PFF gives Broncos draft a high grade, but says Chiefs were an A+

When you don’t have a first-round pick, it’s hard to get a good draft grade.

That was the task Denver Broncos GM George Paton had this weekend, putting together a solid class without a selection in the first 63 picks. But Paton did a nice job, and let’s be honest, Russell Wilson was Denver’s “first-round pick” this offseason anyhow.

The Seahawks owned the No. 9 overall selection thanks to the Wilson trade, so Thursday night was quiet in Broncos Country. But the team landed two impact players on Friday in Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonitto and UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich. Denver added depth on the third day of the draft, rounding their class out with seven new members of the team.

And when it comes to draft grades, everyone has an opinion, but few are more valued than that of Pro Football Focus. The website has become the gold standard for how people around the league and fans view what a team did.

So what grade did PFF give the Broncos? They earned a B+. Here’s part of what PFF had to say:

Nik Bonitto is a phenomenal value for the Broncos. He was PFF’s 38th-ranked player on the draft board and one of the most productive pass-rushers in the country. He earned a 92.5 PFF pass-rushing grade and a 27.3% pass-rushing win rate in 2021. He’s a pure speed rusher that should immediately come to Denver as a designated pass-rusher on obvious passing downs. This is one of the best picks of Day 2.

The Broncos traded away Noah Fant and needed to add a body to the tight end corps and Dulcich can fit that bill. He has excellent ball skills and shows real wide receiver chops in a tight end’s body. He has excellent athleticism and a really good feel for finding space and getting open. He will contribute to this offense.

PFF went on to praise Broncos fourth-round pick Damarri Mathis out of Pittsburgh as well, calling him a “top-100 player” and noting he was a huge piece on defense for the Panthers a season ago.

So while a B+ is great for Denver, it unfortunately wasn’t the best grade in the AFC West. That honor went to the Kansas City Chiefs, with PFF giving them an A+. Here’s part of what they wrote:

While it required a trade-up, Trent McDuffie is a great addition for the Chiefs at No. 21 overall. McDuffie was the 11th-ranked player overall on PFF’s big board and had one of the best careers PFF College has ever seen.

Kansas City also snagged WR Skyy Moore out of Western Michigan with the No. 54 overall pick, but there’s no way Moore replaces Tyreek Hill right away. Chiefs fans can talk all they want about signing Ju Ju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but even with Moore and those two losing Hill is still a major blow.

PFF gave the Chargers draft a “B” and dished out a dished out a “B+” to the Raiders. Sure, it’s high praise across the whole division, but the Broncos and Paton did well despite having to wait so long to make their first selection.

What do you say, Broncos Country? Are you happy with the 2022 NFL Draft for Denver? As we all know, time will tell, but it’s clear Paton did a nice job addressing immediate needs while also adding some important depth.
***