The Denver Broncos are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, aiming to trade up into the third round. With only seven picks, they seek to enhance their roster, particularly at inside linebacker and running back.
Key points
Denver Broncos preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft
Team aims to trade up into the third round
Broncos have seven total picks in the draft
Focus on strengthening inside linebacker and running back positions
The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly here. The countdown is on and we are less than 24 hours away from teams starting to make their picks in this year's annual event, which kicks off on Thursday night from Pittsburgh.
For the Denver Broncos, patience is going to be key this year as the team has only seven picks in total and won't make a selection until late in the second round, barring a trade. However, several key players could still be added with some of these choices, as the Broncos are just looking for a little extra on what they feel is one of the best rosters in the league.
As a result, the team has the ability to take some risks in this draft. Finding help at inside linebacker and running back would be beneficial for their championship hopes, but Sean Payton and George Paton often like to take the path that is least expected of them. It's completely unpredictable as to how things will go for the Broncos in this year's draft, but using the mock draft simulator provided by Pro Football Network, I stepped into the role of general manager and came up with this on the eve of the draft.
Denver Broncos' final 2026 7-round mock draft
Round 2, Pick No. 62: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Caleb Banks continues to be a trendy pick for the Broncos because of the thought that he will slide down the board due to his injury history. The Broncos can stop his free fall by taking a player with first-round talent at the end of the second round. It would be their first risk in this draft, but if Banks can fulfill his potential, he can replace and then some.
Q&A
What are the Denver Broncos' draft plans for 2026?
The Broncos plan to trade up into the third round to enhance their roster during the 2026 NFL Draft.
How many picks do the Broncos have in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Denver Broncos have a total of seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What positions are the Broncos looking to strengthen in the draft?
The Broncos are looking to strengthen their roster at inside linebacker and running back.
When does the 2026 NFL Draft start?
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday night, less than 24 hours from now.
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With inside linebackers Jacob Rodriguez, Josiah Trotter and Anthony Hill, Jr. all of the board by this point, this was an easy choice.
TRADE: The Broncos send their fourth-round pick (No. 108) and a fifth-round choice in 2027 to the Philadelphia Eagles for their third-round pick (No. 98) in this draft.
Round 3, Pick No. 98: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
The Broncos see a tight end who is high on their list dropping to the end of the third round and decide to pounce, moving up 10 spots and sending a fifth-round pick to the Eagles to do it.
Max Klare would be a tremendous addition for a Broncos team looking for more talent at the tight end spot. Klare, who can help as a blocker in addition to being a great pass-catching tight end, could combine with Evan Engram to give the Broncos a much more potent combination than anything they currently have.
Round 4, Pick No. 111: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
The Broncos still need a linebacker and see that Indiana's Aiden Fisher is still on the board, but this spot is too high to take him. The team decides to see if Fisher falls to its pick in the fifth round and snags Oregon's Isaiah World as a possible replacement down the road for either Garett Bolles or Mike McGlinchey.
World stands 6-foot-8 and has a ton of playing experience in college at both Nevada and Oregon. He has issues with his overall technique, but a strong coaching staff could work with his intangibles to unlock a future star.
The Broncos will have two difficult waits in this draft. The distance between their second-round and fourth-round picks will be tough, as many strong prospects will be selected, but the space between picks 111 and 170 could be just as bad.
Fisher was not still on the board by this point, so the team settled for Kendal Daniels out of Oklahoma. Daniels began his college career at safety but was converted into a hybrid linebacker-safety. Daniels will need to work on his ability as a tackler, but he has the ability in coverage to win at the professional level. This would be a project pick for the Broncos, but they need to find help at inside linebacker.
Jaydn Ott once seemed like a top prospect for the NFL at the running back position, but he faded away as his college career progressed. Still, his ability to run north and south with no hesitation could be enough to give the Broncos the piece they need in the running back room.
Round 7, Pick No. 256: Aaron Hall, DT, Duke
Aaron Hall would need to work on shedding blocks to become better at defending the run, but his size (6-foot-4) makes him the kind of athlete teams want to take a look at and see what he can become.
Round 7, Pick No. 257: Luke Altmyer, QB, Illinois
The Broncos cap the draft off by taking a quarterback and despite that not being a team need, the Broncos could look at moving Jarrett Stidham if a guy like Luke Altmyer shows that he could be a solid No. 3 to begin his career. Altmyer completed 63.7 percent of his passes and threw for nearly 8,000 yards in his college career.
