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Denver Broncos mock draft: Adding studs after Russell Wilson trade

By Sayre Bedinger

Denver Broncos mock draft - Quarterback Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones cuts back after looking for an opening against outside linebacker Nik Bonitto #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 28-21. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Denver Broncos mock draft - Quarterback Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones cuts back after looking for an opening against outside linebacker Nik Bonitto #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 28-21. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos mock draft – Oklahoma’s Nik Bonitto (11) celebrates after sacking Iowa State’s Brock Purdy (15) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Iowa State Cyclones at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. Oklahoma won 28-21.Ou Vs Iowa State Football /

The Denver Broncos have a brand-new foundation to build on with the Russell Wilson trade. How will George Paton approach the 2022 NFL Draft?

The Denver Broncos now have a brand-new foundation to build on in the 2022 offseason. Russell Wilson has been acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks, and it’s now time to look forward to an entire offseason with that context.

Russell Wilson is the Denver Broncos’ QB1. Drink that in, Broncos Country.

Everything from here on out is basically icing on the proverbial cake, right?

Almost.

The 2022 NFL Draft is still going to be crucial and a lot of fun for the Denver Broncos, even if fans will have to wait until the middle of Day 2 to get involved. How might the Denver Broncos attack their remaining nine draft selections in April?

With NFL Free Agency still on deck, let’s take a look at how these picks might be spent.

Denver Broncos mock draft, second round (pick 64)

Nick Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma

Everybody and their beloved pet has the Denver Broncos taking Colorado State tight end Trey McBride with this pick.

As much as I would love to see the former CSU Rams star in orange and blue at the next level, we needn’t get our hopes up for that very unrealistic dream. McBride is certainly going to be beloved by NFL teams and the mock draft machines have him way too low in their algorithms.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he’s arguably the best tight end in the 2022 NFL Draft. If he’s there at 64, the Denver Broncos can take him and you can all serve me up a plate of crow on Twitter.

For the time being, I think we’ll see the Denver Broncos go after a free agent EDGE rusher but the 2022 NFL Draft class is simply too deep to pass up on.

As highly as the Broncos think of Bradley Chubb, his injury history is something that will factor into their decision-making process.

Many of the free agents available to the Broncos are older (including team legend Von Miller).

As much as we might believe in the development of Jonathon Cooper, do you bank on him as a longer-term option?

All of those questions and factors led me to Nik Bonitto, a freakish athlete who ran a 4.54 and consistently brought pressure on the quarterback while he was at Oklahoma.

Even if he’s just a rotational pass rusher to start off his NFL career, I think Bonitto has high upside here at pick 64.

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