With the Panini Senior Bowl in the rearview mirror, the Denver Broncos have officially reached the first real inflection point of their offseason evaluation process.
A full week of practices in Mobile gave the front office an up-close look at many of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is an especially important exercise for a roster still searching for answers across nearly every offensive position.
From the pass-catching group to the running back room and beyond, Denver’s offense remains a work in progress, making the Senior Bowl a valuable opportunity to identify players who could fill immediate and long-term needs. Here are three Senior Bowl standouts at each offensive position that the Broncos should firmly consider targeting in the draft.
Quarterback
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Denver obviously isn’t in the market for a new starter, but backup QB Jarrett Stidham’s performance in the AFC Championship game left a lot to be desired. Coming off a down year hampered by a core injury, Nussmeier is a great developmental backup who could fall to the middle rounds. While he doesn’t have the craziest tools, he’s a high-IQ passer who flashes with accuracy, timing, and pocket presence, traits that Sean Payton notably loves.
Cole Payton, QB, NDSU
Following in the footsteps of former NDSU QB Trey Lance, Payton has also presented a strong case that he belongs on an NFL roster. While not quite as highly touted as Lance, Payton has the physical traits to develop into a capable backup or fringe starter, displaying great athleticism, arm strength, and playmaking ability out of structure. He’s very raw and will need mechanical development, but is certainly worth taking a swing at on Day 3 of the draft.
Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor
Robertson is another fun late-round dart throw at the quarterback position, as he’s a pocket-first passer with the athleticism to scramble and extend plays. He has the size to operate inside the pocket and has a good overall feel for the pressure around him. He throws with touch, layers passes downfield, and can throw with good anticipation. However, he will definitely need several years of practice squad development, as his accuracy and ability to play on time are inconsistent, and he struggles to go beyond his first read in the progression.
Running Back
Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
There is no doubt that the Broncos’ run game must improve in 2026, with the biggest need being a reliable early-down runner who can overcome an offensive line that is, frankly, inconsistent at run blocking. Despite the Nittany Lions falling apart last year, Allen still produced, showcasing his power, vision, and versatility across multiple blocking concepts. He will not wow anyone as an athlete, but would undoubtedly solidify a reliable floor in the run game.
Mike Washington Jr, RB, Arkansas
Of the middle-round running back prospects, Washington Jr. is the biggest upside swing worth taking in this class. He’s well-built at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, but boasts the speed and explosiveness of a back who is 10-15 pounds lighter. He’s a nasty runner with great power, vision, and enough lateral athleticism to make defenders miss. Realizing his potential will force him to clean up some of the smaller areas of the game, as he struggles with pass protection and has a horrific fumble rate of 2.72%, which is higher than renowned fumblers Bhayshul Tuten, Rhammondre Stevenson, and Melvin Gordon.
Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State
A very popular name in Broncos Country, Singleton possesses the ideal combination of size and explosiveness that is a true home run threat with the ball in his hands. He also does not need to be taken off the field on third downs, as he excels as a receiver out of the backfield and is strong in pass protection. The downside with Singleton is that he has regressed as a pure runner, struggling with vision and lacking the agility to make guys miss. He’d be a better fit in a pure gap scheme, but could still make sense in Denver as an upgrade over Tyler Badie as a third-down back.
Wide Receiver
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
The Broncos have a good history with small-school receivers from Georgia, and could very well add Hurst to the list. At first glance, he looks very similar to Troy Franklin, as he’s another tall, lanky receiver with great athleticism. However, he actually weighed in about 27 pounds heavier than Franklin at the Senior Bowl, and boasts a way better physical profile as a contested catch receiver. There are concentration drops at times, and his YAC ability is a little underwhelming given his athletic makeup, but Hurst has the upside to be a legit weapon at the next level.
Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
It’s well-documented that Sean Payton likes size with his receivers, and there may be no one in the class who fits that description better than the 6-foot-4 and 222-pound Malachi Fields. A true X-receiver who excels with contested catches, Fields helped his stock drastically in Mobile by showcasing an improved release package and route tree compared to what was displayed on tape. He’s a great fit for Payton’s offense, as he can be schemed open rather than relying purely on his separation skills. He’s also a dominant run blocker, which should help him see the field early.
Josh Cameron, WR, Baylor
Those who would like to see A.J. Brown in Orange and Blue next season will likely be big fans of Cameron. Not to say that he is A.J. Brown, but he has a similar frame and also wins with his power and physicality. He has excellent hands in contested situations and is very hard to bring down after the catch, making him a clean fit in the screen game. What separates him from Brown is that he needs development with his route running and creating separation against man coverage, as he is currently more comfortable finding the open spaces against zone.
Tight End
Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
Broncos Country has been praying for a difference-maker at tight end for quite some time now, with the team needing additional receiving and blocking talent from the position. Insert Roush, who’s one of the cleaner NFL projections in this class as an inline Y tight end. Roush uses his 260-pound frame to generate power in the run game and is sound as an extension of the offensive line in pass pro. Despite having just average athleticism and 31-inch arms, he still contributes plenty as a receiver, creating solid separation and getting tough yards after catch.
Justin Joly, TE, N.C. State
If the Broncos decide to prioritize receiving ability in their addition to their tight-end room, Joly would make a lot of sense in the middle rounds. He’s a solid athlete who is very technically sound as a route-runner, easily creating separation against safeties and linebackers. He is also great at the catch point, boasting a 70% contested catch rate. While he has the frame and experience to line up at multiple spots, he is best served in the slot until he further develops as a blocker.
Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
A true red-zone weapon with his 6-foot-7, 250-pound frame, Koziol routinely turns 50/50 balls into 80/20 opportunities, using his long catch radius to consistently win at the catch point. He’s also a fluid mover who can generate separation with respectable route-running prowess, rather than relying solely on contested catches. That said, his role projects primarily to an F alignment, as he can struggle with in-line blocking technique and still needs to add functional strength. He’s also not a particularly explosive athlete after the catch, making his clearest projection as a red-zone threat.
Interior Offensive Line
Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
With Denver likely moving on from Ben Powers this offseason, Rutledge is one of the best Day 2 options to replace him via the draft. He has great size and possesses an old-school demeanor, finishing plays hard through the snap. Rutledge is also a solid athlete with good burst, making him versatile enough to run the zone-blocking concepts Payton has leaned on more recently. There is still some needed development, considering his struggles in pass pro and how frequently his over-aggressiveness can cause him to lose reps, but he should be an early target for Denver.
Beau Stephens, G, Iowa
If there’s one program known for consistently producing quality offensive linemen, it’s Iowa, and Stephens could be the next in line. He has the movement skills to operate in space and climb to the second level, consistently playing through the whistle with strong effort. In pass protection, he shows a sturdy anchor, though he can occasionally lunge and give up leverage. At his best, Stephens is a mauler who can physically overwhelm interior defensive linemen.
Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa
Another member of the Iowa pipeline, Dunker has also seemingly shot up draft boards after a good week at the Senior Bowl. While he played tackle for much of his Hawkeyes career, he might be better suited for guard at the next level, as he lacks fluidity. He is a well-built 315lbs who blocks with serious power, displaying the upper and lower body strength to drive defenders backwards.
Offensive Tackle
Max Iheanachor, OT, ASU
Although the Broncos have one of the best tackle duos in football, both will be on the wrong side of 32 by the end of next season and are very expensive/ The Broncos would be wise to start preparing to replace at least one of them in the next couple of years. With that in mind, they should seriously consider Iheanachor. There might be no Senior Bowl player who raised his stock more, as his size, power, and athletic potential absolutely jump off the screen. He’s new to football and therefore needs time on the bench to develop his technique, but he’s already surprisingly far along and his potential is enticing. He’ll fit best with a team that doesn’t need immediate returns, making Denver a very sensible landing spot, so don’t be surprised if Iheanachor is their first-round selection.
Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
Another explosive athlete at the position, Bowry has the fluidity and range to be a very tough draw for NFL edge rushers. He has an awesome kick slide that allows him to position himself in pass protection almost immediately after the snap. He also has good core strength, allowing him to anchor once he gets his hands on defenders. However, beyond that, he is very inconsistent with his technique and needs to develop a nastier edge in the run game. There is plenty for Bowry to work on, but the upside certainly warrants consideration in the middle rounds.
Austin Barber, OT, Florida
Barber is a solid all-around prospect with starter upside who projects as a quality swing tackle at the next level. He’s an effective mover with the functional strength to operate in both gap and zone run schemes. His physical, aggressive play style shows up consistently, though it can create issues in pass protection against speed rushers. Improving his core strength would help him sustain blocks more consistently. While he may ultimately project best at guard, his career should begin at tackle, and the Broncos should be able to get him in the later rounds.
