It’s finally draft week and I’ll be wrapping up my pre-draft coverage with several big boards based around research on George Paton and Sean Payton and their draft tendencies over the next two days. However, for today, I’ll use that research to lay down my final seven-round mock draft for the Denver Broncos.
Some interesting draft-related rumors came out today along with some normal stuff we do.
2026 NFL Draft: Broncos are expected to draft a linebacker Per DNVR’s Zac Stevens, the Broncos are expected to address linebacker at some point in this draft, though it sounds more like a Day 3 investment than a second-round priority. Denver has done its homework on the position with profiles on Michigan’s Jimmy Rolder, Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher, Buffalo’s Red Murdock, and Alabama’s Deontae Lawson all fitting as mid-to-late round targets who could develop behind the current starters.
5 offensive players I think the Broncos could draft in the 2nd round MHR’s second-round offensive wish list is headlined by tight ends Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt) and Max Klare (Ohio State), both of whom would immediately address a position group that has done almost nothing in the passing game for Denver in recent years. Klare is the better blocker with big-play receiving upside, while Stowers profiles as a pure pass-catching weapon with a 45.5-inch vertical. Washington RB Mike Washington Jr. makes the list as an explosive complement behind Dobbins and Harvey, and the case is also made for Jadarian Price and an offensive tackle option like Austin Barber to get ahead of the line’s upcoming turnover.
Drew Sanders is moving from LB to edge rusher Drew Sanders is switching positions again — this time flipping back to edge rusher after spending time at off-ball linebacker. The 2023 third-round pick’s career has been derailed by injuries and constant positional shuffling, and Jonah Elliss’ move to linebacker likely pushed Sanders out of that room. He’s now firmly on the roster bubble heading into 2026, and this latest switch feels like a last-chance audition to find a home on the defense.
2026 NFL Draft Roundtable: What position groups should the Broncos target? The MHR staff roundtable lands on a clear consensus: inside linebacker, tight end, and running back are the big three needs, roughly in that order. One writer pushes for offensive line investment on Day 2 given the unit’s approaching turnover cycle despite being arguably the best O-line in football right now. Defensive tackle depth and a Day 3 defensive back also get mentions, but the staff largely agrees that ILB is the position where this draft class best aligns with the Paton/Payton scouting profile.
2026 NFL Draft Roundtable: What prospects would you like the Broncos to select? Putting names to positions, the MHR staff favors Eli Stowers at tight end, Washington’s Jonah Coleman or Penn State’s Kayton Allen at running back, and Missouri’s Chris McClellan or Iowa State’s Domonique Orange at defensive tackle to help replace John Franklin-Myers. On the offensive line, Drew Shelton and Jude Bowry get love as developmental tackle projects. Michigan’s Jaishawn Barham fits the hybrid edge/LB mold Vance Joseph loves, and defensive backs Kamari Ramsey, Bishop Fitzgerald, and Jalon Kilgore round out the wish list as Day 3 secondary targets.
2026 NFL Draft: Reviewing the Broncos top-30 visits MHR breaks down the full list of known Top-30 visitors to Dove Valley, and the position clusters tell the story. Tight end dominates with Eli Stowers, Max Klare, Nate Boerkircher, and Justin Joly all coming through the building. Florida DT Caleb Banks got a visit that likely included a medical evaluation, Oregon OG Emmanuel Pregnon came in as a plug-and-play interior lineman, Missouri OT Keagen Trost made the trip, and TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr rounded out the reported visits — painting a clear picture of where Denver sees its draft capital going on Day 2 and Day 3.
Albert Breer thinks Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers would be the perfect joker-type for Sean Payton.
SI's @AlbertBreer has been told by a couple of GMs that TE Eli Stowers is an "incredible fit for Sean Payton" Should the Broncos trade up in the 2nd round for Stowers? pic.twitter.com/tqICBa9F09
Denver has very little draft capital, but could they be in on a guy like Kyle Pitts?
I took my last stab at drafting for the Denver Broncos while leaning heavily on my Payton/Paton Fit Score metrics — brought to you by ClaudeAI. Here’s who I ended up with:
Do you like it? Hate it? Am I celebrating 4/20 too hard? I liked it, but we always like our own piles of garbage more than others’ piles of garbage.