The Denver Broncos made a savvy move in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Illinois safety Miles Scott with the 246th overall pick. As the team continues to build depth, Scott brings versatility and a unique journey to the table—one that starts on the other side of the ball.

Originally a wide receiver, Scott transitioned to safety during his college career, a move that has paid dividends. His background as a pass-catcher translates to impressive ball skills—he racked up seven interceptions over his time with the Fighting Illini. Broncos General Manager George Paton highlighted this, noting: "With Miles, I think the ball skills. He had seven interceptions throughout his career. Very physical for a former receiver, and instincts for a guy who hasn’t played it all that long. We thought he had really good anticipation and instincts, and thus he had the interceptions. I think he fits in with our group and what we look for in safeties."

Head Coach Sean Payton also emphasized Scott's special-teams potential, a key factor for late-round picks looking to make the roster. "There’s versatility, special-teams flex," Payton said. The Broncos did their homework, leaning on inside intel from former Illinois teammates now in Denver—offensive tackle Alex Palczewski and wide receiver Pat Bryant. "Miles Scott we were real familiar with, talking with 'Palcho' and Pat. These guys were teammates," Payton added. "His name came up and up. He went in with Pat as a receiver and then was converted."

Scott himself is thrilled to reunite with Bryant, his college teammate. "It’ll be great. Pat was a great teammate. Me and Pat came in together at Illinois. We were both playing receiver. 2021 we both came in. Then I got to see him get drafted to Denver, and now he got to see me get drafted to Denver. So that’s kind of crazy." Scott also shared that a Top-30 visit to Denver sealed the deal: "I went on a 30 visit to Denver. This was about a week or two ago. That was pretty much it. It wasn’t a lot more talking after that."

For a seventh-round pick, Scott offers intriguing upside. His transition from receiver to safety shows adaptability, and his knack for creating turnovers could make him a valuable asset on special teams and in sub-packages. As the Broncos wrap up their draft class, keep an eye on this late-round gem—he might just be the next underdog story to make the squad.