What ‘way-too-early’ mock drafts say about the Broncos’ 2026 outlook

The Broncos looked to the defensive line and tight end with two of their first four draft picks last month. But a couple of recent “way-too-early” mock drafts believe that they’ll look to those positions early next year.

Recent mock drafts from ESPN and Pro Football Focus that look over the horizon to the 2027 NFL Draft have the Broncos focusing on those positions next year. ESPN’s Jason Reid has the Broncos taking Oregon defensive lineman A’Mauri Washington, while Pro Football Focus mocks LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green to Denver.

Defensive line would be an interesting choice given not only the selection of Tyler Onyedim last month with Denver’s initial pick, but the contracts given to Zach Allen, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Roach last year, as well as the third-round pick used to select Sai’vion Jones in 2025.

As for tight end, the Broncos’ draft investment this year that resulted in the selections of Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley isn’t heavy — fifth- and seventh-round picks — but they traded up to select Joly, revealing a level of intentionality to the choice. Joly’s skill set also projects well to the “F” tight-end spot that operates in space as a pass-catcher, which gives him a chance to develop behind Evan Engram.

Denver also signed “Y” tight end Adam Trautman to a three-year contract extension in March.

More on the mock-draft picks:

ESPN:

20: A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon: Washington joined Moore and Matayo Uiagalelei as Oregon players who turned down being Day 1 or early Day 2 draft picks this year to return to school. Washington is quick off the snap and capable of freezing the frame of interior blockers before moving quickly past them. His straight-line strength gives him the power to bull rush blockers into the laps of passers. His ability to collapse pockets would play well alongside Zach Allen in the Broncos’ defense, and Denver could use more defensive tackles after losing John Franklin-Myers in free agency.

Pro Football Focus:

21: TE Trey’Dez Green, LSU: This may be an ambitious projection for Green, who has just 46 career receptions as a former basketball recruit. His seven touchdowns last season and strong performances against South Carolina and Houston make him a prospect to monitor for the first round. Green has the athletic profile to excel in pre-draft testing.

The Broncos selected Tyler Onyedim and Justin Joly at those position groups in the recently completed 2026 NFL Draft. However, third- and fifth-round picks aren’t enough to preclude the team from selecting another player at that spot one year later; just look at Onyedim for an example, as he came aboard 12 months after the team selected defensive lineman Sai’vion Jones late in the third round of the 2025 draft.

But what is equally interesting is WHERE the pundits have the Broncos selecting.

BUT WHAT OF THE BRONCOS’ DRAFT SPOTS?

ESPN’s mock draft has the Broncos with the No. 20 selection — before the picks of the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 24) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 28). Pro Football Focus has the inverse: Kansas City at No. 24 and the Chargers at No. 28.

In both cases, that’s no better than a second-place finish for the Broncos — and most likely a third-place finish, as the No. 28 position would represent the best record of any team eliminated in the divisional round and the 24th spot the top record of all teams knocked out in the wild-card round. The 20th draft spot corresponds to the second-worst record of any team to lose on Wild Card Weekend; No. 1 is the third-worst.

Since the expansion to a 17-game schedule, here are the records of the teams that had those respective draft positions:

No. 20:

• 2022: Pittsburgh, 9-7-1
• 2023: Seattle, 9-8
• 2024: Pittsburgh, 10-7
• 2025: Denver, 10-7
• 2026: Green Bay, 9-7-1

No. 21:

• 2022: New England, 10-7
• 2023: Miami (forfeited the pick, integrity-of-the-game violations), 9-8
• 2024: Miami, 11-6
• 2025: Pittsburgh, 10-7
• 2026: Pittsburgh, 10-7

So, if the Broncos have pick No. 20 or 21, something certainly went wrong — and it could be a “something” that changes what draft needs look like 12 months from now: an injury, a player or two not developing up to expectations, or some other unforeseen circumstance. Quite a bit can change between now and then. A 9- or 10-win season would also represent a clear regression after three years of ascension, and while it will be difficult to do better than last year’s 14-win tally in terms of regular-season win total, anything that finishes shy of last year’s level of accomplishment — making it to the conference-championship game — will be considered a disappointment.

So, while confidence runs high in Broncos Country for a special season, that doesn’t seem to be the case for those projecting next year’s draft.

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