flipped Hill’s 2024 and 2025 seasons, he’d be an easy first-round pick: the tape looked much better a year ago, when the linebacker led the SEC with 16.5 tackles for loss and racked up eight sacks and four forced fumbles. The athleticism popped at the combine, though, and Hill is a versatile fit who can play mike or will and thrive in pass-rush situations. The Rodriguez-Allen-Hill tier, and where they land in the second round, will be one of the more interesting developments for Denver to monitor.

Jake Golday, Cincinnati

Here’s a guy that could be sitting pretty for Denver at No. 62. Golday graded as excellent against the run in a 105-tackle season in 2025, added 3.5 sacks, and posted decent numbers in coverage. It’s easy to imagine Vance Joseph utilizing Golday as a blitzer similar to how he creates pressure with Singleton and Strnad.

More Broncos fits

Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh

A linebacker-safety hybrid, the Broncos should have their eyes all over Louis. The versatile 22-year-old has totaled six interceptions across the last two seasons, and has the speed and agility to both pursue sideline-to-sideline and cover in space. The only concern here is his durability playing ILB — Louis is a shade under six feet, and weighing at 220 pounds.

Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU

Paton said Thursday that Denver likes to draft “high-trait players” that “maybe lack a little polish.” Meet Elarms-Orr, who ranked second among all ILBs at the combine in the 40-yard-dash, fifth in 10-yard-split, and second in vertical leap — all at 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds. He racked up 11 tackles for loss and four sacks in 13 games in 2025; if the Broncos are confident he can grow into an adequate coverage linebacker, he could be a mid-round steal. He’s taken a top-30 visit in Denver.

Jimmy Rolder, Michigan

Rolder grew from a reserve into a key starter across four years at Michigan, and racked up 73 tackles and seven tackles for loss in 2025. In a deep draft, he could be a solid Day 3 option for Denver. He’s graded as one of the best tacklers in this class at his position.

Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

Boettcher said at the combine that he felt a “like-minded mentality when it comes to the physicality of the game,” in an initial conversation with Denver. That physicality, indeed, should endear Boettcher to the Broncos: he racked up 136 tackles in 15 games for the Ducks last season. He’s a ready-made Singleton-type who also will provide plenty of special-teams value.

Dom DeLuca, Penn State

A Day 3-to-PFA-type, DeLuca grew from a walk-on special-teamer to a key contributor at inside linebacker across five years at Penn State. He struggled at times to both wrap up and cover in space for the Nittany Lions, but the Broncos love versatile pieces who can offer special-teams value, and DeLuca fits squarely into that mold. Denver’s reached out on him.

This is not the weekend for the Broncos’ front office to be sensible with its Walmart money. Oh, no. The 2026 NFL Draft is a free hit. An open goal. A chance to patch holes on a good roster by taking some chances.

Denver was an ankle away from the Super Bowl last season. A freak injury from waving high enough for everybody in Kansas to see.

Act like it.

Be bold.

Be brave.

Please don’t be an inside linebacker.

We’re wringing our hands about pick No. 62, of course, a second-round selection that, as of Monday, is the Broncos’ first — and maybe only — chance to make a draft weekend splash.

Six of the Broncos’ seven picks are slated to fall on Day 3 (rounds four-seven), and three of those six currently lie in the final round. History says Paton and Payton will move around some if they see someone specific they like. But a class this small needs to be about quality — not quantity. So as the weekend approaches, here are five things you’d hope general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton keep in mind as they shop for depth:

1. If Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers is available at No. 62, or close, move Heaven and Earth to make him yours

Linebacker or tight end? Defensive lineman or slot weapon? You nuts? Did you watch the Commodores? Don’t overthink this. Stowers is a tight end who looks like a wide receiver (6-foot-3, 239 pounds), runs like a wide receiver (4.51 in the 40) and jumps like a wide receiver (45.5-inch vertical).

He’s a matchup nightmare, the kind of target who leaves linebackers eating his dust and safeties flailing to reach jump balls they can’t touch. Stowers the draft epitome of a “Joker,” the TE/WR/inside triangle hybrid that Payton spoke about so lustily in January 2025. He’s Evan Engram. Only younger. Sure, Stowers doesn’t grade out well as a blocker. Guess what? You’ve got plenty of “blocking” tight ends on hand already.

2. Grab a contributor Friday — save your projects for Saturday

Could you find a starting-caliber linebacker late in the second round, too? Sure. Assuming Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez is still on the board, he’d make a perfect understudy for Alex Singleton, who’ll turn 33 in December. Or Justin Strnad, who turns 30 in August.

But with only seven picks, and a ton of contracts slated to end after the 2027 season, isn’t time of the essence? Shouldn’t you be saving the understudies for Saturday?

This is a back-filling draft, not the foundational one that 2024 turned out to be, thanks largely to Bo Nix. But winning now means getting guys who can play, and contribute, from the jump. Ideally, that means finding someone in Round 2 who could start for you in a pinch as soon as Week 1. Nail that, and the rest is gravy. Because if you don’t …

3. Don’t fall in love with BPA if that BPA has nowhere to play

See: Barron, Jahdae. Paton’s 2025 BPA with selection No. 20 a year ago. As in, “Best Player Available.” Or is it, Best Pick Again?

You can never have too much of a good thing in this league, given the volatility and injuries. Unless, of course, it’s nickel backs, especially when you’ve already developed an undrafted one (Ja’Quan McMillian) into one of the best in the AFC. At the time of Paton and Payton picked Barron, last spring’s first-round selection, folks didn’t whoop and holler. Barron, a speedster who raised Cain at the University of Texas, made folks sort of shrug and go, ‘Yeah, well, makes sense.’

The Broncos late in 2024 got badly exposed along the perimeter in the passing game — that Cleveland game on Monday Night Football was wild — while Pat Surtain II was out and a still-young Riley Moss was forced to cover more WR1s.

Fast forward to the fall of ’25, where Moss improved and cut down on his penalties. McMillian upped his game another level and rarely left the field on passing downs.

Before last spring’s draft, pundits and fans pleaded for the Broncos to add more help at running back, tight end and wide receiver. By and large, they’re making the same pleas in 2026 — which doesn’t exactly speak well for the early returns on Barron in the first round or for RJ Harvey in the second.

There’s time. But 2027, when so many of the contracts for this current core are slated to run out, gets closer by the day.

4. Remember Bo Nix — and Nix’s costs down the road

If someone offers you picks — even late ones — for the 2027, 2028 or 2029 drafts, you’d be wise to listen. Nix’s four-year rookie deal The Bo Show is slated for a $5.08-million cap hit this fall, and a $5.92-million hit in two seasons. Justin Herbert’s first post-rookie-contract extension had an average annual value of $52.5 million. Joe Burrow’s post-rookie extension featured an AAV of $55 million.

That raise is coming. More rookies will need to be coming, too.

5. Secure a RB you can trust in January

Here’s an idea. Actually, think of it as an exercise. At some point on Saturday, or before, look at the tailbacks most likely to be on the board after Round 2 or Round 3. Ask yourself, very simply, one question: Which one would I feel good about starting, at home, in late January, come rain, sleet or shine?

Because, presuming that J.K. Dobbins is going to be there is pure hubris. Or ignorance. Or both. Presume he’s not. Presume the rest of your options are still best used as pass-catchers in space (Harvey) or as special-teamers (Badie). Which of these prospects can pound the rock between the tackles 12-15 times per game against a salty defense? Which one could help grind me to a Super Bowl?

I’m partial to Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, a workhorse for the Cornhuskers last year, a volume carrier with power who recorded just three fumbles over 550 touches as a collegian. A born closer. Johnson averaged 6.7 yards from scrimmage last November every time he saw the ball, scoring five times on 120 touches that month. Sounds like the perfect fit, on paper, for a franchise that won’t just be judged on how it finishes next season. But where.