2026 NFL Draft Grades: Denver Broncos

When Denver traded the No. 30 selection to Miami, coach Sean Payton said he didn't believe the players who would be on the board in that range would help the team "as much as Jaylen Waddle." Taking contract implications out of the picture, it's hard to argue with that logic.

The best players on the board at No. 30 were probably Denzel Boston, Zion Young and Keldric Faulk. Waddle has hit 900 receiving yards in four of his five seasons and should open up the Broncos' subpar downfield passing game. I would have liked seeing Boston in orange at Mile High, too, but quarterback Bo Nix is going to love having Waddle running routes for him.

The downside is Denver was left with seven total selections and only one in the first three rounds (No. 62). Denver dropped back to No. 66 to add an additional sixth-rounder and took Tyler Onyedim. I heard some buzz on him in the lead-up to the draft, but it was of the "Day 3 sleeper" variety. I ranked Onyedim at No. 109 on my board, but Payton likes to get his guys on Day 2, value be damned. He could help fill the John Franklin-Myers void, playing at a similar weight (292 pounds, compared to 288 for JFM). But there's no guarantee we see a similar pass-rush impact, as Onyedim had 5.5 sacks over 53 career games and is more of a run stopper.

Jonah Coleman is another option at running back, scoring 17 scrimmage touchdowns last season. Kage Casey can be a backup at offensive tackle, Justin Joly is a stretch option at tight end, and Mr. Irrelevant Red Murdock is a tackling machine. But there isn't a ton to get super excited about here.

Their draft was pretty much about — and will ultimately be defined — by the acquisition of WR Jaylen Waddle for multiple picks this year, including the 30th overall selection. A reasonable gamble given how close the Broncos got to Super Bowl 60 as well as the defensible opportunity cost of largely bypassing this year's middling prospects. Third-round DL Tyler Onyedim could soften the loss of John Franklin-Myers in free agency, and fourth-round RB Jonah Coleman should get some touches. Yet maybe the most fascinating aspect of Denver's draft ... was their decision-making into who wound up as "Mr. Irrelevant" given the Broncos made the final two selections in Round 7.

Best Pick: Third-round pick Tyler Onyedim from Texas A&M can help replace John Franklin-Myers, who left for Tennessee in free agency. He will be a rotation player from the start.

Worst Pick: I didn't like fourth-round back Jonah Coleman as much as some during this process. I thought Nebraska's Emmett Johnson, who went in the fifth round to the Chiefs, was a better option.

The Skinny: They traded their first-round pick to get receiver Jaylen Waddle, so he is sort of included in this draft. They needed his juice. This draft will be judged on how he plays. I did like the Onyedim pick and linebacker Red Murdock in the seventh as "Mr. Irrelevant."

The Dolphins invested their first-round pick in speedy NFL wideout Jaylen Waddle and didn't make their first selection until pick No. 66 overall, nabbing twitchy defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim. His burst alongside one of the NFL's best (and frankly, most underrated) rushers, Zach Allen, gives Denver an intriguing 1-2 punch when they want to switch to more of a four-man front.

With six running backs already on the roster — including 2025 second-rounder R.J. Harvey, I can't deny that I was surprised to see the Broncos select Washington's Jonah Coleman in the third round. But given his ability and the attrition at that position, I also can't disagree with it. Coleman might lack Harvey's breakaway speed, but he's otherwise a carbon copy in running style and an excellent third down back due to his elite pass protection — always important to Sean Payton.

Denver's early Day 3 selections of offensive lineman Kage Casey (who I think will ultimately be a guard) and tight end Justin Joly boost positions that needed a bit more depth.

Considering Denver didn't make a pick until the third round, it was impressive the value they were able to find with multiple role players.

Onyedim didn't have much pass rush production across three years of starting, but he makes explosive plays against the run and has athleticism to tap into more disruption. This was a minor reach, but he also fits a need for Denver's front.

On their next pick, they simply got a steal in Jonah Coleman. A lot of his game reminds me of Josh Jacobs with his powerful, downhill running and soft hands in the short area pass game. I truly believe he'll be factoring into or even leading this backfield by November.

Kage Casey gives them a technician as offensive line depth, potentially backing up four spots. Joly was excellent at making plays in congested catch point situations, fitting the mold at tight end Sean Payton traditionally likes.

Finally, Red Murdock is an old-school thumper against the run. He's violent playing downhill and constantly looks to rip the ball out (set the NCAA record with 17 career forced fumbles).

Here's why: Not too much to say about a draft that didn't start until pick 66 for the Broncos. They got some solid depth in Washington running back Jonah Coleman and took a dice roll on traits in Tyler Onyedim to potentially replace what they lost when John Franklin-Myers left the team. Justin Joly was a solid pick in the fifth round as well, but overall there wasn't much investment in this draft class as the Broncos opted to use their premium picks on veterans instead.

Most interesting pick: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

The Broncos added Coleman to their running back room via the draft a year after doing the same with former UCF running back RJ Harvey. Coleman, Harvey and JK Dobbins form an interesting three-headed room where each player has clear strengths to take advantage of. How Sean Payton decides to divvy up the reps here will be a story to follow during the season.

After sending their first-round pick to Miami in exchange for receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos didn't make their first pick until early in the third round. They added some intriguing potential contributors with their picks, though, kicking it off with defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim. The former Aggies standout is an explosive interior penetrator with good length and plenty of power. He could bolster an already strong Broncos pass rush group and see snaps right away. I liked the selection of Washington running back Jonah Coleman, who is one of my favorite backs in this entire class. Coleman's a rolling ball of butcher knives, offering excellent short-area burst and tackle-breaking prowess. He lacks juice, but it wouldn't be a big surprise to see him earning touches this year with the thought he's the long-term successor to J.K. Dobbins. Boise State offensive tackle Kage Casey adds depth to the team's offensive line and brings tackle-guard versatility going forward. And don't forget about NC State tight end Justin Joly, who brings an Evan Engram—type skill set to the table. It's not a headline-producing class for the Broncos, but when you add Waddle to the equation this looks like a quality haul.

Analysis: A large chunk of Denver's draft was traded away in the Jaylen Waddle deal. As a result, the Broncos primarily added depth, giving RJ Harvey a caddy in Coleman, while getting Casey to play as a swing tackle behind Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey. As for Onyedim, the former Aggies star should see rotational time after the departure of John Franklin-Myers. All told, it's a draft that doesn't have much wow factor, but provides short-term insurance and long-term upside.