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The Broncos' draft review highlights the significant impact of acquiring Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins, which shaped their overall strategy. The team focused on adding depth and addressing weaknesses during the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Jaylen Waddle is a big part of how this class gets graded. The Broncos had already invested in a proven wide receiver and spent the rest of the 2026 NFL Draft adding depth, addressing weak areas, and giving Sean Payton more flexibility.
The best way to overlook the Broncosâ draft class is to focus only on the players they took over the weekend. Their biggest move came earlier, when they brought in Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins.
That trade set up everything else. Denver gave up picks 30, 94, and 130 for Waddle and pick 111, which meant their top selection was already spent on a proven player.
Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images
That means more than just draft-night buzz. A late first-round receiver would have been a bet on potential, but Waddle gives Bo Nix immediate speed and experience to work with in an attack that needed more firepower.
Waddle is signed through 2026 as well, so this wasnât just about a single season. Denver added established talent early and then used their remaining picks to fill out the rest of the roster without chasing needs.
The trade for Jaylen Waddle influenced the Broncos to focus on depth and flexibility in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Broncos aimed to add depth and address weak areas in their roster during the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jaylen Waddle is a proven wide receiver whose acquisition significantly impacted the Broncos' draft grading and overall strategy.
The Broncos' approach involved investing in a proven wide receiver and making strategic selections to enhance their team depth.

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Mel Kiper Jr. handed Denver a C-plus, and it wasnât a surprising call at first glance. The Broncos didnât have picks in the first or second rounds, and only made one selection inside the top 100.
Without any top-tier prospects to headline the class, it makes sense that Denverâs haul wouldnât stand out if the focus is on instant excitement over roster needs.
The Broncos werenât looking to start from scratch. Sean Payton and George Paton already had their core pieces in place and needed to find affordable depth behind those starters.
Thatâs why judging this class on missing premium picks doesnât tell the full story. It overlooks the reasons those picks werenât there in the first place.
Not everyone viewed it the same way. NFL.com gave Denver an A minus, USA Today had it at B plus, and CBS Sports came in with a B.
That range of opinions tells the story. This wasnât a class built to impress with big names or highlight picksâit was about filling gaps and adding depth.
If you were hoping for a future star from one of the top selections, that was never really on the table. But if you look at it as a way to strengthen the roster around the edges after landing Waddle, it starts to make more sense.
The Broncos took Tyler Onyedim, Jonah Coleman, Kage Casey, Justin Joly, Miles Scott, Dallen Bentley and Red Murdock. Itâs not full of big names but those picks spread across defensive line, running back, offensive line, tight end and safety help.
Jonah Coleman was the clearest example. Sean Payton said the Broncos were looking for a specific type of runner, which explains why Coleman made sense even with J.K. Dobbins already on the roster.
He gives Denver physical early-down insurance, pass protection value, and a back who can survive contact. That is useful for a team trying to protect its quarterback and avoid leaning too hard on one veteran runner.
Payton also praised Colemanâs ability on third down. That matters because rookie backs do not earn trust in this offense by running hard alone.
They have to block pressure, understand protections, and keep the offense on schedule. Colemanâs fit is the point of the pick.
The Broncosâ 2026 class was never meant to generate buzz. It was about filling gaps and providing insurance for a team that had already made its splash by trading for Waddle.
This is where outside grades can miss the context. Teams chasing top-tier talent need headline picks. Teams with established cores are looking for injury cover, affordable backups, and prospects who can develop quietly behind veterans.
Onyedim adds depth to the defensive line rotation. Casey offers flexibility as a developmental lineman. Joly and Bentley bring competition at tight end, while Scott and Murdock provide fresh options on defence and special teams.
No one expects all of them to become long-term fixtures, but itâs clear there was a strategy in place that matched the rosterâs needs post-trade.
This wasnât a class built for instant excitement. The Broncos made their big move early, then focused on filling out the depth chartâsomething that wonât grab headlines but fits what they needed at this stage of their build.
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