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.
Denver Broncos mock draft, pick 75: Marcus Jones, CB/RS, Houston
The Denver Broncos could be saying goodbye to both Bryce Callahan and Kyle Fuller in 2022 free agency.
While fans will have mixed feelings about both of those players leaving, there’s no doubt that this team needs some new blood in the secondary.
With Michael Ojemudia still a scheme fit, you can’t help but wonder just how desperate the team’s need at cornerback is right now with Patrick Surtain II still the unquestioned CB1 and Ronald Darby still a very capable CB2 opposite him.
With the 75th pick overall, the options should be endless.
I went with Houston’s Marcus Jones, as has become a borderline mock draft tradition for the Denver Broncos.
Not only does Jones offer you upside as a nickel corner at the next level, but he’s also one of the top playmakers in the return game.
If he isn’t starting as a nickel in the NFL somewhere as a rookie, I think Jones is going to be getting Pro Bowl votes in the return game. In his collegiate career (Troy and Houston), Jones had an interception return touchdown, six kickoff return touchdowns, three punt return touchdowns, and a receiving touchdown in 2021 with Houston.
This guy is a playmaker and he carries himself with that kind of confidence and swagger.
Denver Broncos mock draft pick 96: Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
Yes, we did just go with an EDGE player back at pick 64, but I think this pick is still worth serious consideration here, starting with the fact that Cameron Thomas and Nik Bonitto could not be more different despite sharing the same positional title coming out of the college ranks.
Thomas is undersized for a base defensive end in a three-man front, but I think he’s got room to steadily grow and his play strength is not an issue at under 270 pounds.
With his violent hands and quickness off the snap, Thomas is capable of creating pressure on his own or for others as he commands extra attention.
He had 20.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks last season for the Aztecs and was a dominant player every week.
As of right now, it’s really tough to peg his status as far as where he will go. Some sites have him going as high as the late first-round, others have him going near the bottom of round three.
It’s always hard to know with the NFL Draft which is so unpredictable. While I did preach before that it’s unrealistic to think Trey McBride will be available at 64, the reality is that last year we would have thought it laughable to project Baron Browning as the final pick of day two, and here we are.
A player like Cameron Thomas could help the Broncos standing up or with his hand in the dirt.
Denver Broncos mock draft, fourth-round picks
4a. Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
Although the Denver Broncos could have paid just about any price for Russell Wilson and I would have been satisfied, the departure of Noah Fant stings a little bit.
It would have been great to see what Fant could do with an elite quarterback operating the offense, but that’s no longer in the cards.
As it is, Albert Okwuegbunam gets vaulted to the TE1 spot for the time being and the Broncos fix their eyes on free agency, where there should be at least one good fit and/or bargain.
In the 2022 NFL Draft, this is a pretty intriguing class from top to bottom and Jelani Woods out of Virginia is one of the top physical specimens in the group. He’s 6-foot-7, 253 pounds, and posted a freakish workout at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.
With eight touchdowns last season at Virginia, his stock should be on the rise, and don’t be surprised if he goes much higher than this now.
4b. Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
Another former linebacker turned running back for the Denver Broncos?
You bet.
Tyler Allgeier is one of my favorite running back prospects in this draft and my hope is that the Broncos will draft two from this class overall. If I can only pick one, given the players I think will be gone by this point, I would take the physical Allgeier.
He’s not the fastest or shiftiest, but he’s a beast after contact.
Denver Broncos mock draft, rounds 5-7
5. Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
Although I expect the Broncos to add a free agent offensive tackle now to start for them in 2022, I think this year’s draft class is too intriguing and deep at tackle to pass on the prospects altogether.
Braxton Jones is a good athlete with outstanding length (36-inch arms) who comes from a small school but just like Quinn Meinerz last year, he plays with a punishing style and could be a great fit for a wide-zone offense.
6. Kaleb Eleby, QB, Western Michigan
The Broncos will be in the market for a backup quarterback at some point and I think the name Kaleb Eleby has been building up some steam regardless of the Russell Wilson trade.
Eleby isn’t Russell Wilson, but you can see some similarities in their game with Eleby’s love for throwing the ball vertically as well as his ability to make plays with his legs.
7a. Chance Campbell, LB, Ole Miss
In the seventh round of the Draft, you are taking shots at players who have development potential or could be special teams aces at the next level.
I think Chance Campbell has a good shot at checking both of those boxes.
The former Maryland transfer had a great Combine workout, and racked up 109 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 6.0 sacks last season for the Rebels.
7b. Kyler McMichael, DB, North Carolina
A former Clemson transfer, Kyler McMichael may not have lived up to the hype he had coming out of high school, but he’s got outstanding athletic traits and is a worthwhile developmental player at this stage.
Denver Broncos 5 tight end options to replace Noah Fant
The Denver Broncos acquired Russell Wilson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, but they had to give up Noah Fant to get it done. Who replaces him?
After a strong week of East-West Shrine practices, he could be on the radar for a late-round flyer and someone that might develop on your practice squad.