'It’s going to be hard' for Broncos rookies to start on Day 1

This offseason, the Denver Broncos brought back most of their 2025 roster that reached the AFC Championship game.

They made a splash this spring when they acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, but the Broncos didn't make any big outside signings during NFL free agency. They are now approaching the 2026 NFL draft with a second-round pick, two fourth-round picks, one fifth-round pick and three seventh-round picks.

With limited draft capital and a talented roster, Denver's draft class might not make huge contributions in 2026. Broncos general manager George Paton admitted as much during his pre-draft press conference last week.

"We typically like to draft high-trait players," Paton said. "Maybe they lack a little bit of polish, and it’s going to take some development. We’ve done a great job with the coaches in developing these types of players. We took Quinn Meinerz. He started his first year, maybe wasn’t quite ready.

"Sure, we’d like somebody to come in and start right away, but that’s not always realistic for first-, second-[round picks], no matter where they’re picked. It’s just hard. With the way our team is built now, it’s going to be hard to come in and start Day 1.”

That's something to keep in mind during the draft. Denver's looking for long-term talent to develop, but similar to cornerback Jahdae Barron in 2025, there might not be many immediate snaps available for the draft class. It's ultimately a good sign as it reflects the strength of that Payton and Sean Payton have built with the Broncos.