Broncos have a 'really good feel' for 2nd-round draft pick

TL;DR

The Denver Broncos are preparing for the NFL draft, set to pick 62nd overall after trading their first-round pick. General manager George Paton expressed confidence in their ability to select a strong player at this position, drawing from past successes without a first-round pick.

After trading their first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins as part of the Jaylen Waddle trade last month, the Denver Broncos are not scheduled to select until the second round (No. 62 overall) in this year's NFL draft.

It's certainly not new territory for Broncos general manager George Paton.

“Obviously, we’re focused on [No. 62] in the second," Paton said at the NFL's annual league meeting in Arizona last month. "We’ve fortunately been there before, I think two different times. We have a good feel for that. We can hone in. It doesn’t mean we won’t trade up at some point, but we’ll have a really good feel for the 62nd pick or whatever we’re picking."

The last two times Paton entered a draft without a first-round pick, the Broncos landed receiver/returner Marvin Mims (No. 63) and pass rusher Nik Bonitto (No. 64). Both players went on to become All-Pros. Last year, Denver did have a first-round pick, and they also hit on running back RJ Harvey (No. 60) in the second round.

"We have a pretty good feel of that realm," Paton said.

Following the Waddle trade, the Broncos currently hold seven picks (but that could change pending more trades). The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh from April 23-25.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL draft: Denver Broncos have a 'really good feel' for picking in 2nd

Q&A

Who is the Denver Broncos' second-round draft pick in 2023?

The Denver Broncos are set to select 62nd overall in the 2023 NFL draft, but the specific player has not yet been determined.

What is George Paton's track record with second-round picks?

George Paton has successfully drafted players like Marvin Mims and Nik Bonitto in previous years without a first-round pick, both of whom became All-Pros.

What trades affected the Broncos' draft position this year?

The Broncos traded their first-round pick to the Miami Dolphins as part of the Jaylen Waddle trade, impacting their draft strategy for 2023.