How will the Denver Broncos approach the 2022 NFL Draft? We take a look at seven different scenarios and a variety of prospect combinations.
At this point, we’ve all seen an exhausting number of 2022 NFL mock draft scenarios. The Denver Broncos don’t pick until number 64 overall but intrigue still abounds leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft.
Who else are the Broncos going to add to a roster that now features quarterback Russell Wilson?
In many ways, the pressure is off for George Paton in the 2022 NFL Draft. His 2021 NFL Draft class was named the best in the NFL and in the 2022 offseason, he acquired Russell Wilson in a trade.
That makes you about as bulletproof as you can possibly be going into a draft.
Looking at seven different Denver Broncos mock draft scenarios
Scenario 1: No trades
64: Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
75. Cole Strange, IOL, Chattanooga
96. Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
115. Danny Gray, WR, SMU
116. Deangelo Malone, EDGE, Western Kentucky
145. Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
206. Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
232. Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas
234. Tyler Goodson, RB, Iowa
This mock draft scenario will also serve as my “final” 2022 Denver Broncos mock draft.
A number of these players have taken pre-draft top 30 visits to Denver and some of these mock draft picks are based on just team need, value at each respective pick, with a little bit of personal preference thrown in there.
There are a variety of different scenarios that could work here but ultimately, George Paton has talked on a couple of occasions about the depth at edge rusher in this class. What better way to take advantage of it than by getting multiple guys who could legitimately contribute right away?
Nik Bonitto and Deangelo Malone may not be day one starters, but they both have eventual starter upside and both are major weapons off the edge with high pass rush win rates.
That would allow the Broncos to keep Baron Browning primarily at off-ball linebacker and mix him in as a blitzer rather than playing him as a full-time EDGE.
I think interior offensive line could be a surprise area addressed earlier than most anticipate, which is why I went with Cole Strange at pick 75. He would start at center and the Broncos could try to trade Lloyd Cushenberry III to recoup an additional pick in this year’s draft or next year’s.
Marcus Jones would factor into the defensive back rotation but his instant impact would come as a return specialist. He’s the best one in this class.
Danny Gray gives the Broncos another legitimate speed weapon at receiver and some good insurance for KJ Hamler as he continues to recover.
Matt Waletzko becomes your new developmental tackle and he fits what the Broncos love in terms of high RAS and length.
Kyron Johnson is going to be one of the best special teams players from this class and Tyler Goodson brings three-down abilities and can play special teams as well.
Denver Broncos mock draft scenario 2
Scenario 2: Accepting (almost) all offers to trade back
85. Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
92. Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
96. Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
115. Joshua Ezeudu, OL, North Carolina
116. Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
127. Zyon McCollum, DB, Sam Houston State
171. Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
206. Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
232. Eyioma Uwazurike, DL, Iowa State
*Also added 2023 3rd-round pick, 2023 4th-round pick
In this mock draft scenario, I was still able to get Nik Bonitto — a player that has consistently been linked to the Denver Broncos — after trading down multiple times and winding up with additional picks in the 2022 Draft as well as 2023.
After the Bonitto pick, this mock draft scenario presented the opportunity to grab Kentucky receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and Pittsburgh defensive back Damarri Mathis, two playmakers on either side of the ball that were too good to pass up on.
In round four, I went with some developmental offensive linemen with outstanding athletic scores. Ezeudu and Jones both have starting potential but they might need some seasoning. The physical tools are certainly there.
Zach yon McCollum is another dart throw in the defensive backfield and an absolutely freakish athlete who is one of the top FCS prospects in the class.
Daniel Bellinger and Bo Melton should both probably go much higher than this but I wasn’t saying no to the simulator in a lot of cases because the Draft is so unpredictable anyway.
To round out this class, I like the athletic upside and versatility of defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike.
Denver Broncos 2022 mock draft, scenario 3
Scenario 3: Trading up for an edge rusher
46. Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
75. Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
115. Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
152. Spencer Burford, OT, UTSA
192. Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
206. Dane Belton, DB, Iowa
232. Logan Bruss, OL, Wisconsin
234. Max Borghi, RB, Washington State
If the Denver Broncos do move up in round two of this year’s draft, I think it’s got to be for a tackle, edge rusher, or potentially a wide receiver depending on which guys are still on the board.
In this case, they move up to get Drake Jackson, who was once considered a potential top-10 pick coming out of USC.
Jackson’s production hasn’t always matched his talent level but he’s got the traits to be a top-flight edge rusher in the NFL.
Cam Jurgens at 75 is a steal and I wonder if the Broncos would consider him at 64 if they stay put with their first pick.
I just got Bo Melton in round six with another simulator, but he was one of the top guys on the board at 115 in this simulator. I feel like this is a more accurate projection of where he will land but we will see.
At 192, Micah McFadden is a high RAS linebacker prospect who could help immediately on special teams.
Dane Belton is another truly phenomenal athlete whose immediate contributions would come on special teams.
Logan Bruss is a guard/tackle prospect who could develop into a valuable backup and spot starter while Max Borghi gives you an intriguing third-down option at the running back position.
Denver Broncos 2022 mock draft scenario no. 4
Scenario 4: My wife makes the picks
64. Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
75. Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
96. Damone Clark, LB, LSU
115. Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
116. Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
145. Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
206. Verone McKinley, S, Oregon
232. Zachary Thomas, IOL, San Diego State
234. Tre Turner, WR, Virginia Tech
For this exercise, I put my wife behind the wheel of the mock draft simulator and asked her to make all of the picks with absolutely no context.
She utilized the simulator’s projected needs and wrestled with the idea of taking higher-ranked players overall versus filling the needs.
Ultimately, I feel like this is a pretty darn good prediction. At the very least, it would be a great class of picks for the Broncos.
Starting with the top two picks, the Denver Broncos’ defensive front would get a lot of juice from the selections of Perrion Winfrey and Nik Bonitto. I think the defensive line is an underrated area of need for the Broncos right now and could be prioritized higher than many expect.
Even if it’s not atop the priority list, a player like Winfrey could change your priority list.
Damone Clark hasn’t been projected a lot to the Broncos but he has starter upside as a rookie and is another high RAS player at the linebacker position.
Braxton Jones gives the Broncos a developmental tackle and we’ve talked about Marcus Jones a ton. He is the best return man in this year’s draft.
Okonwko in the fifth round is a very intriguing pick and he was one of the guys who really dominated the Scouting Combine in 2022.
The late-round picks add depth and special teams upside.
Denver Broncos 2022 mock draft scenario no. 5
Scenario 5: Accumulating as many 2023 picks as possible
In this simulation, I accepted as many trades as I could that I felt were favorable in terms of adding a bunch of 2023 NFL Draft capital. The Broncos are obviously a little thin in that area right now and it would make sense for George Paton to try and improve his 2023 war chest.
2023 4th (from MIN)
2023 3rd (from CHI)
2023 4th (from CHI)
2023 3rd (from LAR)
96. Deangelo Malone, EDGE, Western Kentucky
104. Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
115. Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
116. Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
148. Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
150. Thomas Booker, DL, Stanford
152. Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
232. Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
In this situation, I was able to land multiple third-round picks and multiple fourth-round picks in 2023 without giving any 2023 capital away.
This would give the Broncos three picks in the third round next year as well as three in the fourth.
They could use those picks to move up into the second round.
I wasn’t overly disappointed with the result of the selections, either. Starting with Deangelo Malone, I feel like this was a pretty good class in terms of value.
Again, you never know what you’re going to get with simulators, but this one presented some nice value at just about every turn.
Not to mention, I was able to land a favorite of many in Broncos Country — the Punt Gawd Matt Araiza.
Denver Broncos 2022 mock draft scenario no. 6
Scenario 6: Offensive line early and often
64. Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
75. Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
96. Cade Otton, TE, Washington
115. Dominique Robinson, EDGE, Miami (OH)
116. JT Woods, DB, Baylor
145. Justin Shaffer, OG, Georgia
206. Eyioma Uwazurike, DL, Iowa State
232. Isaiah Weston, WR, Northern Iowa
234. Bryce Watts, CB, Massachusetts
In this scenario, the priority was to add offensive linemen early and often.
I’d say that mission was accomplished.
Cam Jurgens might be the best fit realistically available to the Broncos at the center position in this year’s draft. Although his frame is considered “maxed out” by some, he’s a former tight end with elite athleticism for the position and ascending skills.
Nicholas Petit-Frere has been projected anywhere from the early second round to day three. Nobody knows what’s about to happen in this draft. At any rate, he started at multiple positions for Ohio State and has flexibility to do so in the NFL as well.
Cade Otton didn’t get to do workouts before the draft due to injury but he’s considered arguably the best “Y” tight end in the class. The Broncos could pair him up with Albert Okwuegbunam after losing Noah Fant in the Russell Wilson trade.
It would be painful for some to see the Broncos wait until pick 115 overall to address the EDGE spot but this is a deep class and that is how you take advantage of depth. Dominique Robinson is a converted wide receiver who is just scratching the surface of his potential as a pass rusher.
JT Woods would be an outstanding value for the Broncos in the middle rounds and gives you depth all over the secondary.
The rest of the picks in this mock draft are dart throws at top-flight athletes.
Denver Broncos 2022 mock draft scenario no. 7
Scenario 7: The Trey McBride Draft
64: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
75. Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
96. Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina
115. Sam Williams, EDGE, Ole Miss
116. Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech
145. Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
206. Marquis Hayes, IOL, Oklahoma
232. Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas
234. D’Vonte Price, RB, Florida International
We couldn’t have a scenario that didn’t include Colorado State’s Trey McBride.
McBride has been a beloved target of many in Broncos Country ever since the Russell Wilson trade. He’s a local prospect who would fill one of the team’s biggest perceived needs on paper.
Although McBride doesn’t have ideal size, he plays the position exactly as you need to in today’s NFL and he should be the TE1 of this class.
For that reason, I have my doubts that he will last until pick 64. If he does, he would be as good of a pick as anyone, in my opinion. I love his game.
Cam Taylor-Britt at pick number 75 would be a great investment in the secondary. He’s athletic, aggressive, and a perfect fit to come in and contribute as a nickel or outside corner as well as on special teams.
With picks 96 and 115, I went with back-to-back pass rushers. This is a deep class and while Kingsley Enagbare isn’t “green” on the RAS scale, he simply won too much as a pass rusher at South Carolina to leave on the board.
Instead of going with Deangelo Malone or Dominique Robinson at pick 115, I went with Sam Williams, who was dominant this past season at Ole Miss. If he lasts until day three of this draft, he would be an outstanding pickup to come in and contribute immediately.
Erik Ezukanma doesn’t fill the team’s need for a return specialist but he’s outstanding after the catch and a fun value at 116 overall.
Matt Waletzko and Marquis Hayes could be developmental starters on the offensive line and I think Hayes dropped way too far in this simulation. He could go in the top 100 picks.
Denver Broncos make major upgrades in 3-round 2022 NFL mock draft
The Denver Broncos get some nice value with their top three picks in this 2022 NFL mock draft scenario, especially on defense.
Kyron Johnson upgrades your special teams immediately and D’Vonte Price is known for his vision and one-cut abilities. He could be tailor-made for this Denver Broncos outside zone offense.