With their first of three 7th round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Illinois safety Miles Scott to add some more depth to their secondary. He’s a 6-0, 203-pound safety prospect with 4.62 speed and a 37.5-inch vertical. He started his college career as a wide receiver before transitioning to safety in the spring of 2023. From there, he would become a key part of their secondary and is viewed as an ascending talent due to his rawness at the position.
During his career,
Mile Scott totaled 182 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 7 interceptions, 2 defensive touchdowns, 11 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had an undrafted grade on Miles Scott, but did say he processes well, has good ball skills, and hasn’t yet hit his ceiling as a safety.
Scott is a good-sized athlete for the position, with the tracking and ball skills of a former wideout. A two-time captain, he wore the green dot for the Illini, and his experience as a route runner helps him sort, key and drive on throws in coverage. He is a fluid mover in space to turn and run with receivers or tight ends, although his ordinary speed does show at times. He made substantial improvements in his run-game angles and tackling technique in 2025. Scott has only adequate range for the position, but he processes well, with burst and ball skills to impact plays. A wide receiver most of his life, he has yet to hit his ceiling as a defensive back.
The Broncos drafted Scott simply to add more depth and competition to their safety room. Behind starters Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, it’s fairly wide open. They lost key reserve PJ Locke to free agency this offseason and haven’t really replaced that role as of yet. Currently, they have three players who all profile as special teams players and not really defensive players. Devon Key was an All-Pro special teamer last season. They signed Tycen Anderson, but he has been nothing but a special teams ace throughout his career, and JL Skinner has primarily played special teams as well. So, when it comes to the defensive side, it’s a wide-open competition, and that is where Scott could make some noise this summer.
Broncos General Manager George Paton told reporters after Day 3 that they really liked Scott’s ball skills. He is a former wide receiver, so he has good hands and ball skills, and had 7 interceptions throughout his college career.
“With Miles, I think the ball skills. I think he had seven interceptions throughout his career. [He is] very physical for a former receiver, and instincts for a guy who hasn’t played it all that long. We thought he had really good anticipation and instincts, and thus, he had the interceptions. I think he fits in with our group and what we look for in safeties.”
If Scott can show off those ball skills this summer and get some interceptions throughout training camp and the preseason, he could find himself in a key role on the defensive side of the ball in his rookie year. The safety room is going to be a competitive room when it comes to that third safety role, and I believe rookie Miles Scott could be a strong contender for that job.
