The Denver Broncos 2024 rookie class could lay the foundation for the future of this franchise. Let's predict each pick's production during their rookie seasons. There is plenty of room on this roster for the Broncos' current rookies to carve out roles in year one. The most notable selection is the team making Bo Nix the 12th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
While some people think that Nix was a massive reach, others think that the fit with Nix and Sean Payton is seamless. Only time will tell obviously, but beyond Nix, Denver has a plethora of other rookies that have legitimate shots at contributing in year one. Let's try to predict each rookie draft pick's year-one production.
12th Overall Pick - Bo Nix, QB
Prediction: 65.4% completion, 3,659 yards, 23 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
Let's go with this for rookie QB, Bo Nix. Nix is the likely Week 1 starter for the Denver Broncos and has all the necessary tools to become a franchise QB in the NFL and to be an expert running Sean Payton's offense. It's a complex system that Nix will surely have his hands full with, but has the intelligence to do it.
For the Denver Broncos offense, running the ball is again going to be a priority for them. Bo Nix is most certainly going to struggle at times, so Denver may end up relying on the run game more and more. However, I am confident that Bo Nix can enjoy a strong rookie season for the Denver Broncos, and I don't think this production is going to be that hard for Nix to attain in Year 1.
76th Overall Pick - Jonah Elliss, EDGE
Prediction: 27 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 8 QB hits, 2.0 sacks
Jonah Elliss is yet another undersized EDGE rusher whothat has ended up with the Denver Broncos. Nik Bonitto is similar to Elliss in that regard, and it really took Bonitto his entire rookie season before he seemed to find something in year two. While Bonitto wasn't great, he was quite improved and someone I'd put in the "good" category.
The Denver Broncos also have two other pass-rushers, at least, ahead of Elliss on the depth chart in Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper, so Elliss might be the EDGE4 by the time the season begins. Honeslty, I don't believe he'll light up the stat sheet during his rookie season. To me, he's someone, who, like Bonitto, might need a year or two to get fully comfortable in the NFL.
Let's predict some very modest production in year one for Jonah Elliss.
102nd Overall Pick - Troy Franklin, WR
Prediction: 27 receptions, 324 yards, 3 touchdowns
Troy Franklin somehow was a Day 3 draft pick, and he was truly a consensus top-50 player heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. His falling in the draft was something to behold, and in year one, I am not going to assume that Franklin has a huge year. Firstly, the Denver Broncos are probably going to run the snot out of the football, especially if Bo Nix is the starter.
It would make sense for Denver to be a run-heavy offense, at least initially, until Nix proves he can have more on his plate. Furthermore, Franklin could end up being behind all of Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr, Tim Patrick, and Josh Reynolds on the depth chart. If Franklin does end up being around that WR5 player, it'd be hard to envision him getting many balls thrown his way.
Who knows, maybe I am totally wrong here and Franklin ends up lighting it up!
145th Overall Pick - Kris Abrams-Draine, CB
Prediction: 20 total tackles, 4 passes defended, 1 interception
The Denver Broncos got a steal in the 5th-round of the 2024 NFL Draft with Kris Abrams-Draine, who was largely seen as a top-75 pick. Abrams-Draine is a bit smaller at the position, and could get pushed down in the CB depth chart in 2024, but I have a feeling he can contribute to some degree.
The way I see it, veteran CB Levi Wallace may end up winning the CB2 job, so guys like Abrams-Draine, Riley Moss, and Damarri Mathis may have to battle it out for some primary backup duties.
147th Overall Pick - Audric Estime, RB
Prediction: 127 carries, 533 yards, 4 touchdowns, 10 receptions, 94 yards
Let's go with some more modest production. Currently, the Denver Broncos RB room is deep. Right now, the room features incumbents Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, and Jaleel McLaughlin, and rookies Audric Estime and Blake Watson.
Right now, I bet Perine is at least one odd-man out, but it's still so early for me to definitively say. I do think Estime is someone Sean Payton is already planning to have within the offense, so I don't doubt he'll get some carries. 127 carries is about 7.5 carries per game, and maybe Estime could get some early-down work here and there.
235th Overall Pick -Devaughn Vele, WR
Prediction: N/A
With Devaughn Vele being a 7th-round pick and not really having a ton to latch onto for being an NFL player, I am not sure he cracks the initial roster and is probably someone the Denver Broncos could stuff on the practice squad or even bring up here and there for special teams duty. Vele does come from Utah and has a similar WR profile to Tim Patrick, who also went to Utah.
Maybe Vele could be the next Tim Patrick? I guess you never know. But for now, I do not see how Vele is able to play his way up the depth chart, as the Broncos are deep at WR even without a high-end pass catcher in that room.
256th Overall Pick - Nick Gargiulo, OC
Prediction: N/A
The Denver Broncos drafted Oregon center Alex Forsyth with the 257th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and now took another center with the pick before. For Nick Gargiulo, he might have to end up following the same path as Forsyth, who was not active during his rookie season. The Denver Broncos do have some competition to earn the starting center job, and there is nothing stopping Gargiulo from winning that job.
And even though he is a 7th-round pick, crazier things have happened. For me, though, I do not think Gargiulo will see the field on offense during his rookie season. He could be another practice squad candidate.