With the Denver Broncos being a broken ankle away from contending for a Super Bowl, the pressure is on to reload and be back in the same position next year. Amidst an entire offseason’s worth of chatter about potential targets at the WR and TE positions, there are still other areas that the Broncos must look to address–for both 2026 and beyond.
In today’s mock, the Broncos look to load up the trenches on both sides of the ball. This is an outcome that more fans should be prepared for, as Sean Payton has always prioritized offensive and defensive line in the draft.
In addition, the team is expected to be aggressive in free agency now that they are no longer under the rainy cloud of Russell Wilson’s contract, and should address major needs such as TE, LB, and RB. This would free up the option to go many different directions with their picks and truly take the best players available.
Round 1, Pick 30: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Before grabbing the pitchforks and storming LTB headquarters, give this pick a chance.
As a reminder, the draft should not be viewed in a one-year scope. What truly matters is the surplus value created over the lifespan of the rookie deal and the potential for a second and maybe even third contract. Outside of the quarterback position, an offensive tackle on a rookie deal is arguably the next best bang for your buck.
Yes, this would mark the second year in a row where the Broncos’ first-round pick isn’t expected to contribute much, which is disappointing in itself. But this case is a little different, considering where the team is picking in the first round, the positional value aspect of tackle vs. nickel corner, and the fact that Mike McGlinchey is one of the most expensive contracts on the team.
Plus, the Broncos drafted Barron while having the best cornerback in the sport, along with three other high-quality cost-controlled options. Meanwhile, Denver has two expensive, aging tackles and limited depth behind them.
George Paton and Co. would be smart to get ahead of the curve on a future need that could also save them lots of 2027 cap space.
Furthermore… Iheanachor is simply awesome and is well worth the not-so-instant results.
The recent basketball defector didn’t start playing football until five years ago, but he has a shocking level of polish and all the athletic tools to be an elite tackle at the NFL level, provided he gets the proper seasoning. He has excellent length and mass, measuring in at 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms at the combine, while also possessing the athleticism to handle speedy edge rushers and block in every run scheme.
His tape shows constant flashes of brilliance, as he was one of the only tackles in college football to slow down Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Romello Height. He also had a great performance at the Senior Bowl, and then reinforced that momentum at the combine, where he ran a 4.91-second 40-yard dash, making him just the seventh tackle since 2003 to weigh at least 320 pounds and crack the sub-five-second mark. His broad jump (9-foot-7) and overall athleticism score (90, per Next Gen Stats, first among his position group) further confirmed his high-end potential.
Due to his recent entry into football, his main issues boil down to technical refinement, as both his footwork and hand usage need to be developed, and he can sometimes play with a high pad level. He likely should not be relied on to start right away, but thankfully, the Broncos are in a great position to develop a tackle with one of the league’s best OL coaches and a reliable starter already in place. Additionally, the Broncos used Frank Crum and Matt Peart quite a bit in 2025 with their six-OL formations, but Iheanachor would be an instant upgrade in those packages, which provides a path for early playing time while he develops.
It’s also worth noting that Iheanachor’s stock has risen considerably since the Senior Bowl. Daniel Jeremiah now ranks him 34th overall on his top-50 board, and multiple scouts have told reporters that he is firmly in the first-round conversation. If the Broncos don’t take him here, someone else likely will before pick 40, and he only ranks as low as he does because of flaws that the Broncos are well-insulated from, as they have an excellent OL coach to develop Iheanachor and won’t have to rely on him immediately.
Round 2, Pick 62: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
Despite endorsing their current wide receiver room to the media, Fields is a prospect that is easy to picture Payton falling in love with.
An imposing figure at 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, Fields has the size, strength, and ball skills to become an effective “X/big-slot” receiver in this offense. He was one of the most dominant contested-catch threats in the nation, capable of getting in position and bullying smaller DBs at the catch point. He has a great catch radius and is capable of snagging passes well outside his frame, while also showing dominant stretches as a run blocker.
Plus, the Broncos dropped too many passes in 2025, which Fields would help remedy, given 3.1% drop rate, which ranked in the 96th percentile, per PFF. The team needs to continue stacking contested catch threats over the middle, as rookie Pat Bryant was the only one who could consistently be relied on in this area.
The big drawback on tape is that Fields has average speed and is not a consistent separator. Most of his contested catches are bittersweet because they’re often created by his struggles to create separation. However, he showed much better flashes of separation at the Senior Bowl, demonstrating much more explosiveness with his routes and releases off the line. His combine testing backed up that momentum, as he posted a 38-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-4 broad jump–both of which highlight the explosiveness that makes him so effective at the catch point. So perhaps there is more to his athletic profile than his Notre Dame tape showed, though his average speed and agility testing adds to the concerns.
Regardless, he is an excellent fit in a Payton offense that schemes its receivers open without relying too much on pure separation ability. Here, he could show off his ball skills and be an effective chain-mover for the offense, much like Bryant – who shared many of the same knocks – was this past year.
Round 3, Pick 94: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
The Broncos dip back into the trenches by addressing a much more pressing need than tackle, as current starting guard Ben Powers is widely expected to be a cap casualty or trade candidate this offseason. His cap hit rises to over $18 million in 2026, and with Alec Palczewski having stepped up admirably during Powers’ torn bicep absence and earning an RFA tender, the team would certainly be wise to provide a higher-upside option to compete with him.
Rutledge is an easy evaluation in this class, as he has the requisite size, strength, and athleticism to be a starting-caliber guard at the next level. He plays with a nasty demeanor and finishes run plays hard, possessing great pop and power to drive defenders to the second level. He is also a good enough athlete to execute zone or gap blocking schemes, which is important given Payton’s shift to more zone over the years.
However, compared to Powers, Rutledge would likely be a step back in terms of pass protection. His balance and body control can be poor at times, and his aggressive play style can lead him to gamble and lose leverage on blocks he has no business losing. He also needs practice with his recovery and overall range in pass protection.
Despite the pass protection struggles, there is plenty of room for Rutledge to grow in this area while providing a boost to the Broncos’ run blocking ability. Plus, considering the excellent pass-blockers he would have on either side of him, with Garett Bolles and Luke Wattenberg, his greatest weakness would be mitigated in Denver.
Rutledge would be an excellent mid-round guard for the Broncos to target, and would not be required to start right away with Palczewski in the fold.
Round 4, Pick 108 (via NO): Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri
With it being a near-certainty that John Franklin-Myers will sign elsewhere in free agency, the defensive line should be a priority again in this year’s draft.
While Sai’vion Jones figures to be the next man up in the 3-technique rotation, the Broncos still have a lighter front that struggled at times to stop the run this season. The group would benefit from adding a bigger body that still has some pass-rush ability.
Enter McClellan, who is one of the better combinations of size and athleticism in the draft. At the combine, he measured in at 6-foot-4, 313 pounds–big enough to help defend the run while still possessing a quick first step to get downfield as a pass rusher. For comparison, DJ Jones is just 305 pounds.
McClellan has the production to match, recording six sacks in 2025. Plus, he always plays with a high motor to finish plays through the whistle and turned heads at the Senior Bowl, which has helped push his stock from Day 3 afterthought to potential mid-round selection.
Usually, players with his skillset are locks to go earlier, but he may slip due to his rawness as a run defender and consistently high pad level. While he’s a fine 1-on-1 run defender, McClellan struggles mightily against double teams, often being driven off the line once he has to worry about multiple blockers. He must learn to play lower and improve his anchor if he is to become a more well-rounded player.
Denver would be a good place for McClellan to sit and learn, as he would likely follow the path of Sai’vion Jones and be a healthy scratch for most of his rookie campaign. If he can develop a better anchor against double teams, he’s the perfect fit as a long-term nose tackle in Vance Joseph’s aggressive downhill scheme that allows athletic defensive linemen to thrive.
Round 4, Pick 130: Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame
Regardless of how free agency pans out, the Broncos should draft a tight end this year. It has been a weakness for far too long and could use an overhaul’s worth of assets in the room.
Should they wait until Day 3 to address it, Raridon could be one of the better values available, though he might not last that long after his stellar combine showing.
Raridon helped himself at the combine, running a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at 245 pounds and posting a 9.66 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), which ranks 47th out of the 1,356 tight ends tested since 1987. For a player whose draft stock was clouded by injury history, the athletic testing confirmed the upside that was always there.
He’s a true “Y” tight end that can contribute in every phase of the game. He’s a big target at 6-foot-6, but he has the speed to be a seam threat and the ball skills to win on contested catches over the middle and downfield. He also has good technique as an in-line blocker and is very willing to get involved in the trenches
That being said, he is not a finished product, as he needs to add more mass to his 245-pound frame to be a competitive blocker at the NFL level. He is also a stiff route-runner who needs further development and may never be an elite threat after the catch.
Raridon has starter-level upside, but needs further marination with an NFL weight room and coaching staff to unlock other levels to his game. If the Broncos sign a Cade Otton-level starter in free agency, Raridon would be a great fit as a rotational backup with room to grow.
Trade: Broncos Send EDGE Jonathon Cooper to the Patriots for Pick #131
Jonathon Cooper has absolutely outplayed his seventh-round draft slot and become one of the most consistent contributors for the Broncos’ defense.
That said, the Broncos are five bodies deep at edge rusher, with Jonah Elliss flashing starting-caliber ability and George Paton citing Que Robinson as the player with “the most upside” in their 2025 draft class. Given this–and his $14 million salary this season–there is a decent chance Cooper is the odd man out in the room, with there being many edge-needy teams like the Patriots, who may be willing to pay to acquire his services.
Round 4, Pick 131: Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
The Broncos are expected to add to the linebacker room in free agency, but given the injury histories of Dre Greenlaw and Drew Sanders and the strength of this year’s class, they would be wise to factor in a draft pick for extra depth. Enter another Senior Bowl standout in Boettcher, who displayed his physicality as a blitzer and excellent athleticism down in Mobile.
A former baseball centerfielder, who was also selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, Boettcher has the range to make sideline-to-sideline plays while also having the instincts to read and drive on ball-carriers. He clearly loves physicality, as he is a great blitzer from the middle who bullies running backs attempting to pass protect. He would also provide instant special teams impact.
The question with Boettcher comes down to upside, as he is on the smaller side for a linebacker at 6-foot-2, 232 pounds, and is already 24 years old. He is never going to be a dominant block shedder and will have to rely more on his instincts and positioning to stop the run at the NFL level. He is a capable coverage player in man, but does not seem to be elite, and still needs to develop his instincts in zone.
Still, it is hard to find a better Justin Strnad replacement with Boettcher’s athleticism, toughness, and downhill ability as a blitzer. If Strnad leaves this offseason, Boettcher would be a tremendous pick. He may never develop into a high-end starter, but projects as a dependable long-term contributor with the ability to make an immediate impact on special teams.
Round 5, Pick 168: Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State
A familiar name in the draft community, Singleton has been mocked to the Broncos more times over the years than one could count, and for good reason.
He possesses an elite blend of size and speed, as a true home-run hitter with the ball in his hands. He is a downhill runner who invites contact and matches with power. Furthermore, Singleton can contribute in all phases of the game, as he is a great receiving threat out of the backfield and flashes excellent moments in pass protection.
However, his decision to go back to Penn State for another year massively lowered his stock as a prospect, as he did not progress the way many had hoped as a pure runner, and was ultimately benched for fellow 2026 prospect Kaytron Allen, which immediately improved the run game. He lacks the consistent vision to be trusted in zone blocking schemes and is very stiff and linear, making it hard for him to make defenders miss in space.
To make matters worse, Singleton broke his foot during Senior Bowl practices in late January and was unable to participate at the combine. He is expected to miss Penn State’s Pro Day as well, and is hoping to conduct private workouts for teams closer to the draft. The injury doesn’t appear to be long-term, but the inability to test in Indianapolis is a blow to a prospect who was already trending in the wrong direction.
Despite all of this, if he falls far enough on Day 3, the Broncos should be all over it, as he would be a great upgrade over Tyler Badie in a third-down type of role in this offense. Assuming the Broncos sign an early-down starter in free agency, a room with RJ Harvey and Nick Singleton is suddenly one of the most well-rounded and versatile running back rooms the team has had in years, and Singleton would provide the high ceiling the other two may lack.
