There are still plenty of items to cross off the to-do list for the Denver Broncos before we get to the 2023 NFL Draft. As of right now, the Broncos need to figure out who their next head coach is going to be, they need to determine which guys in-house they are going to re-sign, and they’ll need to go through NFL free agency.
There are so many hurdles to clear before the 2023 NFL Draft, so at this point in time, we’re mostly looking at potential fits and which prospects could be available based on current projections. But it’s always fun to look into some new scenarios and prospects that could help get the Denver Broncos out of the AFC West cellar.
There are still two weeks remaining in the 2022-23 season, but we’re going to take a look at a Denver Broncos 2023 mock draft scenario with a huge focus on upgrading the offensive side of the ball.
Denver Broncos 2023 mock draft
1. First round (from 49ers): Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
As much as the Denver Broncos need help on the offensive line, they need offensive playmakers. We’ve seen the emergence of Jerry Jeudy in 2022, but that’s really just about the only major player going into 2023 that has made tremendous progress this season. Why would the Broncos invest a first-round pick in the running back position with Javonte Williams on the roster?
There are a couple of reasons for it. First of all, Javonte Williams’ availability for the start of next season is a major question mark. His knee injury was not a minor one, and even if Williams is able to be available for the start of next season, it would be ridiculous for the Broncos to bank on him being 100 percent all year. If that happens, it should be considered a huge bonus.
Not to mention, Bijan Robinson might be a top-10 talent in this draft class. This guy is an absolute menace on all three downs and he had a phenomenal season for the Longhorns in 2022 with highlight-reel plays on a weekly basis en route to almost 1,900 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns.
I’m not saying the Broncos should take RB over other positions of need in round one, but specifically Bijan Robinson over the other prospects that were available in this particular mock draft simulation.
Third round (first pick): Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Depending on who you ask, Darnell Wright might be the best right tackle prospect in this class. That doesn’t mean he’s the OT1 of the class, but similar to what we saw from someone like Abraham Lucas in the 2022 class (still wondering why the Broncos passed there…), Wright is a guy who projects very safely to the right side as an immediate starter.
He’s recently really elevated his 2023 NFL Draft stock with some good performances against Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. and LSU’s BJ Ojulari, and could be a steal at this point for the Broncos who have two third-round picks early in the 2023 Draft thanks to a trade with the Colts in the 2022 Draft.
Broncos fans have been screaming for George Paton to invest more in the offensive line, and this is a day one starter.
Third round (second pick, from Colts): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Greg Dulcich was a pretty darn good pick by the Denver Broncos in round three of the 2022 NFL Draft. He proved over the course of the 2022 season, despite missing time with a hamstring injury, that he can be a starter in the NFL going forward.
One area of Dulcich’s game that caused him to drop to round three was blocking. He’s not exactly a throwback style of in-line tight end, and being physical at the line of scrimmage is not his game. Making plays as a receiver? That’s his game.
Luke Musgrave is a guy that can come in from Oregon State and give you a physical in-line player who can upgrade your running game as a blocker, he brings athleticism to the TE position, and he’s part of an absolutely loaded class at the position.
4. Fourth-round: Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
You don’t typically find day one starters early on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, but the Broncos actually proved that a little wrong this past year when they drafted Damarri Mathis, a cornerback out of Pitt who has become a full-time starter for them as a rookie.
Perhaps the same could happen here with a guy like Cooper Beebe, the Kansas State left guard who has become an All-American after showing his versatility throughout his collegiate career. Beebe, ironically, could be drafted to replace or potentially replace former Kansas State star Dalton Risner in Denver.
5. Fifth-round: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
I wasn’t exactly trying to go with all offensive players in this particular draft projection, but it wouldn’t have been the worst thing to work out that way. While I’m trying to shoe-horn a wide receiver pick in over these last couple of rounds, a player like Riley Moss to add to the secondary was just too tempting to pass up on.
Moss has a long history of production for the Hawkeyes with 11 career interceptions and 25 passes broken up. He’s the kind of guy who is going to play with tremendous technique, upgrade your special teams, and boost your team’s physicality.
6. Sixth-round: Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
Charlie Jones has had an absolutely massive season in 2022 at Purdue. He is a former Iowa transfer who has constantly shown big-play abilities, whether you’re talking about making contested catches, creating separation from the slot, making plays in the return game, and everything in between. He will be one of the best value picks on day three for my money.
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7. Seventh-round: Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
The Denver Broncos have been so inconsistent in the punting game for who knows how long at this point. The team needs a weapon in the kicking game to help flip field position and there’s probably nobody better at that in the country than Iowa’s Tory Taylor.