We have covered a lot of ground thus far in Future Broncos this season. With October nearing its end and the college football season at the halfway point, I thought it would be apt to throw out an early
mock draft for the Broncos. For the sake of this exercise, I’ll be using Denver’s top five selections in the 2026 NFL Draft based on their currently record to date.
First Round — 26th Overall: Sonny Styles, LB — Ohio State
I haven’t been shy about discussing Denver’s long-term need at linebacker. Both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are free agents as year’s end, Drew Sanders hasn’t played a snap, and what happens with Dre Greenlaw the rest of the year is anyone’s best guess.
Luckily, the 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with top prospects at inside linebacker. One of my favorites is Ohio State playmaker Sonny Styles. His teammate, Arvell Reese, is having an impactful season and playing extraordinarily well. However, Reese figures to be off the board long before the Broncos are on the clock.
At 6’4” and 243 pounds and being a converted safety, Styles has the size and athleticism teams are looking for at the position. You can’t teach those traits. He is wearing the green dot for the Buckeyes’ defense this season and his coaches often laud his football intelligence. His production is down compared to last year, but he has cleaned up on his missed tackle rate significantly and is excelling in his coverage assignments.
Ohio State is a school that has a storied history of developing linebackers who go on to be successful in the pros. I believe Styles (along with Reese) will continue that trend and both be first round picks next April. Pending on how the board falls, you could also argue for Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) or C.J. Allen (Georgia) as well. They would also present long-term upgrades at a major position of need for the Broncos.
Second Round — 60th Overall: Domonique Orange, DT — Iowa State
The Broncos defensive line this season has been a bright spot for the team. They have been much better against the run in ’25 and are a major reason why their pass rush has been so successful. Even so, when it comes to reinforcing the trenches, that’s always a smart decision.
Denver opted to extend D.J. Jones this offseason, but he is getting up there in age. Malcolm Roach, who just came back from injured reserve, has been a very productive player. However, Roach is a free agent at the end of the season and will likely get a significant raise in pay in free agency. He has been a very underrated player in this Broncose defense and is one of the reasons they have improved so much against the run.
In the event the Broncos aren’t able to keep him, finding a player with similar traits and skills would make a lot of sense. Back in September, I wrote about Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange as a player to watch. He has been banged up the past several games and missed the BYU game after hurting his ankle against Colorado a few weeks ago. It’s nothing I’m concerned about long-term.
When he plays, he’s a dominant force on the interior that’s disruptive against the run and opens up things for the players around him. I think he would be a great fit for Vance Joseph’s defense and would benefit from the mentorship of Jones, who has been holding down the nose tackle position in the NFL for a very long time.
Third Round — 91st Overall: Blake Miller, OT — Clemson
It’s been a very long time since the Broncos have utilized early round draft capital on an offensive tackle. Both Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey are playing good football. However, both are entering the twilight stages of their careers. Denver does have some interesting developmental prospects, yet getting a top-notch tackle with a lot of playing experience would be a smart move.
Clemson prospect Blake Miller has started 48 games at right tackle for the Tigers since 2022. Miller has great size (6’6” and 315 pounds) and long arms (34”) that help him keep opposing pass rushers at bay. He has faced a lot of top picks at edge rusher over the course of his collegiate career and has performed admirably. But with most prospects, there is always room for technique improvement.
I like his athleticism and ability to block on the move on zone rushing concepts. He would be a good fit for what the Broncos are trying to accomplish here. He also has a bit of a nasty streak and can level and dish out some punishing blocks. I believe he would be a great understudy to McGlinchey.
Drafting a tackle that likely won’t see any meaningful playing time as a rookie might not be what some fans hope for with a Top 100 selection. Yet, this projected pick is playing the long game. I believe Miller has all the traits to become a quality NFL right tackle that could start in 2027 if McGlinchey doesn’t finish out the duration of his 5-year contract.
Fourth Round (via New Orleans) — 103 Overall: Eli Stowers, TE — Vanderbilt
The ‘26 NFL Draft’s group of tight ends isn’t even close to being as strong last year’s class. Oregon standout Kenyon Sadiq is the only sure-fire first round talent. However, there will likely be a few diamonds in the rough that teams seem to find later on in the draft.
One prospect in particular I like as a Late Day 2 or Early Day 3 option for the team is Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt. He is a former quarterback who is still growing into his frame (6’4” and 235 pounds) and learning the position. Stowers looks like a prototypical big slot for Head Coach Sean Payton’s offense and has the traits to succeed as a receiving threat working all three levels of the field.
Last year in his first season with the Commodores in the SEC, Stowers had 49 catches for 638 yards and 5 touchdowns. This year, he is on pace to match those totals with 28 catches, 355 yards, and 2 touchdowns. He has a lot of work to do as a blocker, but at this point in the draft, I’ll bet on the upside he has in the passing game. By all accounts, Stowers is a great teammate and has tremendous leadership skills, which is why he is a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.
Fourth Round Selection — 126th Overall: Matt Gulbin, OC/OG — Michigan State
Upgrading the interior of the offense line may be something the Broncos wind up doing relatively early in this year’s draft. Center Luke Wattenberg is in the final year of his deal and Ben Powers is currently on injured reserve with a torn bicep. While Powers is under contract in ‘26, Denver could save $13 million in cap space moving on from him.
Auburn’s Connor Lew was my top prospect at center. Unfortunately, the Tigers lost him for the year with a torn ACL last weekend. Florida Gators center Jake Slaughter is another name to consider, but he may very well be off the board at this point in time. So, who could the Broncos pivot to at this point in the draft?
Michigan State center Matt Gulbin is someone I think is being slept on. Gulbin is a battle-tested lineman who has experience at center, left guard, and right guard. He is a very good pass protector but also known for making impact blocks in the running game. His versatility will help with his draft stock and would be a bonus for the Broncos, who could use help at multiple spots on their interior.
What are your thoughts, Broncos Country?
I didn’t bother doing a projection for their fifth or seventh round selection since they are both outside the Top 150. Keep in mind, it’s also quite possible the Broncos may receive several other compensatory selections. Feel free to give me your thoughts on this mock. Did you like it? Hate it? Is there anything you would change. Let me know in the comments section!
