Full Breakdown
Denver Broncos’ 2026 Draft: Grades, Strategy, and Roster Impact
4/28/2026, 1:56:00 AM
Draft Strategy and Pick Summary
After trading the No. 30 overall pick and a third-round selection to acquire WR Jaylen Waddle, Denver entered the 2026 NFL Draft without a first- or third-round pick. The team opened the draft at No. 66 overall and selected seven players focused on the trenches, backfield depth, and tight-end help. The picks were: DT Tyler Onyedim (66th), RB Jonah Coleman (108th), OT/Guard Kage Casey (112th), TE Justin Joly (5th-round), TE Dallen Bentley (7th-round), S Miles Scott (6th-round), and LB Red Murdock (257th, “Mr. Irrelevant”).
Player Profiles and Key Statistics
- Tyler Onyedim – 292 lb defensive tackle; 5.5 sacks in 53 career games; expected to fill the void left by free-agent DT John Franklin-Myers.
- Jonah Coleman – 17 scrimmage touchdowns in his final college season; >=20 receptions and targets in each of his last three years; 4.12 yds after contact per attempt; only two career fumbles.
- Kage Casey – Versatile interior lineman capable of playing both tackle and guard, providing depth behind starters Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey.
- Justin Joly & Dallen Bentley – Added stretch-TE options; Joly positioned behind Evan Engram and Adam Trautman.
- Miles Scott – Former receiver turned safety; credited with seven collegiate interceptions and noted for physicality.
- Red Murdock – PFF-graded 91.2 overall in 2025 (second among all linebackers); 91.3 run-defense, 86.5 coverage, 82.2 tackling, 72.3 pass-rush scores; 144 career stops and 39 tackles for loss.
Official Statements from Broncos Leadership
General Manager George Paton said, “I think we both feel really good about the last couple days and the team in general… we helped our depth… wanted to get younger… we got younger; we got better.” Head Coach Sean Payton added, “We helped ourselves at running back and tight end and just depth across the board.” Paton also noted the draft was “taking the best players as they came,” with need sometimes intersecting with talent.
Analyst Evaluations and Criticism
- Chad Reuter (NFL.com) awarded A for Day 1, A- for Day 2, and B+ for Day 3, calling Waddle “essentially… Denver’s first-round pick.”
- Josh Edwards (CBS Sports) gave Coleman a B+ and Casey an A, praising Coleman as a rare RB in a down draft and highlighting Casey’s swing-tackle ability.
- Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN) assigned a C+ overall, emphasizing the limited number of early-round selections.
- Pro Football Focus issued a C- for the class, singling out Murdock as the highest-graded pick.
Conflicting Grades and Gaps
Analyst grades span from A-/B (Reuter) to C+ (Kiper) to C- (PFF), reflecting no consensus on class quality. Onyedim’s projected pass-rush impact remains uncertain, and detailed projections for later-round selections beyond Murdock are absent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Jaylen Waddle essentially serves as Denver's first-round pick this year, given that the Broncos sent the No. 30 overall choice to Miami for the veteran receiver,” — Chad Reuter, NFL.com analyst
- “Coleman is only the fourth running back to be taken in a historically down draft for the position.” — Josh Edwards, CBS Sports
- “The downside is Denver was left with seven total selections and only one in the first three rounds (No.” — Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
- “Here’s how GM George Paton was feeling after the draft: “I think we both feel really good about the last couple days and the team in general.” — George Paton, General Manager, Denver Broncos
- “I think we helped ourselves at running back and tight end and just depth across the board.” — Sean Payton, Head Coach, Denver Broncos
Impact and Outlook
The draft supplies depth at DT, RB, interior line, TE, S, and LB, addressing roster holes after a 2025 AFC West title run. However, veterans such as DL Jordan Jackson, RB Tyler Badie, OT Matt Peart, TE Lucas Krull, TE Nate Adkins, S JL Skinner, and LB Karene Reid face roster uncertainty. Success will hinge on how the younger players perform in training camp and whether they can translate college production to NFL impact.
