The Denver Broncos were able to regain a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft with the recent trade of Bradley Chubb.
As the Broncos have struggled through this season, one of the most disappointing factors was that their first-round pick next year belongs to the Seattle Seahawks. As the Broncos continue to lose, that pick continues to get better… for them.
That’s why the trade of Chubb was so important. The Broncos were able to recoup a first-round pick next year. That pick was obtained by the Miami Dolphins from the San Francisco 49ers as part of the Trey Lance deal, so the position in which the Broncos select from in the first round will be dependent on how the 49ers finish this year.
Still, even if it is late in the round, a first-round pick is still valuable.
Looking at the Broncos’ current roster, the offensive line might be the biggest weakness on the team.
Both tackle spots have question marks as Garett Bolles is out for the season after suffering a broken leg and the right tackle spot does not have a long-term answer. Dalton Risner and Lloyd Cushenberry are two players whose play seems to be declining and the Broncos could look for an upgrade there as well.
But because the team is tied to Russell Wilson for the foreseeable future, it makes sense to provide him with the most protection on the outside as possible. For that reason, offensive tackle will be one of the team’s biggest needs in 2023.
Since the year 2000, the Broncos have only used a first-round choice on an offensive tackle three times. Here are four college prospects that should be considered in the first round of next year’s draft.
Broncos 2023 draft prospect: Paris Johnson
You will notice that every prospect on this list comes from a major college program. For what it’s worth, Peter Skoronski of Northwestern will be the top prospect on the board and he will likely be chosen with a top 10 pick, so he will be excluded from this list as the Broncos most likely won’t have a top 10 choice.
Paris Johnson plays for one of the top schools in the nation, Ohio State.
He began his college career at guard and is a terrific run blocker. He is still settling in as a tackle but he has the physical traits and athletic ability to be quite effective, starting with great length.
He is 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds. A very powerful player, Johnson also appears to be comfortable in space. Like most pro prospects, he will have to learn how to adjust to the kind of pass-rush moves he will encounter at the pro level, but competition in a tough Big 10 Conference should help him be ready for that as well.
Johnson would not be a perfect prospect to begin with, but neither was Bolles. He could easily be molded into a long-term starting tackle, however.
Broncos 2023 draft prospect: Anton Harrison
It could seem to many for Anton Harrison to be a bit of a reach as a first-round pick, at least as of right now, as several analysts have more of a day-two grade on him. But as a prospect, he is every bit as intriguing as Johnson, and perhaps even more so.
For starters, Harrison plays at Oklahoma, a school that has a great tradition of producing NFL offensive linemen. Harrison seems to be the latest in that line and the team that gets him is going to be getting a player who is quite dedicated to his craft.
Harrison started nine games as a freshman and has been a consistent piece of the Sooners’ offensive attack ever since. He has great footwork and incredibly good hip flexibility, a trait that scouts are going to love.
Like Johnson, he’s better as a run blocker and can be a huge weapon in that aspect of the game. As a pass-blocker, he will need to be ready for what will come at him in the pros but his hands are what could make him a long-term starter.
Watching his hand usage is what will potentially propel Harrison into the first round and in my mind, the chance to be a better overall player than Johnson.
If the Broncos end up having a choice in the later part of the first round, they could do a lot worse than Anton Harrison.
Broncos 2023 draft prospect: Zion Nelson
Zion Nelson is another player who would be seen as a stretch to take in the first round, but if properly developed, definitely has first-round skills.
Unlike Johnson and Harrison, Nelson is a better pass protector than he is a run blocker at this stage of his playing career. He was just a three-star prospect coming out of high school but he has been solid for the Hurricanes.
Nelson is a technical pass protector with good length and great speed. He is the fastest player on this list and he is also quite quick out of his stance. You will rarely see him get beaten off the edge by a speed rusher.
Though those speed rushers will get even quicker at the next level, Nelson will definitely need to get stronger in order to hold up as an every-down player in the pros. His hand usage is not as good as you would like to see either, but that could be taught with the right offensive line coach.
Nelson has already overcome adversity as well as he was handed the starting left tackle job as a freshman and ended up giving up more sacks than any player in a Power Five conference that season. He was benched and forced to get his starting job back, which he has done.
Broncos 2023 draft prospect: Broderick Jones
In terms of both run blocking and pass protection, Broderick Jones might be the most complete prospect on this list as he does both quite well. That said, he is likely going to fit best as a right tackle rather than being placed where he will have to protect the quarterback’s blind side.
While most of the attention on the Georgia Bulldogs is placed on the defense, and rightfully so, Jones is a standout player at one of the top schools in the country.
Though this is his first year as a full-time starter, he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and his projection as a future first-round pick started early. Many mock drafts may not have Jones in the first round right now, but by next spring, they will.
This guy has the type of athleticism that you don’t often see from an offensive lineman. If he can get out in front of a ball carrier and get to the second level, look out.
Jones is only going to get better as this college season goes on and he is not even close to reaching his full potential yet. Of all the names on this list, if you’re only going to remember one as a future prospect for the Broncos, make it Broderick Jones.