Broncos' Draft Strategy: High-Upside Picks, Late-Round Steals

0:00It's April 23rd, welcome in. This is NFL News Today, where the lead meets AI, I'm Corey, with the story. The 2026 NFL draft kicks off tomorrow night in Pittsburgh, and the Denver Broncos are sitting tight with just seven picks, their first. Not coming until late in the second round at pick 62, unless they wheel and deal. They're rolling with what they call one of the league's top rosters, so they're eyeing high upside guys to fill gaps at linebacker and running back. Without forcing it, in this mock drafts him, they snag Kayla Banks, that big defensive tackle from Florida, who's got first round skills but might slide due to. injuries perfect risk for them to grab at 62, and potentially replace a vet up front. Then they trade up in round three for Max Claire, the Ohio State tight end, who blocks like a beast and catches everything, paring him with their, current guy for a killer duo. Lions and analysts are buzzing about the Broncos needs, especially inside linebacker, where

1:00depth is thin, and running back to spark the ground game. For championship runs, coach Sean Payton and GM George Payton love ziggin when others expect his egg, so this draft could shake up their already strong squad without overhauling it. Later rounds bring offensive tackle Isaiah Whirl from Oregon as a future bookend. Gamebacker project, Kendall Daniels from Oklahoma, who flips from, safety, running back Jayden Ott for North South Punch, another DT and Aaron Hall from Duke, and even a quarterback like Luke Altmeyer from Illinois as a cheap third string bet. With the real draft hours away, expect the unexpected from Denver, their position to turn late picks into steels, and keep pushing toward that super. Bowl window wide open.