Broncos Trade for Waddle, Fortify Depth

0:00On April 28th, the Denver Broncos flipped the script on their 2026 NFL draft by trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Doffins before picks even flew. They shipped out their 30th, 94th, and 130th selections for Waddle plus the Doffins' 11th pick. That move landed a proven first-round talent, with speed and experience right away for bow nicks, turning their attack into something explosive without, gambling on raw potential. With no first or second-round picks left, the Broncos zeroed in on depth across the roster. They grabbed defensive linemen Tyler Oniadam, running back Jonah Coleman, offensive linemen Cage Casey, tight-in Justin Jolie, safety, Miles Scott, tight-in Dalin Bentley, and defensive back-red Murdoch. These guys filled gaps at key spots like the trenches, backfield, and secondary, giving Sean Payton real flexibility behind the starters. In split hard on the class, Melkhyper Jr slapped a C-plus on it, calling out the lack of

1:02top 100 splash. But other saw the vision, NFL.com hit an A-USA today, a B-plus, and CBS Sports, a solid B. Critics missing the pre-draft trade context just don't get how this builds around an established core. Sean Payton lit up over Jonah Coleman as the perfect early-down hammer with pass pro chops and third-down savvy, even with JK Dobbins around. Fixed like Oniadam and Casey add rotation muscle up front, while Jolie, Bentley, Scott, and Murdoch bring competition and special teams pop. No instant stars, but smart insurance against injuries. Bottom line, Denver played chess, not checkers. Big splash via trade, then quiet depth to protect their quarterback and keep the engine humming. This class won't wow on paper, but it fits Payton's blueprint for a contender pushing forward. That's the story for today, NFL News Today, driven by AI.