The 2026 NFL Draft has concluded after an action-packed three days. How each team did with their respective drafts will take a few years to rightfully analyze and evaluate. But as of now, every franchise is stoked about the potential and future of their ‘26 draft class. Let’s dig into some of the storylines relative to the Denver Broncos and the rest of the NFL now that the three-day draft extravaganza is officially in the books.
Broncos bolster offense with fourth and fifth round selections
Yesterday, General Manager George Paton said that the teams fourth round
selections would “define their draft.” In my opinion, they did a very good job with their usage of their early Day 3 resources.
Washington running back Jonah Coleman is a great insurance policy for J.K. Dobbins and a fantastic value in the fourth round. Coleman has incredible vision and was one of the most productive running backs in this class. A perfect complement to RJ Harvey, Coleman’s pass blocking ability should have him come in and replace Tyler Badie’s role on the roster for the 2026 season.
Boise State offensive lineman Kage Casey was the next pick. A three-year starter at left tackle for the Broncos, Casey’s lack of length may kick him inside to guard, but he will get the opportunity to be a swing offensive lineman capable of playing multiple spots along Denver’s offensive trenches. He needs to add some strength and weight to his frame but has all the tools to become a starting caliber player in the NFL.
Instead of waiting until the end of the fifth round to make their next selection, the Broncos packaged #170 and #182 to get to #152 and select N.C. State tight end Justin Joly. Joly is a classic “F’ tight end who played multiple positions in the Wolfpack’s offense. His receiving production was amongst the best in this class, only trailing first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq in most categories. He has work to do as a blocker and possesses only average athleticism, but he’s a former wide receiver with a good route tree, big hands, and a large wingspan that helps him come down with contested catches.
Overall, I consider Denver’s first three picks on Day 3 to be great value selections. All of them address depth concerns on the team. Not only that, but they provide Bo Nix some help to aid in his development as enters his third year as the franchise’s starting quarterback.
Raiders roll the dice on Jermod McCoy, continue to invest in their secondary
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy was a highly ranked by many outlets. In fact, a lot of them had him consistently ranked as a Top 20 player in this class due to his talent. Alas, the Volunteers star slid out of Day 1 and Day 2.
Medical concerns were the primary reason why. McCoy missed the season with an ACL tear, and a previously unreported bone plug issue caused his stock to tumble to the fourth round. Various reports say that if an additional surgery is necessary, it could very well be the end of his pro career. The Raiders traded up one spot to snag McCoy at the top of the fourth round and hope the risk is worth the reward.
In addition to McCoy, Las Vegas used their fifth-round selections to revamp their secondary on versatile Arizona defensive back Dalton Johnson (reuniting him with second-round pick Treydan Stukes) and California cornerback Hezekiah Masses. With their AFC West foes bringing in some offensive firepower, getting better on the defensive side of the ball was a major draft priority for the Raiders.
Bills make the most of their Day 3 draft selections
The Bills selected Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker and Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun in the second round of the draft on Friday night. I think Parker will be a great player, but I’m not too high on Igbinosun despite impressive traits. He was one of the most penalized defensive backs in this class and struggled at the Senior Bowl.
Buffalo had a long wait until Day 3 to make their next slate of selections beginning in the fourth round and I felt they did a tremendous job navigating the board. With a trio of fourth round picks, the Bills took players at three different positions that I believe will be NFL starters.
Boston College left tackle Jude Bowry was their top pick and has all the traits to be a high-quality starter in the NFL. Next, they Connecticut wide receiver Skyler Bell who had an incredible season and impeccable performance at the NFL Combine. Last but not least, they nabbed ultra-productive TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr late in the fourth round. He could wind up being a Day 1 starter for them.
I also loved that they were able to get South Carolina defensive back Jalon Kilgore. He was one of my favorite players in the draft and someone I thought was poised to be a Top 100 selection. His versatility and ability to play numerous spots should help him stick in the league for a long time, with his athleticism and traits providing special teams ability early on as a rookie. Last but not least, getting Texas A&M offensive guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams in the seventh round was just icing on the cake.
