Good morning, Broncos Country. A week from today, the 2026 NFL Draft’s first round will finally be underway. It’s been a long grind for the Denver Broncos and their scouting staff since the beginning of the collegiate season last Fall. Hopefully, the culmination of all their efforts will result in a successful draft for the franchise.
The Broncos won’t be on the clock on Thursday night but will certainly be keeping their eye on everything that transpires just like the rest of us. They have continued
to be diligent targeting players at various positions, with a key focus on linebackers, running backs, and tight ends. But who knows, perhaps they throw Broncos Country a curveball and opt to draft a position none of us are thinking of.
Trading up, trading back, or standing pat—all those options are on the table. General Manager George Paton is known to wheel-and-deal, so it’s likely Denver’s current slate of picks will certainly change by the end of the draft. I’m always a fan of more darts to throw at the board, but we’ll just have to wait and see what the Broncos’ brass ends up doing. We’re one week out and there is certainly a lot to talk about. I thought I’d offer some pre-draft opinions on what could transpire next week.
Yesterday for Horse Tracks, Sadaraine talked about the possibility of adding more picks via trade and floated Ja’Quan McMillian, Marvin Mims Jr., or Troy Franklin as potential options. Your mileage may vary, I don’t think trading off any of those players helps Denver’s Super Bowl aspirations in 2026. McMillian is one of the best nickelback corners in the league. Getting rid of him, even with having Jahdae Barron in the fold, doesn’t seem like a smart move.
Mims’ plus ability as a returner, with two All-Pro accolades to his name, doesn’t make much sense either. His ability to help flip the field position was a spark that helped Denver win several close games last season. On top of that, he is one of our most explosive players down the field in the passing game—just one who isn’t utilized enough in my humble opinion.
Yes, both he and McMillian are in the final years of their deals. But would the potential immediate return they get via draft compensation be enough for Denver to pull the trigger? I don’t think so. Injuries can happen at any moment, and if Denver lost someone at either position, it would take away from the depth they already have. Addition by subtraction here isn’t necessary.
As of right now, I believe the Broncos have a lot of flexibility with how they can approach the draft. It’s hard to see any position where a prospect will come in right away and play a lot. Therefore, this year’s draft endeavors will likely be one where Denver opts to find players with great traits that have the ability to start by the 2027 season. If any of them can surprise and come in and be a Day 1 difference maker—all the better—but it’s not something I’d bank on.
The forementioned positions of linebacker, running back, and tight end all seem like realistic possibilities for Denver. It’s just a matter of when they want to address them. If a top-tier linebacker or tight end falls (Anthony Hill Jr, C.J. Allen, Eli Stowers, Jadarian Price, etc.), I think they would pounce all over that opportunity in the second round. The fit and potential there would be too good to pass up.
Additionally, finding a defensive back with some versatility given the contract status of numerous starters (McMillian, Riley Moss, Brandon Jones) in the secondary would be wise to consider. All things considered, that seems like a venture to approach on Day 3, given the fact their starting corps in the defensive backfield is already set for their ‘26 campaign.
Fortifying the trenches is never a bad draft idea either. Games are won at the line of scrimmage. Denver certainly has good starters across both fronts, but adding another developmental prospect on each side would be helpful. Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey aren’t getting younger, and they might need some help defensively with the departure of John Franklin-Myers.
That’s one of my favorite things about the NFL Draft—all the possibilities. Feel free to let me know what you hope transpires in the comment section. Throw in a mock or tell me some of your favorite prospect fits for the Broncos.
As always, thank you for reading. Here is today’s slate of articles for Horse Tracks.
