The Denver Broncos look to be aggressive filling needs this offseason. Whether it’s via free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft, have no doubt that the Broncos’ brass is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to reforging their roster to compete at a high level once more next season.
We are a month away from the kickoff of free agency, and roughly two months away from late April’s multi-day draft festivities. A lot can change in that timeframe that may alter the direction Denver goes when they are officially
on the clock. Nevertheless, that won’t stop us from talking about how Denver should approach the draft—especially with their first-round pick.
A few weeks ago, I discussed some potential options for the Broncos with their late first-round selection. With that established, I’d like to talk a little bit of ‘philosophy’ when it comes to stacking the board and considering what’s best for the future of the franchise. It’s not likely Denver will have a first-round graded available picking so late, so let’s talk about various things they consider when ultimately finalizing a decision to add a prospect into the fold.
Philosophy #1: Drafting for immediate need and available snaps
One major point of criticism from last year’s first-round pick, Jahdae Barron, was the lack of impact. While I understand some fan’s frustrations, I do believe the Broncos were smart adding to their secondary. Cornerback is a premium position where good players get big bucks on their second contracts. Ja’Quan McMillian and Riley Moss will be free agents after the end of the ‘26 season. In my opinion, it’s unlikely they will be able to retain both long-term.
Barron may not have earned as much playing time as we wanted. However, he was an extremely a versatile player, a Jim Thorpe Award winner, and capable of playing numerous spots in Denver’s secondary. The Broncos had a top ten grade on him, which means he was a blue-chip prospect. Did he fill an immediate need in his rookie campaign? Not really. But the long-term vision and perk is his ability to play virtually anywhere on the back end of the defense.
With this year’s first-round pick, it would be ideal that whomever they select ends up getting significant playing time early on. They don’t have a bunch of huge needs, but they do have position groups that underperformed as a whole or have a lot of snaps to be replaced.
As I wrote the other day, the Broncos have over 1,500 potential snaps for the taking at inside linebacker. It’s a deep class at the position which makes me believe it is one of the best routes to take (pending free agency) to get an immediate impact at a position of need. But perhaps there are a few other positions on the roster where that rings true as well. We will know more about that after free agency.
Philosophy #2: Best Player Available — Draft a good prospect regardless of the position and need
Teams have historically used their first-round picks on prospects at positions where the cost of their second contracts is astronomically higher than their rookie deals. Offensive tackle, quarterback, wide receiver, and edge rusher come to mind. You can add cornerback to that list too, hence one of the reasons Denver opted to go with Barron in the ’25 NFL Draft even though there were easily bigger needs elsewhere.
Year after year, we see a lot of these players go early and often in the draft. In turn, this can lead to several other positions being ‘undervalued’ by scouts and general managers as first-round selections. That often pushes very good players down the board who may have not otherwise been available. That could very well be the case when the Broncos are on the clock this Spring.
The average career length for an NFL player is roughly four years—virtually the extent of their rookie contract. In the first round, you are certainly hoping to find a player who can be a key cog and mainstay for the long-term with the team. While most every fan hopes their top pick pays off big in their first season, it’s important to remember that finding a player who can be a focal point of the team’s endeavors for the long haul is ideal—and that may just be at a position you aren’t necessarily expecting to be picked early on by your favorite team.
Philosophy #3: Betting on the traits you can’t teach
There is no precise or exact formula that every team shares when it comes to prospect evaluation. Character and medical history play an important role. Obviously, production means a lot and that often coincides with players who have a lot of starting experience and have been instrumental in their collegiate program’s success.
Glossing over a lot of selections in the George Paton and Sean Payton era, experience means a lot in their evaluation process. But for some teams, one of the biggest variables in the process is taking a gamble on the traits you can’t teach. Some reserve this for Day 2 or Day 3 selections, but there are franchises out there who aren’t afraid to roll the dice on Day 1.
Very few prospects entering the NFL are the sum of all their parts. The ultimate hope is that eventually, what needs to be coached and be learned, and you will eventually have yourself a dynamic player. That’s why you see multiple teams in the first-round betting on those unteachable physical traits that provide mismatch opportunities when concocting their roster—even if they are lacking in other areas of evaluation.
A lot of these prospects with tremendous potential usually wind up being labeled as ‘boom or bust’ prospects. When they hit—they usually become some of the best in the NFL at what they do. But when they bust—they flame out hard and often leave decision makers and fans wishing their teams had gone with a perceived ‘safer’ alternative on draft day.
What do you think, Broncos Country? Is there a certain philosophy in the first round you are hoping the Broncos adhere to? Is it possible some of these philosophies can coalesce and overlap? Let me know how you would approach Denver’s first-round selection if you were calling the shots.
