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 ā€” we could safely say that pick wouldā€™ve been one of these 7 or 8 players," Payton said at league meetings in late March. "And we didnā€™t feel like that would help us as much as Jaylen Waddle.ā€

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 ā€” 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:ĢżOne 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 ā€” at 223 pounds with a 4.33-second 40-yard-dash ā€” is as high as any RB in his class not named Jeremiyah Love.

WR Germie Bernard, Alabama:ĢżDenver won't ā€” and shouldn't ā€” 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:ĢżThe 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:ĢżThis 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:ĢżSimilar 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:ĢżNo. 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:ĢżOne of ¶¶Ņõapountry's original favorites at the beginning of the draft process, Rodriguez has risen considerably up boards across the last few months ā€” 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:ĢżTake 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:ĢżEverything 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:ĢżNot 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.

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

Broncosā€™ 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 donā€™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¶¶Ņõap 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, heā€™d be in contention to be the first non-quarterback drafted. Even with the way safeties are generally valued, itā€™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 yearā€™s draft. McNeil-Warren is one of three safeties likely to go in the first round. Heā€™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 isnā€™t as big as McNeil-Warren but heā€™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. Heā€™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 staffā€™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

Clarkā€™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 Paytonā€™s son, Connor, attended school and worked for the TCU football program during Clarkā€™s tenure. Clarkā€™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 ā€“ 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. Didnā€™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 Denverā€™s fourth-round picks come up. If youā€™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 theyā€™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 wonā€™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 ā€” through Paton said they considered trading back from there ā€” and then got busy. They didnā€™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 Saiā€™Vion Jones and in the process also moved back four spots from No. 130.

Generally speaking, itā€™d be a surprise if Denver wasnā€™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.

Patonā€™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 thereā€™s a pretty good argument for being aggressive and moving up. It¶¶Ņõap basically the same they used when explaining their trade for Jaylen Waddle. Essentially: This is a deep roster as is. It¶¶Ņõap 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 ā€œsprayā€ 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 wonā€™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. Iā€™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¶¶Ņõap 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¶¶Ņõap another good year for edge rushers and receivers, so those groups will go fast in the first round ā€” and offensive line will, too ā€” but thereā€™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¶¶Ņõap 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 ā€” call it tight end, linebacker, running back, safety and offensive line ā€” line up well overall with the deeper parts of this draft class. That doesnā€™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 yearā€™s proceedings. You saw it in Denverā€™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 yearā€™s class as shaping up to be substantially better than this yearā€™s.

ā€œI think everyone feels like next year is going to be a strong draft and I think that¶¶Ņõap based on the quarterbacks and it feels like it¶¶Ņõap going to be a strong quarterback draft,ā€ Paton said. ā€œWe definitely look at that when weā€™re making trades.ā€

Paton earlier in the offseason said the Broncos pay attention to the fact that theyā€™re in line for a fourth-round comp pick for next year due to John Franklin-Myersā€™ departure and perhaps a seventh-rounder, too, but that it doesnā€™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.

ā€œWe have 10 picks, we think, next year, including the compensatories,ā€ Paton said. ā€œSo it gives us more flexibility if we need to use one of those to help ourselves now.ā€

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 Nixā€™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 —Ģżespecially if that player were at a clear position of need like tight end Ģżā€”Ģżor 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 canā€™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 doesnā€™t seem feasible without making a dramatic sacrifice either from the existing roster or from the clubā€™s stash of 2027 draft picks. Even then, the math is tough to square. Let¶¶Ņõap use the Jimmy Johnson trade chart as a guide. There are other ways of valuing picks and every team does so slightly differently, but Paytonā€™s draft trades generally follow the Johnson chart.

Denverā€™s pick at No. 62 is worth 284 points. San Franciscoā€™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. Denverā€™s pair of fourth-rounders (Nos. 108 and 111) are worth 150. Not even close, so now youā€™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 wouldnā€™t be out of line asking for No. 62 and next yearā€™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.

ā€œYou never say never, but it¶¶Ņõap unlikely,ā€ Paton said about getting to the first round. ā€œIt 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.ā€

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¶¶Ņõap possible. Sadiq will definitely be off the board and Vanderbilt¶¶Ņõap Eli Stowers may well be, too, by the time Denverā€™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 Denverā€™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 Stateā€™s Justin Joly. Itā€™ll be fascinating to see if Denver is set on one of them or if they take the view that the groupā€™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 ā€”Ģżcertainly looks like he fits what the Broncos like and what they need in that room. He visited the Broncos last week, too.

Colemanā€™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 weā€™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¶¶Ņõap part of the equation. They could have paid him, but they knew he was going to make a ton of money and theyā€™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 yearā€™s draft. Doesnā€™t guarantee that letting him go was the right move, of course, but they didnā€™t wake up one day in early March and say, oh, dang, we canā€™t pay JFM. It¶¶Ņõap been part of the plan.

Second question: Easy to point at Harveyā€™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¶¶Ņõap got to be part of Denverā€™s calculus as it goes through the offseason and puts together its plan in Davis Webbā€™s first year as the teamā€™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 heā€™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. Theyā€™d undoubtedly welcome that.

With the caveat that it¶¶Ņõap very early, Iā€™ll put some early breakout chips in for the guy who currently stands to benefit the most from Ellissā€™ 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?Ģż We are very deep at outside edge, so probably a harder sell for Von.Ģż Safety seems to be a point of some need.Ģż 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

°Õ°ł²¹»å±š:ĢżBroncos 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:ĢżNotre 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

°Õ°ł²¹»å±š:ĢżBroncos 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:ĢżWe 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 Broncosā€™ 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 Paytonā€™s team should be a contender again this fall.

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

ā€œSean and (general manager George Paton) have drafted and signed guys that are unselfish. That are team-oriented. And that¶¶Ņõap the way youā€™ve got to have it in order to win.ā€

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 teamā€™s 33-30 Divisional round win over Buffalo.

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

ā€œI saw him down at The Masters last week and he looked good, sounds good —Ģżwas upbeat and looking forward to getting started,ā€ Manning said. ā€œI 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 youā€™re not going to play the next week, I canā€™t speak for him but I know he was disappointed. Heā€™s a competitive guy and heā€™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. Iā€™m sure that was the hardest part.

ā€œThatā€™ll push him even harder and make him even hungrier this year.ā€

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 —Ģż2009 with Indianapolis and 2013 in Denver.

ā€œIā€™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 doesnā€™t hurt quite as much,ā€ Manning said. ā€œIt doesnā€™t sting as much. Iā€™d rather have my heart ripped out because that means youā€™re knocking on the door. Iā€™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 youā€™re doing something right.

ā€œI know Sean and that bunch will rebound and pick up where they left off and I think be even better.ā€

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.”

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 ā€” 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 ā€” 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 ā€” even late ones ā€” 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.

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

Broncosā€™ in-house offseason moves: Moving Jonah Elliss to inside linebacker

Under contract: Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Que Robinson, Dondrea Tillman, Johnny Walker.

Need scale (1-10): 4. This number is influenced a bit upward in the wake of head coach Sean Payton saying last month that Elliss will get a look inside. Still, Denverā€™s got an enviable situation at outside linebacker thanks to Bonittoā€™s continued ascension into one of the NFLā€™s finest rushers, Cooperā€™s stalwart presence and the emergence of Robinson as a prime breakout candidate for 2026. Tillman has a knack for finishing and logged a pair of interceptions in 2025, though the Broncos are probably wise to keep him in his current role and not bank on getting a ton more out of him than they already are. Heā€™s one of the best under-the-radar signings of the past handful of years. The Broncos donā€™t have to draft an edge this year, but it¶¶Ņõap a premium position and Payton and GM George Paton are always on the lookout. It would be foolish to rule out drafting a player at the position.

The Top Five

Arvell Reese, Ohio State

The first big question of the 2026 Draft arrives at No. 2 after the Las Vegas Raiders select QB Fernando Mendoza with the top pick. Does New York Jets GM Darren Mougey ā€” Patonā€™s former top lieutenant in Denver ā€” like Reese or Texas Techā€™s David Bailey better?

Theyā€™re each premier talents. Bailey is a more fully formed edge rusher right now, while Reese draws Micah Parsons comparisons for his versatility and ability to make an impact from anywhere. Reese checked into the NFL Combine a shade over 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds and ran 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He wonā€™t turn 21 until the end of training camp. Heā€™s got all the tools.

David Bailey, Texas Tech

Bailey started his career at Stanford and then exploded in 2025 as part of the Red Raidersā€™ super-talented and highly compensated defensive front. He racked up 14.5 tackles and 19.5 TFLs. Heā€™s exactly what NFL teams look for on the edge. Long, strong, fast and powerful. He checked into the combine at 6-4 and 251 pounds and ran 4.5 in the 40. He should make an impact right from the jump wherever he gets drafted, whether that¶¶Ņõap No. 2 overall to the Jets or elsewhere in the top 10.

Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

No conversation about Bain over the course of the fall and winter would last long before his arm length ā€” or lack thereof ā€” came up. But, man, just watch him play. He can contort his body, heā€™s powerful and he just finds a way to make life miserable for tackles. He helped power Miamiā€™s terrific season. In recent months, heā€™s been one of several top draft prospects to train with former Broncos pass-rush consultant B.T. Jordan. Bain shouldnā€™t have to wait more than 10 picks or so to hear his name called.

T.J. Parker, Clemson

After the top three, there are a number of edge rushers who could populate the first round and the order will depend on what specific teams are looking for. Texas A&Mā€™s Cashius Howell brings pure speed. Mizzouā€™s Zion Young is powerful. Miamiā€™s bookend to Bain, Akheem Mesidor, is already 25 but is a well-rounded player. Parker is young ā€” he wonā€™t turn 22 until early in the season ā€” and has ideal measurables (6-4 and 263 at the combine). He had just five sacks and 9.5 TFLs as a junior after 11 and 19.5, respectively, in 2024, but the ceiling is high.

Keldrick Faulk, Auburn

Faulk is another young player and heā€™s got a massive frame at 6-6 and 276. The counting stats took a step back in 2025 when he logged just two sacks and five TFLs in 12 games (he had seven and 11, respectively, the year prior), but Faulkā€™s got huge upside if he gets in a program where he can develop pass-rush refinement.

Broncos options

R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

A somewhat undersized but fast and explosive edge rusher from Oklahoma who projects to get drafted somewhere in the second-round neighborhood? That might be a little on the nose for the Broncos at No. 62 four years after they selected Nik Bonitto out of OU at No. 64 overall.

Jaishawn Barham, Michigan

Played two years at Maryland and then two at Michigan and finished with a career-best 10 tackles for loss to go along with four sacks in 2025. Heā€™s not a finished product by any means, but the athletic ability at 6-4 and 240 pounds might be worth stashing and developing. Heā€™s not the same as Que Robinson because he played a lot more defensive snaps than Robinson, but similar in the sense that heā€™d be interesting as a toolsy project in the fourth or fifth round, depending on how or if Denver moves some of its picks around.

Logan Fano, Utah

The Broncos love Utes. Theyā€™ve drafted several, from since-traded WR Devaughn Vele and Elliss in 2024 to tight end Caleb Lohner last year. Fano is likely a Day 3 guy and is just the type of player Denver is usually attracted to late. Heā€™s big at 6-5 and 257. Heā€™s powerful but hasnā€™t put up huge sack numbers. The Broncos have been good at developing pass rush. Fano has most of the rest.

Mason Reiger, Wisconsin

Reiger spent five seasons at Louisville (he missed 2024 with an injury) before transferring to Wisconsin for his final season. He tied his career-high with five sacks last fall and added six tackles for loss. Heā€™s a good athlete and jumped 40 inches vertical and 10-5 broad at the Combine at 6-5 and 251.

Josh Weru, IPP

The Kenyan rusher is a freak athlete. At the HBCU showcase this spring, Weru ran 4.45 in the 40-yard dash and logged a 41-inch vertical at 6-4 and 244 pounds. If youā€™re talking seventh round, maybe with one of the last two picks of the draft, why not see what you can get out of an athlete like that?

In 2025, it also stands as the closest thing Denver got to an Evan Engram Game.

Coming off a bye week, Engram had season-highs in catches (six), targets (nine) and yards (79). Instead of a jumping off point for the stretch run, though, Engram didnā€™t log more than four catches or 45 yards in a game the rest of the way and didnā€™t approach the 54.3% of snaps he played that night.

Despite the modest numbers and season overall, Engram was still Denverā€™s best pass-catching option in 2025. He finished with 50 catches and 461 yards, which isnā€™t going to blow anybody away but is the top yardage number posted by a Denver tight end since Noah Fant had 670 in 2021.

The Broncos finished No. 26 in the NFL in tight end receiving yards (719), but that was actually a substantial jump from the clubā€™s totals of 455 in 2024 and 362 in 2023.

At present, Denverā€™s 2026 group looks exactly like its 2025. Engramā€™s headed into the second and final year of his deal — heā€™s guaranteed $5 million in 2026 and has a cap number of $14.14 million ā€”Ģżand Denver re-signed Adam Trautman (three years), Nate Adkins (one) and Lucas Krull (one).

On paper, then, the Broncos have moved tight end out of the ā€œmustā€ category because they literally have players on their roster.

Make no mistake, though, it¶¶Ņõap squarely a ā€œneedā€ as the NFL Draft arrives Thursday through Saturday.

“I’ll say this about this class, if you’re looking for a blocking “Y,” there’s a handful available that would be targets,” Denver head coach Sean Payton said Thursday. “If you’re looking for a move — a little bit undersized ‘F’ ā€” they’re out there. So, to each his own. The different types of tight ends are available.

“It’s always a challenge at that position because sometimes you’re projecting from an offense that’s playing them differently.”

The Broncos need to find and develop a difference-maker of their own. The question: What type should they target?

Thereā€™s a compelling argument to be made for the ā€œYā€ tight end who can play in-line and also be a threat in the passing game. At the same time, Trautman (more of that type of player) just signed a three-year, $18 million contract and Engram — essentially a big receiver ā€” is headed into the final year of his deal.

For a flavor of the variety of options in the upcoming draft, look no further than a pair of players who could be in contention for Denverā€™s first pick of the proceedings, whether that¶¶Ņõap at No. 62, slightly up or slightly back from there.

The first is Vanderbilt¶¶Ņõap Eli Stowers. Thereā€™s every chance he could be gone by the time Denverā€™s on the board. They may have to try to move up if they want him.

In recent days, thereā€™s been reporting that some teams consider him a receiver rather than a tight end. Heā€™s a proverbial ā€œJoker,ā€ but is his blocking a joke?

ā€œI donā€™t know that heā€™s going to be a butt-kicker in there, but he can improve in that area,ā€ NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said this week. ā€œI donā€™t know how much youā€™re really going to put his hand in the ground, though. I just think heā€™s comfortable as that jumbo slot. I used to find it interesting that even some tight ends in the NFL that were flexed every time, you just put tight end next to their name, and way back when, defensive coordinators would match personnel because it said TE in the program. They get treated like, ā€˜this is a receiver.ā€™

ā€œYou can put TE next to his name all you want, but heā€™s definitely a big slot receiver.ā€

Heā€™s a heck of a receiver, though. Stowers jumped 45.5 inches vertical at the combine at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. He had 62 catches for 769 yards in 12 games for the Commodores. Denver got an up-close look at him Tuesday when they hosted him on a top-30visit, one of a number of tight ends who have visited in recent weeks.

ā€œHe is explosive. Heā€™s got unbelievable ball skills to track it and go get it down the field,ā€ Jeremiah said. ā€œThe highlights are exceptional. He can break tackles after the catch. Heā€™s got burst into and out of breaks. Heā€™s been a little bit inconsistent on some of the combat catches. When you see him in crowds, that¶¶Ņõap something that he can continue to get better at. But heā€™s my No. 2 tight end. I think heā€™s a second-round pick all day long.ā€

Then thereā€™s Michiganā€™s Marlin Klein. The German national is 6-6 and 248 pounds and has never caught more than 24 passes in a season in his career. Jeremiah, though, thinks Klein could get picked around Denverā€™s No. 62 and, if not, then by the time Friday ends.

ā€œJust because teams are looking for these hand-in-the-ground, ā€˜Yā€™ tight ends that have size,ā€ he said. ā€œThat can block but also have some speed and some ability to make plays down the field, which he does. The 4.61 40 is legit. You see that on tape. And heā€™s another one who, the trend line is going up there.

ā€œHe had to wait his turn behind (2025 first-rounder Colston) Loveland. If he was the featured tight end at Michigan for three years, I think weā€™d be talking about him as a guaranteed lock of a second-round pick.ā€

The bottom line is the Broncos could use both a potential young upgrade at ā€œYā€ and also a homegrown playmaker more in the Joker role. They looked at ā€œYā€ players ahead of free agency, but ultimately saw the price tag go to $8-10 million a year for players like Charlie Kolar, Daniel Bellinger and Cade Otton and instead re-signed Trautman at $5.7 million per year.

If that guy, Klein or someone else, is available in a range Denver likes, it¶¶Ņõap a good use of a pick. Given Engramā€™s contractual status and down year in 2025, though, the Broncos should be thrilled if they somehow end up in a position to land a player like Stowers.

The odds look low from here, but hey, stranger things have happened.

ā€œYou talk about that conversation that¶¶Ņõap taken place in Denver forever about trying to find that ā€˜Jokerā€™ and those mismatch-type players,ā€ Jeremiah said. ā€œ(Stowers) definitely fits that bill.ā€

He has already come further than anyone could’ve reasonably expected, a walk-on safety at Texas who molded himself into an All-American and legitimate NFL Draft prospect this spring. And Taaffe has existed, for two months, in the carefree limbo that comes with the utter lack of choice over his future. He’s done pre-draft training in Austin, Texas. He’s played golf. He’s hopped on countless calls with NFL teams. And his mind has wandered, naturally, to old teammates who could become new again.

Recently, after a pre-draft Zoom with new Broncos defensive passing-game coordinator Robert Livingston, Taaffe told Broncos cornerback and former Longhorns buddy Jahdae Barron that it’d be “awesome” to play with him again.

Barron, however, has learned such dreams are not so simple.

“He was like, ‘You don’t even know,'” Taaffe said, describing Barron’s advice. “Don’t even fixate on a team. Don’t even fixate on a round.”

Such is life, in particular, as a Denver draft target, as such targets are usually fairly unaware they’re actually targets. Numerous agents across the NFL landscape share similar stories of minimal pre-draft communication with this Broncos regime before their client suddenly received a call from Sean Payton. Take Barron, who told reporters on a post-draft conference call last year ā€” shortly after Denver swooped on him at pick No. 20 in the first round ā€” that he “truly didn’t know it was coming.”

Between Payton and general manager George Paton, the Broncos have built a particular reputation for holding pre-draft cards close to their vests. Their top-30 visits, where NFL clubs host prospects at their facilities to gather further intel, are often smokescreens. Predicting their draft leanings is often a fruitless endeavor, for the media and for players themselves.

Let’s try anyway.

Across the last two months, The Denver Post has spoken to hundreds of league sources to collect information on the Broncos’ draft process ā€” visits, calls, needs, general leanings ā€” and the countless flavors of prospects they’re coveting.ĢżWelcome to “The Horse” ā€” a Broncos-specific 2026 NFL Draft guide (and a play on ).

Coming off a 14-3 regular season and a blockbuster move for receiver Jaylen Waddle, Payton, Paton and company enter this cycle with no first-round pick and just seven choices in total. The Broncos still have plenty of flexibility to add key contributors; they’ll likely flip some capital to move up or back at some point once the festivities kick off this coming Thursday.

Here’s the breakdown.

The picks

Day 2, Friday:ĢżNo. 62 (second round)

Day 3, Saturday: Nos. 108, 111 (fourth round); No. 170 (fifth round); Nos. 246, 256, 257 (seventh round)

Fun fact: The Broncos can become the first NFL team to draft both Mr. Irrelevant and Mr. Slightly-More-Relevant since the seven-round modern era began in 1994. For the last three decades, no team has ever selected the last two picks of the draft back-to-back.

The needs, in order of importance

1.ĢżTight end.ĢżBroken record here. The Broncos still view 2025 signee Evan Engram as a “key piece” and want to “add to his workload,” as Payton said in his pre-draft presser Thursday. But Denver explored potential upgrades or alternatives in free agency before the price got too high, and the 31-year-old Engram’s contract is up one way or another after this year. Denver desperately needs a young, athletic target for Bo Nix who can be a factor both as a blocker and as a receiver. There are quite a few such types in this draft.

2. Inside linebacker. Denver brought back captain Alex Singleton and ascending reserve-turned-starter Justin Strnad on multi-year deals this offseason, but cut Dre Greenlaw after an injury-plagued 2025. The Broncos are planning to deploy edge rusher Jonah Elliss inside, but that shouldn’t preclude Denver from dipping into a pretty solid ILB class. It’d make sense to take a high-upside ‘backer who can play behind and alongside Denver’s starting duo in 2026 while developing for the future.

3. Running back. On paper, the Broncos’ one-two punch of J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey is solid. The thing about paper is that it tears. Quite easy. Denver’s rushing attack cratered after Dobbins’ season-ending injury last year, and the Broncos can’t count on the veteran to play 17 games. They’ll be looking to add a third RB as either a change-of-pace upgrade from veteran Jaleel McLaughlin or a third-down upgrade from Tyler Badie.

4. Offensive line. As presently constructed, Denver will roll the same starting front out for the third straight year. That’s great for continuity. But the Broncos haven’t once pursued high-end draft talent on their offensive front in the Payton era, instead preferring to develop seventh-round picks and undrafted free agents. Starting left guard Ben Powers is entering the final year of his deal, and tackles Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey have both cleared 30.

5. Safety.ĢżHere’s a sneaky one. Veteran Brandon Jones is entering the final year of his contract, and starter Talanoa Hufanga had been frequently bitten by the injury bug before playing in every game last year for Denver. Offseason signee Tycen Anderson profiles as more of a special-teams ace, and a young piece here would make a lot of sense.

The sinister six

At Thursday’s pre-draft conference, Paton offered an unusually forthcoming tidbit: Denver has “six players,” the general manager said, that it favors should they be available at No. 62. The Broncos have honed in on the crop available between roughly Nos. 40 to 75 on their board, Paton also said, to arrive at that determination.

Here’s a guess at those potential six, informed by learned intel and positional needs, that Denver could be favoring.

DT Caleb Banks, Florida

If Banks weren’t facing some very real injury concerns, he’d be a first-round pick. Possibly top-15. TheĢżifĢżcould drop Banks into the Broncos’ lap. He played just three games in 2025 with a foot injury, and . He also stands 6-foot-6, weighs 327 pounds, racked up 4.5 sacks from the interior in 2024, and . Risk. Reward.

OT Travis Burke, Memphis

A massive pre-draft riser. Literally massive. Burke measured 6-foot-8 and three-quarters at the combine, had an excellent season at Memphis in 2025, and has played at both right and left tackle in a five-year collegiate career. Denver’s done plenty of work here: meeting with Burke at his Pro Day and conducting a Zoom call with him. A source told The Post that multiple Broncos area scouts had a third-to-fourth-round grade on Burke, which could make this a slight reach at No. 62, but Burke would be off the board by the time the fourth round rolled in.

LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh

It’s wholly rare to find a linebacker who can capably hold their own in man coverage against tight ends or running backs. Louis, a safety-LB hybrid, can be that guy. He ranked in the top four at his position in every single speed and agility drill at the combine, and has proven ball production (six INTs combined between 2024 and 2025). The size ā€” weighing at 220 pounds ā€” is a slight concern against the run, but Louis could be an excellent, versatile piece in Vance Joseph’s defense.

G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

There’s no way Pregnon slides to Denver. Right? Probably not. The Oregon product has visited with a handful of teams who sit in the late-first-round to early-second-round range, and will likely fly off the board shortly after consensus top guard Olaivavega Ioane gets snapped up. If Pregnon ā€” a Denver native ā€” slides a bit into Day 2, though, the Broncos could look to move up. Denver did a top-30 visit with him, which raises the antenna on a prospect they seem to have little shot at with their current slot.

TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

Stowers set the modern combine record for all tight ends with a 45.5-inch vertical, so let’s start there. He ran a faster 40-yard dash than first-round WR prospects Makai Lemon and Carnell Tate, and profiles more as a hybrid receiving weapon rather than a true tight end. Drafting Stowers could bring an end to Engram’s time in Denver, as Stowers doesn’t profile as a piece that Payton would trust to stay on the field in blocking situations.

RB Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas

One NFL assistant coach who spoke with The Post on this year’s running-back class described Washington’s 2025 season as a “tale of two halves,” but noted his size and speed ā€” a 4.33-second 40-yard-dash at 223 pounds ā€” “might fit” what Denver’s looking for in a third back. The traits are all there, and the consistency isn’t.

The top-30 visits

Here’s a run-through of every Post-confirmed prospect who’s taken a top-30 visit with the Broncos.

DT Caleb Banks, Florida:ĢżAs much potential as an interior pass-rusher as anybody at his position, but the foot injuries are tough to swallow.

DT Uar Bernard, International Player Pathway: Literally the most athletic defensive tackle in the history of the NFL pre-draft cycle. The issue: he’s never played a snap of professional football.

TE Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M:ĢżClassic blocking Y-type tight end who could have a tinge more receiving upside than he showed in college, with a career-best 19 catches last year.

RB Kaelon Black, Indiana:ĢżA combine snub after a 1,060-yard rushing season for the national-champion Hoosiers. He’ll be 25 in October. A possible Day 3 fit.

OT Jude Bowry, Boston College:ĢżHigh-ceiling, developmental, mid-round prospect who jumped 34.5 inches at the combine.

RB Jonah Coleman, Washington:ĢżSteady, solid back who doesn’t wow but doesn’t make many mistakes. Denver might have to move into the third round to get him.

WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana:ĢżThis visit happened before the Waddle trade. Cooper will go somewhere in the first round.

ILB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU:Ģż4.47-second 40-yard dash, 40-inch vertical jump at 234 pounds. Phew. A potential fourth-round difference-maker.

G Josh Gesky, Illinois:ĢżUnderrated, productive left guard in college who ran a 4.94-second 40-yard dash and had a 33-inch vertical at Illinois’s Pro Day. Would be a seventh-round or PFA target.

TE Justin Joly, NC State:ĢżOnly 6-foot-3, but a productive receiver who had 49 catches and seven touchdowns in 2025. Could be right there in the fourth round.

DT Chris McClellan, Mizzou: Draft riser who racked up six sacks last year.

LB Dasan McCullough, Nebraska: Hybrid-type linebacker who never quite found a consistent role in collegiate football but has intriguing size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds).

DT Christen Miller, Georgia:Ģż321-pound nose tackle who can be a consistent presence in the middle of an NFL defensive line. Might not be there at 62.

OT Gavin Ortega, Weber State:ĢżSleeper! A late visit this cycle, Ortega was terrific in pass protection at Weber State and should have some versatility at several spots at the NFL level.

G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon:Ģż24-year-old strongman who could be an instant starter, but probably won’t land in Denver.

OT Paul Rubelt, UCF:ĢżAnother skyscraper. Rubelt stands 6-foot-10, and the Broncos will have a good read on him from watching Harvey’s tape last year.

TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt:ĢżAthletic marvel who could be gone well before Denver could grab him at the back of the second.

OLB Josh Weru, International Player Pathway:ĢżA converted rugby player who’s studied tape of Nik Bonitto for a year and has been timed at a 4.45-second 40-yard dash. Obvious PFA target.

The larger-scale takeaways from all this: the Broncos are pretty intent on evaluating both top-end and sleeper talent across the defensive line, and are exploring high-upside offensive linemen.

The runners

Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love might just be the best outright player in this draft, regardless of position. After him, though, there’s an unusually steep drop to the next tier of running-back options, a glut that stretches anywhere from the back of the first round to the back of Day 3.

Payton said at league meetings in late March that running back was a position that “could get addressed, if the opportunity presents itself.” It will present itself next week, no matter how the chips fall. Washington, Coleman and Black have already been covered here; for more options, The Post spoke with an NFL assistant coach who’s done extensive work on this RB class for thoughts on the post-Love crop.

Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

Likely draft slot:ĢżLate-1st, early-2nd round

Love’s complementary option for the Fighting Irish, Price carries lead-back NFL potential in his own right. His per-touch production over the last two years at Notre Dame has been ridiculous. Price, though, caught just 15 passes across three seasons and will need to develop three-down value.

Coach’s comments: ā€œIf you want to hand the ball off to somebody, I think Jadarian Price is just as good, if not better (than Love). So it wouldnā€™t surprise me at all if someone took him late-first.ā€

Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

Likely draft slot:Ģż3rd-to-4th round

The testing wasn’t inspiring, as the 202-pound Johnson ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash. The tape and the production, though, tell a different story. Johnson led the Big Ten in rushing last year (1,451 yards), and caught 46 passes in 12 games.

Coach’s comments:Ģż“The more you watch that kid, the more he looks like LeSean McCoy at Pittsburgh.”

Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

Likely draft slot:ĢżDay 3

Huge pop here, as Claiborne ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash and has standout agility. He increased his yards-per-carry average every season of his collegiate career, but has less-than-ideal size at 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds.

Coach’s comments:Ģż“Best speed-and-space back in the draft … can score from anywhere at any time.”

Kaytron Allen, Penn State

Likely draft slot:ĢżDay 3

Allen, rather quietly, became Penn State’s all-time leading rusher this past fall, and ran for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns in a rough overall season for the program. The athleticism doesn’t stand out, but the motor does.

Coach’s comments:Ģż“He was the most cerebral back I evaluated. Heā€™s extremely smart. Football IQ is very high … that’s a guy that won’t get you beat, that you’d love to have on your team.”

The nuts and bolts

A young Joker? Clemson’s Adam Randall could be an incredibly intriguing fit in Payton’s offense. A receiver-turned-running back, the 232-pound Randall ran for 10 touchdowns last year and caught 36 passes in his first year playing full-time RB. In a best-case scenario, Randall could become a matchup-threat TE/RB hybrid from the backfield; Denver has enough interest in him that a coach flew out this past week to visit him, a source said.

QB options. Denver is set to roll its same quarterback room from last season into 2026, with Nix, backup Jarrett Stidham and QB3 Sam Ehlinger all under contract. But the Broncos have been active in evaluating young depth in this class. Quarterbacks coach Logan Kilgore has hopped on Zoom calls with Rutgers’ Athan Kaliakmanis, Illinois’s Luke Altmyer and Minnesota-Morehead (DII)’s Jack Strand. Denver also sees Georgia Tech’s Haynes King ā€” a 6-foot-3 athlete who ran for 953 yards and 15 touchdowns last season ā€” as a potential Taysom Hill-type, a source said.

Big-bodied targets. No matter how much WR depth the Broncos accumulate, Payton will always love big receivers. A few notable prospects Denver has called about or hosted Zooms with: Baylor’s Josh Cameron (6-foot-2, 872 yards, nine TDs in 2025); Texas Tech’s Caleb Douglas (6-foot-3, 846 yards, 7 TDs); SMU’s Jordan Hudson (6-foot-1, 766 yards, six TDs); TCU’s Joseph Manjack IV (6-foot-3, 579 yards, three TDs); St. Thomas’s David Hayes (6-foot-4, 790 yards, 10 TDs); and Michigan’s Donaven McCulley (6-foot-4, 588 yards, three TDs). Keep an eye on McCulley in particular, as a source said newly-crowned Broncos OC Davis Webb was on a Zoom with him — notably different from normal pre-draft calls with position coaches or scouts.

Local day? Denver hosted Wyoming QB-turned-TE Evan Svoboda and OL Jack Walsh at their facility earlier this week, among others, for what sources termed a “local day.” This, however, wasn’t open to anyone, as multiple prospects from Colorado and CSU weren’t in attendance. Svoboda is an interesting project who caught 11 passes for the Cowboys this past year.

This one pick is why the Broncos can win two more playoff games.

The 62nd overall selection is khaki pants and plain white t-shirt. There is nothing sexy about waiting until the second day to make a pick. But no player taken at 30th overall would have made receiver Jaylen Waddle’s impact.

So, patience has context. Another luxury pick, however, will be difficult to accept.

Following the best-player-available path is usually correct, but variables become more nuanced during Super Bowl windows. So when the Broncos chose cornerback Jahdae Barron at one of the deepest positions last April, it was immediately questioned.

Barron has the potential to turn into a solid starter, but he wasn’t ready to take away snaps from Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian. And when the Broncos offense needed a boost in the AFC Championship Game, the decision to take Baron, and trade back for R.J. Harvey was hard to stomach with running back TreVeyon Henderson standing on the Patriots’ sideline as a better option.

Here’s the deal. Paton has nailed the second round.

“Our process works,” Paton said.

He drafted Javonte Williams (35th), Nik Bonitto (64th), Marvin Mims Jr. (63) and Harvey (60). Williams started 29 games, Bonitto has finished top nine in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice, Mims is the league’s best returner and Harvey, while struggling as a between-the-tackles runner, led all rookies with 12 touchdowns.

Paton, with expertly defined parameters by coach Sean Payton, needs to pull it off again. He said Thursday that the Broncos are focused on six players in the 45 to 75 range.

It will be hard to find a starter, a testament to Denver’s retooled roster over the past three seasons. But the Broncos need to land a contributor, the type of player who can make a difference in a big game. Or two.

If Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is on the board, the Broncos should turn in the card without hesitation. He could learn under Alex Singleton this season, while also playing snaps in the passing game.

If Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price is available, the Broncos should blow out their hamstrings running to the podium. He provides speed, power, and special teams acumen. And he could spell Dobbins — and even replace him next season ā€” as Harvey remains a weapon in the passing game.

If defensive tackle Caleb Banks falls, the Broncos can provide a soft landing spot. And squinting is not required to see Eli Stowers as a Jimmy Graham flex tight end. The problem is that it would not likely be next season.

The Broncos can reach and win the Super Bowl. With the 62nd pick, they require a player who delivers sooner, not later.

Cut to Chase: The Rockies are the only team in major league history that can deliver an undefeated homestand and go on the road with no momentum. They avoided the bagel trip on Thursday because of Chase Dollander. His average fastball was 99.4 miles per hour with improved command. Time to stop the silliness with the opener and start him.

Nugget logic: It is hard to understand Nuggets fans. They believe this team can win a championship, but feel like a second-round exit is acceptable because of the injuries. They are healthy now. And if someone told you before the season that the reason the Nuggets would lose in the postseason was Peyton Watson’s hamstring, laughter would follow. The Nuggets have enough depth. One of the biggest questions is whether coach David Adelman can get this team to the next step.

Mack the Knife: Nathan MacKinnon has been a wagon all season. The same thinking that will prevent Nikola Jokic from winning MVP will also lead to MacKinnon landing his second Hart Trophy. He is the best player on the best team. Period. End of vote.

Johnny B. Great: The only reason DU landed goalie Johnny Hicks last summer is that Tennessee State, where he originally committed, failed to fund its program. All Hicks did for the Pios was go 16-0-1 and set an NCAA single-season save percentage record at .957. He is diminutive and dominant. “I have always been a small goalie. It doesn’t bother me,” Hicks said.