The big move for Denver was obviously trading for Jaylen Waddle earlier this offseason, but how did they attack the draft compared to how we would have drafted using our big board?

 

Actual selections

3.66: DL Tyler Onyedim

4.108: RB Jonah Coleman

4.111: OT Kage Casey

5.152: TE Justin Joly

7.246: S Miles Scott

7.256: TE Dallen Bentley

7.257: LB Red Murdock

 

Wolf Sports selections

3.66: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

4.108: G DJ Campbell

4.111: CB Keionte Scott

5.152: DL Zane Durant

7.246: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

7.256: QB Jalon Daniels

7.257: WR J. Michael Sturdivant

 

Thoughts

The Broncos were likely a Bo Nix injury away from at least being in the Super Bowl, and this year’s class—even without a pick in the first or second round (after trading for Waddle and trading back in Round 2)—has hopeful contributors for 2026. First, the team went with Tyler Onyedim as a solid fit for their rotation on the defensive line, especially after losing John Franklin-Meyers. It seems Denver is happy with their linebackers, but we would have tried moving up for CJ Allen; with that not being an option, Harold Perkins Jr. was the would-be selection.

 

In the fourth round, Jonah Coleman was the target at running back to join J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, as the team certainly needs more from the running game. Following that up with Kage Casey as a very underrated offensive lineman who can either play tackle or guard seemed like an ideal match. However, we took a different direction with DJ Campbell to be a backup on the interior, and even with Jahdae Barron waiting in the wings, Keionte Scott (who we compared to Ja’Quan McMillian) was too good of a value to pass on.

 

We like Onyedim’s fit in Denver, but our board would have led to Zane Durant in Round 5 as arguably the better prospect nearly 100 selections later, and we’ll see if that decision comes back to hurt them with Durant landing with a fellow AFC contender in the Bills. Instead, the Broncos took Justin Joly at tight end in the fifth round, and he was another quality fit for Denver in terms of play style and need.

 

Overall, the combination of “fit” and “need” seemed to be more of a focus for Denver this year, and they’re hoping for at least one of Miles Scott, Dallen Bentley, and Red Murdock to make an impact in 2026—keep an eye on Scott and Murdock trying to make the roster for value on special teams. We went with John Michael Gyllenborg as the shot at tight end, Jalon Daniels as the potential long-term backup for Bo Nix, and J. Michael Sturdivant as a guy we thought could thrive in Sean Payton’s offense.

 

Of course, the success of the class will be more about Jaylen Waddle than anything else.