Denver Broncos Day 2 NFL Draft Recap: Grades and Analysis

After a wrap of day 2 of the NFL draft, it is very safe to say George Paton and Sean Payton are NOT messing around. From aggressive trades to bold selections, the Denver Broncos came prepared on day 2 and got the players they wanted all along.

Many fans and critics are already taking to social media to criticize the selections made by the Broncos due to the aggressive approach and the specific players drafted by the team. It is in fact expected every year that fanbases are not always going to agree on moves made by their favorite franchises however, one thing we can all agree on is the individual skillset and talent that Marvin Mims Jr. brings to the table.

Round 2 Pick 63: Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma

George Paton and the Denver Broncos came into the draft expressing heavy interest in wanting to add another star WR to their room and they got one in Marvin Mims Jr. Despite the popular belief that Denver's WR room was set with Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick leading the way, the Broncos had already heavily pursued free agents Allen Lazard and Adam Thielen in prior months, thus signifying displeasure with the starting core at that position.

It was mentioned heading into the draft how aggressive Sean Payton has been as a head coach his entire career in terms of trading up to get 'his guy'. Payton even joked to George Paton in their press conference after the 3rd round: "It's more fun [trading up], right?" and added that George is the "saver" and that he is the "spender".

And boy did Sean Payton spend big time on day 2.

The Broncos moved up 5 spots into the 2nd round to select Marvin Mims Jr. out of Oklahoma, even with other WRs available on the board in Josh Downs, Jalin Hyatt, and others. Mims Jr. was the player the Broncos wanted all along and ultimately made a bold trade moving up to select him before another team was able to.

The initial criticism by fans was that Denver did not need to trade up for a WR due to an already limited draft arsenal and other unaddressed positional needs on the roster. However, when you analyze the pick from a standpoint based on the immediate impact the player will bring to a team that has been missing an effective slot WR for years, then it makes much more sense.

There was arguably no other player in that spot of the 2nd round that was going to impact the Broncos' offense in a way that was needed and not to mention fits Sean Payton's offensive scheme and preference in WRs down to the nail.

He makes a huge impact in both short space and downfield plays but most importantly is an elite playmaker with the ball in his hands. From athleticism to high-end speed, Mims Jr. almost has it all for a borderline WR1 in the NFL.

While he does have a limited route tree, that certainly did not hold him back from having a very productive career at the University of Oklahoma. Starting 3 seasons for the Sooners, Mims Jr. recorded 2398 receiving yards and 20 touchdown receptions on just 123 receptions, finishing top 5 in FBS yards per catch. He's an extremely reliable receiver who ran a 4.38 second 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine (4th among all WRs in 2023).

His ability after the catch and movement in open space reminds me so much of Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle, which should absolutely excite Broncos fans considering the success and talent that Waddle has for Miami. Overall, Broncos Country should be stoked about this pick and even though draft compensation was sacrificed in the making, there aren't always athletic, fast WRs like Mims Jr. that become available that late in the 2nd round.

Round 3 Pick 67: Drew Sanders, ILB, Arkansas

Definitely a pick that nobody remotely predicted happening prior to the draft, especially in the 3rd round. Drew Sanders, who was receiving praise from analysts and even 1st round projections in almost every mock draft, shockingly fell to the 3rd round before being selected by the Broncos.

Entering the draft, it was paramount that the Broncos did not necessarily need to address the linebacker position in the draft, especially early on, following the re-signing of standout LB Alex Singleton and the team bringing back ERFA Jonas Griffith for another year. So of course, the pick was a definite surprise to many who follow the Broncos closely.

This selection was as BPA (best player available) as it gets and I doubt the Broncos' war room anticipated as a target in the 3rd round prior to Friday. Sanders was and is considered by many to be the best linebacker in the draft and the Broncos managed to snag him that late, despite receiving first-round grades.

Sanders brings great versatility to the NFL as he has useful experience at both inside and outside linebacker and performed productively at both positions when asked to. While he does show great twitch and bend off the edge, Sean Payton did inform the media that his plans for Sanders are at ILB, despite already having a dangerous tandem in Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton.

You can imagine with only one year left on Josey Jewell's contract, Sanders will be able to pick Jewell's brain during his rookie season and will become the team's starter in 2024 given his high upside. His overall versatility and production at both positions make him such an exciting prospect for Vance Joseph's defense and you can't help but compare him to the Micah Parsons role in Dallas. Sanders does not have nearly the same dominance and pass-rushing ability as Parsons, hence his falling in the draft however, has a great amount of athleticism to become of the next star linebackers in the NFL. It's safe to say Broncos fans won't have to worry about LB for a while.

Round 3 Pick 83: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa

It was very apparent heading into the draft that cornerback was a need of emphasis and the Broncos got their guy in Riley Moss after yet another shocking trade up.

Aside from the controversy regarding whether or not a team has "given too much" in a trade, the special part is knowing that your team got the player they wanted rather than watching them make the pick at the original spot never truly having clarity as to whether or not that was 'their guy' from the jump. Needless to say, Riley Moss was George Paton's guy and he was not afraid to jump back into the 3rd round and ensure Moss is repping the orange and blue for the next 4 years.

Of the other cornerbacks available, Riley Moss can be considered a slight reach at the pick with other prospects available like Mekhi Blackmon, Darius Rush, and Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson but George Paton and the Broncos front office had graded him much higher than analysts and fans and maybe deservingly so.

In 5 seasons at Iowa, Moss had experience at both safety and cornerback and produced 158 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 11 interceptions (3 returned for touchdowns), and 26 passes defended. While there have been some questions regarding whether he'll play safety or cornerback in the NFL, Sean Payton cleared up those plans setting the record straight on Friday night stating that there is a "clear vision" for Moss on Denver's defense and it's at corner.

Stating that there's a "clear vision", the Broncos must feel very highly about Moss' potential at the CB position alongside Patrick Surtain ll and Damarri Mathis. Moss brings great length at 6 foot 1 and 194 pounds and excels in zone coverage where he's able to hawk QBs and create turnovers; a strength the Broncos need as both Surtain ll and Mathis specialize in man coverage. He has a great feel for the field, moves very fluidly, has faced great competition at WR, but most importantly has unbelievable athleticism.

With Moss' measurables and production at Iowa, he has a ton of upside in the NFL, especially being inserted into one of the best possible secondaries with Justin Simmons and Patrick Surtain ll to learn from. His physicality, ability to stick his nose in the run game, and flashes of being a technically sound corner begs the question: did George Paton just manage another steal at CB in his 3rd consecutive draft? It certainly appears so.