Denver Broncos Draft Recap

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The Broncos have made their picks and wheeled their deals, and now it's time to look back on the draft that was! 

Trades

Trade 1: 
Broncos receive Pick 62, Pick 93, 2024 CIN First <-> Bengals receive DE Phillip Wilcox (75), WR Barry Madruga (72), pick 190

Trade 2: 
Broncos receive Pick 164, Pick 196, LB Kyu Snyder <-> Seahawks receive 2024 DEN Sixth, 2024 Denver Seventh

Trade 3: 
Broncos receive Pick 167, Pick 199 <-> Packers receive 2024 DEN Fifth

Background: Broncos came into the draft with a plan to cut down on future expenses, with looming max contracts to Peter London and Andrew Rahi on the horizon - in addition to many vets needing their deals renewed at or above market prices.

The move to with Cincinnati sells high on some exciting pieces, and also restocks the top of the 2024 draft. Madruga gets a chance to lead a team in targets after logging just 30 opportunities last year in a crowded room, and Wilcox gets to show out in a contract year as the lead pass rusher for the Bengals - all while not costing the Broncos in contract negotiations in 2025/2026. 

The other two trades cleared up some cap space for the Broncos to be players in the 2024 free agency market and gave them multiple cracks at the bottom of this draft class to see if anything hits.

Draft Picks

2nd Round Pick #62

K Elih Obada
Accuracy Arizona State
Ovr/Pot: A-/B+

2022 Stats
8/8 FG, Long of 44, 10/10 XP

Background: With Ronald Netherton severely limiting the Bronco's red zone scoring opportunities last season, Elih Obada comes in as the expected starter at Kicker and potentially punter. He was curiously asked to split time at Arizona State with their QB attempting some field goals as well - but private workouts as well as public opinion had Obada as the top kicker in the draft.

2023 Projection: Day 1 Starter

2nd Round Pick #63

DT Will Hill Nose Tackle Rutgers
Ovr/Pot: B+/C

2022 Stats
61.5 Tackles 29 TFLs 4.5 Sacks 1 FF 1FR

Background: With Chad Bruce signing a $40mil+ extension to stay in Denver, he's expected to move back outside to defensive end - and with the departure of young edge Phil "Philcox" Wilcox to Cincinnati - Denver picked up Will Hill from Rutgers. He charts as a superior run defender and 1-tech next to  veteran Daniel Garrison, giving the Broncos two positive run stoppers in a division that's looking more and more like they're going to attempt to pound the rock to keep the ball out of the hands of Peter London.

2023 Projection: Day 1 Starter

3rd Round Pick #93

FB Craig Crosby Receiving Buffalo
Ovr/Pot: B/A

2022 Stats
142 Carries 754 Yards 5.31 YPC 1 TD, 9 Rec 93 Yards, 1 Pancake

Background: Much like kicker, the Broncos are bringing Craig Crosby in at a lower premium position as an immediate starter. Crosby appeared to have the capacity to be a thousand yard rusher at Buffalo, but the Broncos were very impressed with his blocking skill as well and will look to utilize him both as a runner and as a blocker. Still has some work to do as a pass catcher, unlike his FB compatriot LaFromboise, who went later in the draft.

2023 Projection: Day 1 Starter

3rd Round Pick #94

WR Hunter Stauffer Possession California
Ovr/Pot: C+/A+

2022 Stats
53 Rec 735 Yards 13.87 YPC 3 TDs

Background: Hunter Stauffer didn't stauff the stat sheet at Cal, but he continues to show flashes of electric potential as a pass catcher. Potential being the operative word. Hunter struggled to get down field as the primary receiving option on a team with a very limited passer and no deep threats - he'll have no such issue in Denver. He project as a slot receiver in the Broncos' offensive scheme, battling to take over from Barry Madruga, who left with Philcox for Cincinnati.

2023 Projection: Special Teams

4th Round Pick #105

WR Eric Graham Route Runner Arizona State
Ovr/Pot: B/B-

2022 Stats
47 Rec 893 Yards 19.0 YPC 8 TDs

Background: Everything that Hunter Stauffer isn't is what Eric Graham can be in the NFL. He excels at getting open, but struggles with seeing plays through all the way through getting (and keeping) the ball in his hands. When Graham executes though, there are few in the country as electric - average 19 yards per catch is impressive - and the Broncos seem likely to throw him into the mix with Hunter Stauffer and veteran Alejandro Mora for WR3 next year.

2023 Projection: Day 1 Starter

4th Round Pick #133

SS Weston McCoil Ball Hawk Memphis
Ovr/Pot: C+/A

2022 Stats
59.5 Tackles 1 TFL 2 FF 1 PD 3 INT 1 Defensive TD

Background: With Vicente Bugarin entering his 12th year and 3rd team in 2 seasons, Weston was brought on to give the Bronco an immediate body in camp to give Bugarin rest. He's was raw at Memphis, struggling to reroute wide receivers or do too much in the run game, but at times Weston showed serious game-changing potential, with 3 INTs, as well as returning one of them for a TD. He profiles as a special team gunner right now.

Projection: Special Teams

5th Round Pick #159

C Jamon Ridley Pass Blocking NC State
Ovr/Pot: C+/A

2022 Stats
0 Pancakes 2 Sacks Allowed

Background: The antithesis of a road grader, Jamon didn't do much of anything in the run game, but he kept Luke Johnson's jersey clean. The Broncos have Casebeer for two more years, and they'll likely expect Ridley to be filled out physically and ready to compete for the starting spot in 2026. He'll likely sit behind AP All-Name Center Tim Gurganus as the Broncos' backup swing lineman until then.

2023 Projection: Backup/Swing Lineman

6th Round Pick #164

DT Keith Rodriguez Balanced Utah State
Ovr/Pot: B/C+

2022 Stats
51 Tackles 25 TFLs 9 Sacks

Background: Keith is a big man and disrupts offensive lines. Something the Broncos find themselves in need of with Chad Bruce moving back outside. He has a wide reach and a frame big enough to hold up in teh NFL. The question for Rodriguez will be whether he can hold up for an entire season of play. However, when he does get on the field without losing his breath, he showed he deserved to be in the conversation with some of the top defensive tackles in the draft with 9 sacks last season. He'll likely battle Richard Dehne for a spot as a rotational rusher and interior lineman as he develops his conditioning.

2023 Projection: Backup DL

Projection 

6th Round Pick #167

RB Jerry Lawson Balanced Oregon
Ovr/Pot: B-/C

2022 Stats
416 Carries 1915 Yards 4.6 YPC 15 TDs, 42 Rec 395 Yards 9.4 YPC 3 TDs

Background: Jerry Lawson tore up the PAC12 this year, with over 1900 yards and some decent receiving work thrown in for good measure. In a league with a whole lot of impressive rushers, Lawson held his own when in came to play on the field. There are some questions about his physical profile and whether he's topped out athletically, but there are few in the country that have footwork as polished as Jerry. He'll compete with Adel Fraire for the backup RB spot behind William "Mc" Kinley. 

Projection: Backup RB 

6th Round Pick #180

OG Gregory Hannemann Pass Blocking Southern Miss
Ovr/Pot: C+/A-

2022 Stats
0 Pancakes 0 Sacks Allowed

Background: Greg played at USM - did you know that? The stat sheet didn't. Similar to Ridley, the Broncos are clearly going for a type this draft - pulling in another technically sound pass blocking lineman. A wise choice with Peter London looking like a 1$00mil+ man in the coming weeks. They want their future to be safe in the pocket. Greg didn't show anything in the run game, which is saying something considering USM almost exclusively ran the ball last season. He comes to camp with a clear need to develop the one thing he did the most last season.

Projjection: Camp Body / Practice Squad

7th Round Pick #196

OLB Michael Kennedy Speed Iowa State
Ovr/Pot: C+/B

2022 Stats
71.5 Tackles 7 TFLs 1 INT

Background: The third LB spot has been wide open since the beginning of last season, with more than 3 players taking starts over the course of 2022. Kyu Snyder coming in from Seattle in a late Day 2 trade, along with Mark Ulrich and John Arnold, will compete for this spot. Kennedy is one more piece of spaghetti to throw at the wall to see what sticks.

Projection: Special Teams

7th Round Pick #199

QB Daurice Maile Balanced New Mexico
Ovr/Pot: C+/B

2022 Stats
329/536 3886 Yards 26 TDs 13 INTs, 13 Carries 51 Yards 3.92 YPC

Background: Daurice Maile'd passes all over the field for the Lobos, with over 500 attempts and a respectable TD:INT to show for it. He's got some wheels, but wasn't asked to utilize them too often for a program that needed to do everything it could to keep him healthy and running their offense last year. With Dekoda Link departing early last season and backup QB "whatshisface" retiring or whatever, the QB2 spot is wide open for the taking. Maile looks to compete with the final pick of the draft for that honor.

Projection: Clipboard Holder  

7th Round Pick #212

QB Phil Gray Pocket Louisiana Tech
Ovr/Pot: C+/B-

2022 Stats
401/638 4433 Yards 30 TDs 8 INTs

Background: Gray tore up the C-USA, leading a Bulldogs to the top of the conference in passing metrics without a single other draft-caliber position player on the offense. Throwing 638 passes with only 8 interceptions is one of the best int/attempt rates in the league and Gray looks capable of playing smart football. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows when you're picking in the 200's and choices aren't black and white. Gray's arm is lackluster and barely profiles as NFL caliber, but we'll see if he can stick notwithstanding those concerns.

Projection: Practice Squad MVP

Conclusion
All in all, with 13 bites at the apple in the draft, the Broncos look to have at least 3 confirmed day 1 starters, restocked the top of the 2024 draft, and all while not having a first rounder this year. What remains to be seen is whether or not those day 1 starters are good starters, but a team in the position the Broncos find themselves in won't have to worry too much about needing top-flight production immediately from their rookies.