The Denver Broncos were one of the surprises of the league in 2024. Many talking heads and other analysts in the offseason had them as one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, and PFF even had them ranked as the worst roster in the entire league in the pre-season. Despite all the doubt, however, the Broncos ended up with 10 wins and a playoff spot at the end of a season that was a ray of hope for many Broncos fans, who had dealt with a carousel at the Quarterback and head coaching spots for years.
After sporting a top 3 defense in points allowed and an offense that was quietly top 10 in points per game, the Broncos are looking to improve at some key positions in the draft. Of course, many of the teams’ needs were filled in free agency, with the additions of 49ers veterans Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga helping the Broncos to improve the weaker positions of an already elite defense. They also signed the recently released Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, who is just a year removed from a 900+ yard season with the Jaguars.
Despite these great additions and being viewed by many as one of the winners of free agency, the team still has a number of holes to shore up before it can become one of the elite teams in the AFC. Below are the positions I believe the Broncos need to take in this year’s draft, and some recommendations on who I would take to improve this team.
Running Back
This team has desperately needed any semblance of a running game for years. Long gone are the tough running days in Denver, as the Broncos haven’t had a 1000-yard rusher since Phillip Lindsay in 2019, and haven’t even had a 100-yard rushing game from a back in Sean Payton’s two-year tenure as head coach. Javonte Williams looked to have a promising career in Denver after his rookie season in 2021, but after his horrific knee injury in week 4 of 2022, he seemed to have lost all his burst, and seldom broke a tackle even 2 years after returning. The team decided to move on from him this offseason, and although we’ve seen flashes from young backs Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime, this team desperately needs a home-run hitter at the position, and someone who can consistently deliver great rushing performances to the Mile High City again. In my opinion, this team will have failed the draft if they don’t come away with either Omarion Hampton out of UNC or TreVeyon Henderson out of Ohio State. Both backs have the potential to be the team’s RB1 right out of the gate, and due to the urgency at the position, taking one at #20 overall or potentially at the top end of the second round is a must for this team.
Tight End
This one may be more unexpected, considering how I just hyped up the Evan Engram signing, but I believe drafting the tight end of the future is still a high priority for the Broncos. First of all, Engram is 30 and only signed a 2-year deal, meaning the team isn’t contractually tied to him long-term. Additionally, although he has shown to be a decent blocker throughout his career, insiders have theorized that Engram will play as less of a traditional tight end and more of a bigger slot receiver, similar to the role that Lil’ Jordan Humphrey played for the Broncos over the last two seasons, meaning getting a more versatile TE1 for the future is still a big possibility. I think Elijah Arroyo out of Miami would be a great fit for the Broncos. He’s versatile, so Sean Payton could use him in his famous “Joker” role, putting him at multiple positions across the field, and he’s projected to go between rounds 2 and 4, leaving the Broncos with the ability to grab a big-name running back in the higher rounds of the draft.
Defensive Line
This need may seem less obvious, since the Broncos defense had the most sacks in the NFL last season, setting a new franchise record, and they’re fairly deep at the position. This need is more for the future, as John Franklin-Meyers and Malcolm Roach have expiring contracts after this season. 2nd-team All-Pro Zach Allen also has an expiring contract, but I would be shocked if the team doesn’t extend him within the next calendar year, as they did with DJ Jones this offseason. With as deep as the draft is at the defensive line, I don’t see how the Broncos could pass on taking one of those guys down the board to develop as a potential replacement for their aging pieces in the next few seasons. However, with how much money and draft capital that’s been poured into this defense over the last few seasons, I don’t see Payton green-lighting a defensive lineman on day 1; this will probably come later on day 2 or even day 3. One player I like is Jordan Phillips out of Maryland. Projected to go around round 4, his scouting report shows that he has a lot of raw talent and potential to be a game-wrecker at nose tackle. I love the idea of him developing behind Franklin-Meyers for a year before taking a bigger role in year 2 or 3.
Wide Receiver
From a fan’s perspective, receiver might be one of the higher-priority needs for Denver. Courtland Sutton had a 1,000-yard season last year, but struggled at times with drops, and has an expiring contract after 2025. Outside of him, they are very young at the position, with 2nd and 3rd year players like Marvin Mims Jr, Devaughn Vele, and Troy Franklin being players who flashed at times last season, but haven’t been consistent role-players for the team as of yet. Looking at this room, one would think that a first-round receiver is in play, with options such as Luther Burden III out of Missouri or Emeka Egbuka out of Ohio State. However, Coach Payton himself has suggested the receiver room is in a better place than it seems, and he wants to develop the young receivers the team has, as opposed to investing high draft capital in a first-round big-name receiver. Traditionally, in New Orleans, Payton usually had one bigger-name receiver like Marques Colston or Michael Thomas who got paid to be the WR1, while younger depth players picked up the rest of the slack. It looks like that’s Payton’s plan here again with Sutton and the youngsters, but I still feel that the team needs a boost at the position, potentially down the board. Despite his poor measurables at the combine, perhaps the team could look into taking Bo Nix’s brother, Tez Johnson, out of Oregon and attempt to develop him.
