Denver Broncos mock draft after massive free agency haul

The Denver Broncos have had a massive free agency so far in 2023. Almost every free agent coming in has noted that the presence of new head coach Sean Payton has been one of the biggest reasons why they chose to come and play for the Broncos. After addressing so many needs in free agency, what will the Denver Broncos do in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Needless to say, while they could still make some fun additions in free agency, the NFL Draft is going to only add excitement to this revamped Broncos roster. In this mock draft scenario, I traded down from the 67th overall pick to pick no. 75 overall with the Atlanta Falcons, also adding pick no. 110 in the process.

Although I left it at one trade for this scenario, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Broncos start with five picks (as they have right now) and end somewhere closer to eight overall selections after moving around the board. We're taking a look at all seven rounds here, with the Broncos having multiple picks (after this mock trade) in rounds three and four. Here are the picks we are working with in this mock draft scenario:

3rd round: 68th overall
3rd round: 75th overall
4th round: 108th overall
4th round: 110th overall
5th round: 139th overall
6th round: 195th overall

Denver Broncos 2023 mock draft: Sleeper QB late, starting in the trenches

3rd round, 68th overall: Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State

The Denver Broncos have an interesting situation going on with the defensive front right now. They obviously added Zach Allen in free agency after adding DJ Jones a year ago. They also drafted both Eyioma Uwazurike and Matt Henningsen last year, but they lost players like Dre'Mont Jones and DeShawn Williams in free agency -- two starters who will need to be replaced.

But what about on the edge? Where does this team stand with someone like Randy Gregory, who signed a big contract in 2022 and missed most of the season? What about 2022 second-round pick Nik Bonitto? I think the Broncos can bank on Baron Browning moving forward but he's going to need to show signs of development as well.

Ultimately, it's just been hard for this team to go wrong with the Ohio State program in recent years. Most of the picks the Broncos have made from this school have worked out well, including guys like Bradley Roby, Dre'Mont Jones, Jonathon Cooper, and Baron Browning. I would even argue that the Jeff Heuerman pick ended up working out okay for a brief time.

Why not dip back into this talent pool with an edge defender who is 6-foot-5 and change, 274 pounds, and has some of the longest arms in this year's class at over 36 inches? Zach Harrison might be the ideal pickup for the Broncos in this range because of his athletic traits and the ability to play multiple different positions on the defensive front. I don't think he would take the place of someone like Bonitto or Browning if those guys end up developing properly, but he could play inside of them as a defensive end and help cause problems for opposing offensive lines.

Edge may not be the Broncos' top need going into the NFL Draft, but my personal philosophy is that you shouldn't be drafting for "need" necessarily in the third round, anyway.

3rd round, 75th overall: Luke Wypler, OC, Ohio State

Okay, I know I just said that the Denver Broncos shouldn't be drafting for need in the third round, but you can't deny that this team has a chance to add a starter at the center position here. The biggest question, before we get into Luke Wypler, specifically, is what does this new regime think of Lloyd Cushenberry III?

The interesting thing is, Cushenberry III was not drafted by the current regime. George Paton didn't take him and Sean Payton obviously didn't have a part in drafting him. Cushenberry would be considered the "incumbent" even after missing some time last year with an injury, and when everyone was asked to drop some weight to play in the zone scheme, I think it affected him in a negative way.

The Saints -- it should be noted -- were in the center market in that 2020 NFL Draft. They took Cesar Ruiz in the first round and at the time, there were people who liked Cushenberry's NFL projection better than that of Ruiz. There were really no connections to the Saints or Vikings before the 2020 NFL Draft for Cushenberry, but that doesn't mean those teams didn't like him.

The team's current view of Cushenberry complicates the process of drafting someone here, in some ways, but at the same time, I just don't think you can bank on Cushenberry being "the" guy in 2023. Someone like Ohio State's Luke Wypler could be like Quinn Meinerz and come right in and start as a third-round pick.

4th round, 108th overall: Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati

The Denver Broncos have a need at the wide receiver position going into this year's draft class and I love the versatility of Tyler Scott to win both as an underneath receiver as well as by blowing the top off of a defense. Scott tested really well at the Scouting Combine with a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash as well as a 39.5-inch vertical jump and an 11'1" broad jump. He's so quick, so explosive, and you see the way that speed translates to the field when you watch him play.

The issue is -- is Tyler Scott actually going to be available at this juncture? Not likely. Not with the speed he plays with. I'm including him in this mock draft scenario because you never know what will happen in the Draft and this is how the simulator fell, but I would not be surprised if this is the guy the Broncos target with their top pick (67 overall). Scott is that good and efficient to all levels of the field.

One of the things you really notice with him is how well he sits down in the soft spots of zone coverage, and how he just feasts creating after the catch. Regardless of whether or not he'll be available at this spot, I think Tyler Scott is a wide receiver you need to bookmark as an option for the Broncos.

4th round, 110th overall: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Broncos found themselves a starting-caliber cornerback in Damarri Mathis. Bet on the traits of a player, and bet on your best position coaches to get the best out of these kids. That's what the Broncos did with Mathis, pairing him up with defensive backs coach Christian Parker, who has done wonders with the young players at corner and safety on this Denver roster.

Now, you get him another young piece to work with at the cornerback position to provide even more depth.

Rush is a former wide receiver with a 6-foot-2, 198-pound frame who can play special teams and bring some speed to that unit. He ran a blazing 4.36 at the Scouting Combine and in round four, the risk is worth the reward here getting this super-talented prospect in with a great position coach.

5th round, 139th overall: Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma

The Denver Broncos seem to feel pretty confident that they will have a healthy Javonte Williams early on in the 2023 season. We'll see what happens as free agency continues to unfold and whether or not this team brings in any more pieces at the position, but I think in a draft class this deep at running back, they would be absolute fools not to go after someone.

In this Broncos mock draft scenario, we see another Oklahoma running back join forces with an Oklahoma great in Samaje Perine. Eric Gray is one of the better third-down backs in this draft class with 31 receiving first downs in the last three seasons as well as a willingness to stick his nose in there in pass protection. You've got to be able to protect to stay on the field in today's NFL.

With Gray's route running abilities as a running back, his explosiveness, and his soft hands, this could be the ideal day three type of pickup at the running back spot for the Broncos.

6th round, 195th overall: Lindsey Scott Jr., QB, Incarnate Word

If for no other reason than to see someone drafted out of "Incarnate Word", this pick needs to happen. All kidding aside, Lindsey Scott Jr. has had a very long and winding road to the NFL. It's somewhat similar to the path of someone like Malik Willis, starting off at a prominent SEC school and starring for a season at a smaller school before heading off to the NFL.

Scott started off as a member of the LSU Tigers program but left after Les Miles was fired. He wound up at "Last Chance U" school East Mississippi Community College in 2017 before transferring to Missouri in 2018, Nicholls from 2019-2021, and Incarnate Word for a seventh collegiate season in 2022. He's already 24 years old, but that doesn't really matter at all when it comes to QBs in the NFL these days.

Taysom Hill was one of the oldest rookies in the league coming out of BYU at 26 going on 27 in 2017. I think a lot of Broncos fans are becoming married to the idea of a player like Max Duggan out of TCU at this juncture, and that's very possible, but the Broncos are also interested in Lindsey Scott, heading to his pro day on March 22, and he offers a similar type of dual threat at the position that we've seen Payton have success with in Taysom Hill.

With a bit more to offer on the QB side.

Consider me sold on this guy as a late-round, developmental option.