The Broncos on Thursday addressed their biggest need by selecting Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick. It’s too early to know whether taking the former Oregon star as the sixth quarterback of the draft proves to be a reach, a masterstroke of managing the draft or some classification in between. But the answer will largely depend on how effectively the Broncos build the roster around their new quarterback.
That process begins with Day 2 of the draft Friday. The Broncos have seven picks remaining, the first of which comes in the third round at No. 76 overall. Here are 14 potential targets for Denver.
Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington (No. 69 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300)
Brugler compares Rosengarten, who attended Valor Christian High School outside Denver, to Garett Bolles stylistically. The Broncos could need a replacement for Bolles after this season, and Round 3 could be a place to find a developmental prospect who could eventually compete for that role.
GO DEEPER
NFL Draft 2024 Round 1 grades: Falcons, Broncos get Cs for Penix, Nix; Bears earn two A’s
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State (No. 71)
Fiske wowed with his athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. After four seasons at Western Michigan, he became a big part of Florida State’s undefeated regular season as he tallied six sacks and nine tackles for loss. The Broncos’ top defensive tackle, D.J. Jones, is entering the final season of his contract, and Denver needs more young depth at the position.
Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame (No. 73)
Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale (No. 87)
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Fisher will need some development, but he’s big and physical and would have another former Notre Dame standout in Mike McGlinchey to learn from as he begins his career. Amegadjie still has plenty of development ahead of him as a prospect, but at 6-5 and 323 pounds, “his physical ingredients and competitive drive are the foundational elements that pro coaches want to develop,” Brugler wrote.
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington (No. 74)
The first round didn’t seem like a realistic spot for the Broncos to target a receiver, but with Courtland Sutton having no guaranteed money on his deal after this season and Tim Patrick entering the final year of his contract, the need for depth players at the position who could blossom into key contributors is real and could be targeted in the third round. Polk had a breakout year with 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. Brugler wrote that the 22-year-old “is a natural athlete addressing the football, with three-level instincts and pro-level toughness.”
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan (No. 77)
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State (No. 81)
Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee (No. 83)
This feels early for the Broncos to add to the backfield, but if Payton believes one of these players could expand the capabilities of the offense in a significant way, history says he’ll jump at the chance. He drafted a running back in seven of his 16 drafts with the Saints, including four selected in the top four rounds. Corum’s toughness could be appealing, especially as Denver aims to be far more effective running the ball in the red zone. The 5-foot-7 back reached the end zone a whopping 47 times during his last two seasons at Michigan.
Austin Booker, Edge, Kansas (No. 78)
Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington (No. 82)
Booker has limited experience (18 college games), but his lone season with the Jayhawks in 2023 after transferring from Minnesota raised eyebrows. He finished with eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss and also forced two fumbles. He’s a bit of a projection given his limited history on the field, but there are intriguing tools with which to work. Trice had 16 sacks during his last two seasons at Washington and plays, Brugler wrote, with a “violent” style that helps him be disruptive despite not possessing ideal speed or length.
Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State (No. 80)
Jared Wiley, TE, TCU (No. 89)
The Broncos have studied the tight end class closely, and although Johnson’s stats at Penn State don’t jump off the page — a career-high 341 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 — the 6-foot-6, 259-pound target “has A-plus measurements and smooth athletic tools that could allow him to continue developing and become a better pro than college player,” Brugler wrote. Wiley, who caught eight touchdowns last season (most among all FBS tight ends), is 6-foot-6 and strong at the point of the catch, traits to could allow him to become a needed target for the Broncos in the red zone.
Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State (No. 88)
Wilson had an extensive injury history in college that will be factored into his evaluation, but he demonstrated great range while playing with the Wolfpack in 2023, making 17 1/2 tackles for loss with six sacks. He was a top defensive player at the Senior Bowl in February.
(Photo of Ja’Lynn Polk: John David Mercer / USA Today)
