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Everton vs Liverpool: Preview, Lineup, and How to Watch
Denver Broncos GM George Paton and coach Sean Payton held a pre-draft conference call one week before the 2026 NFL draft. The team currently has seven draft picks following a trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
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Bring on the 2026 NFL draft.
Denver Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton had a pre-draft conference call on Thursday, exactly one week before the big event in Pittsburgh.
After trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle last month, Denver now holds seven picks in this year's draft, but that could change if there are more trades. Following free agency, the Broncos are now poised to fill out the 90-man offseason roster with rookies (both draft picks and undrafted free agents) in the coming weeks.
Here are five quick takeaways from Paton and Payton's call on Thursday.
1. Denver could trade up during NFL draft: As usual, Paton did not rule out moving up (or down) during the draft. The Broncos are currently slated to pick at No. 62 overall in the second round. Paton said it would be "unlikely" to trade all the way into the first round because that would take "quite a haul," but he noted that moving up in the second round could be in play. Given his history, it wouldn't be surprising to see Paton move up and down the board multiple times during the draft.
They shared insights on the team's strategy and preparations for the upcoming 2026 NFL draft.
The Broncos currently hold seven draft picks for the 2026 NFL draft.
The trade for Jaylen Waddle has positioned the Broncos to potentially make further trades and adjustments to their draft strategy.
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2. Broncos focused on six prospects: Paton said there are six players Denver has been focused on as potential targets at pick No. 62. We don't know exactly who those prospects are, but fans and pundits will be making calculated guesses leading up to Round 2. We know that the team has met with more than 100 prospects leading up to the draft.
3. Evan Engram's stock is trending up: There's been plenty of buzz about the Broncos potentially adding a tight end during the draft, perhaps even with their second-round pick. Payton, however, said the team will "continue to find ways" to add to Engram's workload in 2026. It's possible that both things could be true — Denver could target a tight end early in the draft and still increase Engram's workload this fall.
4. Denver's rookies could have limited impacts: Because the Broncos have such a deep roster that was one game away from the Super Bowl last season, Paton said "it's going to be hard" for a rookie to come in and start on Day 1. That's a sign of Denver's impressive depth that will help the team (generally) target the best player available at each pick instead of reaching for big needs.
5. Final year for Broncos' current draft room: Denver's in the process of building a new training facility and headquarters that is set to be completed this summer. "RIP to this draft room," Payton said of the current building. "This is the last one." Next year, the Broncos will draft in their new building, and they believe 2027 will be a deep class.
Following the NFL draft (April 23-25), clubs can hold a rookie minicamp from May 1-4 or May 8-11. Denver has not yet announced its rookie camp schedule, but veterans are scheduled to report for the start of the offseason program on May 4.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: 5 takeaways from pre-draft press conference