Denver Broncos 2020 mock draft: Trading up for Henry Ruggs

The Trade

This is where things get complicated.

The Broncos probably aren’t going to want to pay the price to jump super high in the top 10 picks, meaning the 6-8 range. Looking at their options, though, how can they pull this off?

14. Buccaneers: Not high enough.

13. Colts: Still not high enough.

12. Raiders: Not a chance the Raiders are trading with the Broncos.

11. Jets: This may be the ideal trading spot, but keep in mind — Adam Gase hates the Broncos. Remember him running up the score against Denver a couple of years ago when he was the head coach in Miami?

Joe Douglas, the general manager of the Jets, could ultimately override Gase here, so there is still some hope.

10. Browns: Looking for a top offensive tackle prospect, it seems doubtful the Browns would move off this spot.

9. Jaguars: This is a potential spot. The Jaguars have so many needs right now it’s hard to know where to begin. Then again, they could be one of the teams with Ruggs high on their board…

The Jaguars, in my opinion, are the cutoff point. To trade into the top eight picks would unquestionably cost the Broncos their second-round pick this year and more. Is John Elway willing to do that for one player?

I’m not so sure.

He might not scoff at trading two of his third-round picks for the chance to snag Ruggs, and possibly a future pick thrown in there additionally.

The trade value chart says there is a 300 point difference between the Broncos’ 15th pick and the Jaguars’ 9th pick.

That equates to the Broncos’ 83rd pick, 95th pick, and last remaining fourth-round pick.

That’s a three-for-one for the dynamic wide receiver, but we’re going to try to put together a draft class around Ruggs, so that’s the price we have to pay.