Barring a trade, Broncos have concluded their draft class with CB Faion Hicks

After taking two players out of Oklahoma in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos have taken back-to-back players out of Wisconsin. 

The Broncos chose defensive end, Matt Henningsen, with the No. 206 overall pick in the draft before selecting cornerback Faion Hicks in the seventh round at No. 232 overall. Both players played for the Badgers of Wisconsin.

It was a very defense-heavy draft for the Broncos who made a total of nine picks in this draft, six of those coming on the defensive side of the ball. Of those six picks, four came from two schools.

The Broncos drafted two players from Wisconsin and two from Oklahoma

Faion Hicks was the third defensive back chosen by the Broncos, joining Damarri Mathis and Delarrin Turner-Yell.

Hicks played in 39 games at Wisconsin, registering 107 total tackles and one interception. He also had 16 pass deflections.

He played on the perimeter in college and can be a willing and aggressive player, willing to go up and contest the ball in the air or lay a hit into a player with the ball in his hands. That said, his tackling ability is not refined and he may need to show that he can play some nickel at the next level in order to be anything more than a marginal player or special teams guy.

For the second year in a row, George Paton has placed an emphasis on adding defensive backs, having done so in both free agency and the draft last year. The team should have some solid competition for roster spots at both the cornerback and safety positions this coming summer.

Hicks was seen as an undrafted free agent on many boards but as far down as this pick was made, there could certainly be some value there. With the additions of Mathis and Hicks, the Broncos now have eight cornerbacks on the roster. The team will likely add at least one other in the undrafted signing process.

Barring a trade back into the draft, which would be unlikely, this will conclude the Broncos’ 2022 draft.