Broncos to get three compensatory picks in 2020 Draft

The NFL awarded teams compensatory picks on Tuesday. The Denver Broncos will get three, upping their 2020 pick total to eleven.

The Denver Broncos are looking to add some important pieces in the 2020 NFL Draft, which takes place on April 23 and ends April 25th.

They just received more ammo to do so thanks to the compensatory picks process that takes place every year. Denver received three compensatory picks for this year’s draft today: they get picks 178 (5th round), 252, and 254 (7th round).

So, the team’s full draft order right now is as follows:

1st round: Pick 15
2nd round: Pick 46
3rd round: Picks 77, 83, 95
4th round: Pick 118
5th round: Pick 178
6th round: Picks 182
7th round: Picks 238, 253, 255

They also have another 4th round selection, but that pick will go to the Jacksonville Jaguars because of the trade that sent cornerback A.J. Bouye to Denver.

Denver can do plenty of things with those extra picks. They have some very obvious needs, and then can add depth—or even replacement players—to some positions.

One of those positions that may be under the radar is on special teams: the punter. Colby Wadman hasn’t been very good for the Broncos. Wadman ranked 27th out of 36 eligible punters in terms of average yards per punt.

The team could also search for a receiver-type player who could be put on special teams. Diontae Spencer returned 26 punts for 208 yards. He also returned fifteen punts for 436 yards. He scored no touchdowns for the team.

Since 1999, the Broncos have been awarded twenty compensatory picks. The most notable one is Justin Simmons in 2016 (3rd round, pick 98). Simmons has gone on to be a star for a Denver Broncos team that has struggled over the last couple of seasons—specifically, since they won Super Bowl 50.

They also have had unfortunate bad luck with a couple of those picks. Among players that didn’t exactly work out for the Denver Broncos after arriving as compensatory picks are running back Devontae Booker, CB Brendan Langley (who later switched to wide receiver and failed to make the team’s roster), and wide receiver Domenik Hixon.

The Broncos, and every other team, are allowed to trade compensatory picks. Maybe they will choose to do that instead, if they do not think any of the players left at those spots are worth that selection.

I am hopeful that the Broncos will find some gems with these extra picks this year. They will definitely need to improve some spots on the roster, and compensatory picks could play a large role in the process.