The Denver Broncos likely head into the 2024 NFL Draft at a bit of a disadvantage, but they should still try to avoid these catastrophes at all costs. The coming NFL Draft could be a franchise-altering one for the Broncos, who need to rebuild part of their roster core at QB and along the defensive front, the two most important parts of a winning football team.
Well, it's probably not going to be easy, as not only is Denver seemingly on the outside looking in with the top QBs in the coming draft, but they also don't have a second-round pick, which is a pretty big deal. At the very least, there aren't many stronger football minds in the NFL than Sean Payton, so that does help the Broncos out a bit.
With that said, some catastrophes can take place during the NFL Draft, and the Broncos should work to avoid them at all costs.
1. Broncos must not be jumped in the first round for a QB by a team picking below them
This one is kind of a mouthful, but let me hash this out.
I don't think it's a huge deal if the Vikings trade way up for a QB and perhaps offer a stronger package for, let's say, the fourth overall pick. The top four QBs are likely Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and JJ McCarthy. It's not the end of the world if the Broncos are not able to land one of them unless a team picking below them in the first round makes that jump.
And this is especially disastrous if it's for a QB seen as a tier below like Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. We truly do not know who the Broncos have on their QB big board and where they have them ranked, but the one thing that cannot happen is a team like the Las Vegas Raiders or even a sleeper team like the New Orleans Saints jump in front of the Denver Broncos for a QB. That cannot happen.
2. Broncos cannot wait to add to their defensive front
With the Denver Broncos not adding much to their defensive front in free agency, my hope is that this team has a plan to address the unit in the 2024 NFL Draft. Please.
The Broncos DL was among the worst in the NFL last year, and the unit isn't appreciably better from when the offseason began. One connection to look out for is DL coach Jamar Cain, who was the DL coach in 2022 at LSU. The LSU Tigers have two players who played for Cain in Maason Smith and Mekhi Wingo who are in the 2024 NFL Draft.
It's not crazy to think that the Broncos could draft one or both of them, but I would truly hope that a pick along the DL, whether it's a pure EDGE or DT, happens very early on in the NFL Draft for Denver. The Broncos will not be a successful football team if the defensive front is still lacking that juice and run-stopping ability.
Prospects like Byron Murphy II, Kris Jenkins, Braden Fiske, and Maason Smith all figure to be some of the top DTs taken. Johnny Newton is also likely the top DT taken, so we could lump him into the mix, too. Their lack of activity along the defensive front in free agency has heightened the stakes in fixing the unit during the 2024 NFL Draft.
3. The Broncos must avoid not coming away with a tackle prospect
The last time the Denver Broncos took a tackle in the NFL Draft was.... *checks notes*... Garett Bolles in 2017. Yeah, it's been that long. The team has had Bolles entrenched as their starter since then, but they've also tried guys like Calvin Anderson, Cam Fleming, Bobby Massie, and Mike McGlinchey at the right tackle spot, with a couple of them playing LT if Bolles wasn't able to play.
And well, while McGlinchey is fine at tackle, he's largely overpaid and pretty average. He's a poor pass blocker and a menace in the run game, but is paid like an elite right tackle. McGlinchey isn't likely going to be here for the long haul, and Garett Bolles is not only a free agent next offseason, but turns 32 in May.
The Denver Broncos need to get another young tackle or two into the mix for OL coach Zach Strief to try and mold into a long-term fixture along the OL. The Broncos are also likely going to extend stud right guard Quinn Meinerz in the near future, so the Broncos might need to get cheaper at a tackle spot.
Meinerz isn't just the Broncos best OL, but he's arguably the best overall guard in the NFL. The 2024 NFL Draft is quite deep at OT, so there really is no reason for Denver to miss out on taking one or more. Sean Payton has prioritized the trenches during his time in New Orleans, so perhaps we'll see Denver take a swing on a tackle at some point.