5 most important moves the Broncos made in the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will have absolutely huge implications on the present and future of the Denver Broncos. For the first time since 2016, the Broncos have used their first-round selection on a quarterback, bringing in Bo Nix from Oregon with the 12th overall pick.

Although the quarterback selection is going to draw so much of the attention, this draft was pivotal for a variety of other reasons. Head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton have made wholesale changes to this roster over the last two offseasons, and after winning eight games a season ago, are the playoffs within reach?

If this draft class can somehow work out, it might not be out of the realm of possibility. Let's look through the most important moves the team made during the 2024 NFL Draft.

1. Going all-in on a new franchise QB

There's no question that the most important move the Broncos made in the 2024 NFL Draft was taking quarterback Bo Nix. When you look at the best teams in the NFL right now, the majority of them have a 1st-round quarterback under center, whether it's someone they drafted or a 1st-round pick by another team. Let's just look at teams that won a playoff game last year.

Chiefs - Patrick Mahomes (1st round)
Ravens - Lamar Jackson (1st round)
Texans - CJ Stroud (1st round)
Bills - Josh Allen (1st round)
49ers - Brock Purdy (7th round)
Packers - Jordan Love (1st round)
Lions - Jared Goff (1st round)
Buccaneers - Baker Mayfield (1st round)

Again, not every one of these players was drafted by the teams they're playing for (Goff, Mayfield) but all but one of the quarterbacks in the second round of the playoffs last year was a 1st-round pick. The next time the Broncos hit on a first-round QB they drafted will basically be the first time in franchise history.

This was a huge decision by Sean Payton and George Paton.

2. The John Franklin-Myers trade

One area that was an absolute non-negotiable for the Denver Broncos was getting better on the defensive line. The Broncos were 32nd in the NFL last year in rushing yards allowed and yards per carry allowed.

They went out and landed Malcolm Roach early on in free agency, one of the top run defending defensive tackles in football last season. A little before the 2024 draft, they also added veteran Angelo Blackson on the defensive line. But the biggest move this team made this offseason to upgrade the defensive line was during the 2024 NFL Draft when they traded for Jets defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers.

Franklin-Myers is only 27 years old and has been one of the most productive interior defensive linemen in the league over the last handful of years. He instantly upgrades the Broncos' toughness up front defensively and all it cost the Broncos was a 2026 6th-round pick.

It's just really hard to believe they were able to work this deal out, especially getting Franklin-Myers on a new two-year deal worth $15 million. It feels like Franklin-Myers was that missing piece for a defensive line that already added Roach and Blackson this offseason, and both Zach Allen and DJ Allen the previous two offseasons.

If you can raise the floor of the defensive line, you can raise the floor of this team for 2024 and beyond.

3. Trading up for WR Troy Franklin

Adding Troy Franklin in the 4th round of the draft was much more than just a feel-good story for the Denver Broncos. Of course, it's cool that the team was able to reunite Bo Nix with his top target the last two seasons at Oregon. It's always fun to see college teammates become teammates in the NFL, especially when you're talking about quarterback and receiver.

But more than just the feel-good story, the Broncos got a much-needed playmaker for their rookie quarterback. The familiarity is a huge bonus, but clearly head coach Sean Payton felt like Franklin could come in and be an impact player right away.

The Broncos -- and just about everyone else -- felt like Franklin would be gone in the second round. The fact that they were able to trade up to the top of the fourth round and get him is one of the best value picks in the entire 2024 draft.

Franklin adds big-time speed and playmaking ability to the offense, and he already has great on and off-field chemistry with Bo Nix.

There was a lot of depth at receiver in this year's draft, but to get Franklin on Day 3 was insanity.

4. Not trading WR Courtland Sutton

The Denver Broncos not trading away Courtland Sutton was one of the bigger surprises of draft weekend, and it was also one of the most important moves the team made. Sutton caught a career-high 10 touchdown passes last season, but no one really has had any clarity about whether or not he'd be back for the 2024 season in Denver.

The Broncos have been adamant that they're not trading Sutton, but to be honest, no one was really buying it. It felt like the writing was on the wall with Sutton's "cryptic" social media posts along with the fact that the Broncos brought back Tim Patrick and Lil'Jordan Humphrey before signing Josh Reynolds and drafting Troy Franklin.

Right before the draft, Sutton decided not to show up for the start of the team's voluntary OTAs which was yet another signal that the team might just trade him with two years and only $2 million in guaranteed money left on his deal. But the Broncos want Sutton back, it appears. They held onto him through the draft, and maybe they expect him to come in and be the top target for Bo Nix as opposed to dumping him like they did with Russell Wilson, Jerry Jeudy, and Justin Simmons (among others).

There were so many signs that Sutton could be dealt before or during the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, it seems like the Broncos are going to keep him in their 2024 plans. I still think the jury might be out on this one, but for now, it looks like the Broncos are keeping Sutton in the fold and that he's going to be a key piece of the offense in 2024 with a new quarterback under center.

5. Getting Audric Estimé in the 5th round

According to Pro Football Reference, the Broncos had 17 total broken tackles among their top three running backs last season. 11 of those came from Javonte Williams, who was also one of the worst running backs in the league last year at creating yards after contact. He ranked 30th in the league at 1.7 YAC per attempt, down from 2.3 YAC per attempt his rookie year.

That 2.3 YAC per attempt would have ranked 5th in the NFL this past year.

Without Javonte Williams breaking tackles, the Broncos just didn't have that element of yards after contact in the rushing game. The offensive line ranked 3rd in the league in run block win rate so the inability of the running backs last season was an underrated storyline.

You don't want to put too much pressure on a 5th-round pick, but Audric Estimé -- you're our only hope.

All kidding aside, Estimé could be a gift from the football gods to the Denver Broncos. The former Notre Dame star was an All-American who racked up 18 rushing touchdowns last year and is one of the best running backs in this draft class in terms of contact balance and creating yards after contact.

He's got an NFL-ready frame, he's explosive, he's physical, and he had almost 900 yards after contact just last season at Notre Dame. As a 5th-round pick, Estimé is going to be able to come in and provide instant value to a running game that desperately needs it.