Broncos 2024 Draft Class

 Here is the Denver Broncos 2024 NFL Draft class with my thoughts on each selection....

Round 1 Pick #12: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon: The Broncos had to come away with one of the six QBs that were projected to go in the 1st round of the draft. In my opinion, it really didn't matter which one they got, they just needed to get one. They didn't have the draft capital to trade up for the top 3 QB picks (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, or Drake Maye), so they stayed at #12 and grabbed Nix, who they had graded as the third QB on their board (behind Williams and Daniels). Sean Payton really zeroed in on Nix as the guy as the draft process played out, and if Payton is sold on Nix, then that is good for me. I was happy that the Broncos were decisive and used conviction in picking Nix at 12. A lot of experts had him going late Round 1 and even in Round 2, but none of that matters at this point. I think Nix can be a really good fit for Sean Payton and his offense, and I think that Payton will maximize Nix's strengths and ability. I'm looking forward to watching Nix play this year and develop, and it works out, then the Broncos have finally found their QB.

Round 3 Pick #76: Jonah Elliss, Edge, Utah: The Broncos didn't have a 2nd round pick, so they had to wait until the 3rd round to pick again, and they went with a pass rusher in Elliss. He is the son of former NFL defensive lineman Luther Elliss. He was very productive at Utah as a pass rusher, but didn't participate in the Combine or Pro Day because of an injury. He is fully healed, and the Broncos believe they got a steal with him in the 3rd round. He will join the pass rushing rotation of Baron Browning, Jonathan Cooper, and Nik Bonitto. 

Round 4 Pick #102: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon: The Broncos traded up to near the top of Round 4 to grab Franklin. Most mock drafts had him going late in the 1st round or in the 2nd round, so to see him drop to the 4th round was surprising. Franklin was a teammate of Bo Nix at Oregon, so that should really help both of them adjust the Broncos and the NFL in general. Franklin could make an immediate impact in the WR room, and could be a factor in his rookie year. It will be fun to see how Payton utilizes him in the offense. 

Round 5 Pick #145: Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri: I didn't know much about Abrams-Draine, but the more I studied him over the weekend, the more I like this pick. You can never have enough CBs on your roster in today's NFL, so grabbing him here is a good value pick. He will compete with Levi Wallace and Damari Mathis for the second CB spot to complement Pat Surtain on the other side. 

Round 5 Pick #147: Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame: The Broncos added to their RB room with the selection of Estime. He had a very good career at Notre Dame, and he is a big physical presence. I think he will make the roster and add to the RB group alongside Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, and Jaleel McLaughlin. He could be a factor his rookie year in the run game.

Round 7 Pick #235: Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: The Broncos added Vele in the 7th round to a pretty crowded WR group. It is hard to see a scenario where Vele makes the 53 man roster with the depth at that group, so he is probably fighting for a practice squad spot.

Round 7 Pick #256: Nick Gargiulo, Guard, South Carolina: Gargiulo figures to add depth to the interior of the offensive line, but realistically he is looking to grab a practice squad spot as well. 

Defensive Lineman John Franklin-Myers acquired in a trade with the New York Jets for a 2026 6th round pick: This was a surprise and came on Day Three of the NFL Draft on Saturday. This was a really good move for Denver and it only netted a 6th round pick in 2026 to acquire Franklin-Myers. He can play all down the defensive line, and this was very positive move for the Broncos defense. 

2024 Mock Draft

 Round 1

1) Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2) Washington Commanders select Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

3) New England Patriots select Drake Maye, QB, UNC 

4) Arizona Cardinals select Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

5) TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers trade with the Minnesota Vikings. LA gets Minnesota's 1st round picks this year (#11 and #23) and a 2025 1st round pick. 

Minnesota Vikings select J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

6) New York Giants select Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

7) Tennessee Titans select Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

8) Atlanta Falcons select Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

9) Chicago Bears select Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

10) New York Jets select Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

11) Los Angeles Chargers select Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

12) TRADE: Denver Broncos trade with Los Angeles Rams. Denver gets the Rams 1st round pick (#19 overall) and their 2nd round pick (#52 overall). 

Los Angeles Rams select Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

13) Las Vegas Raiders select Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

14) New Orleans Saints select Jared Verse, Edge, FSU

15) Indianapolis Colts select Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

16) Seattle Seahawks select Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

17) Jacksonville Jaguars select Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

18) Cincinnati Bengals select JC Latham, OT, Alabama

19) Denver Broncos select Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

20) Pittsburgh Steelers select Byron Murphy, DT, Texas

21) Miami Dolphins select Graham Barton, OL, Duke 

22) Philadelphia Eagles select Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

23) Los Angeles Chargers select Brian Thomas, WR, LSU

24) Dallas Cowboys select Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

25) Green Bay Packers select Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

27) Arizona Cardinals select Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon

28) Buffalo Bills select Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

29) TRADE  Detroit Lions trade with the Denver Broncos. Detroit gets Denver's 2nd round pick (#52 overall) and a 4th round pick (121 overall) 

Broncos select Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

30) Baltimore Ravens select Tyler Guyton, OL, Oklahoma

31) San Francisco 49ers select Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

32) Kansas City Chiefs select Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona 

2024 NFL Draft Cheat Sheet-Defensive Players

 Part two features the Defensive Players.....

EDGE:

1) Dallas Turner-Alabama

2) Laiatu Latu-UCLA

3) Jared Verse-Florida State

4) Chop Robinson-Penn State

5) Bralen Trice-Washington

6) Darius Robinson-Missouri

7) Chris Braswell-Alabama

8) Jonah Elliss-Utah

9) Gabriel Murphy-UCLA

10) Adisa Isaac-Penn State

DL:

1) Byron Murphy-Texas

2) Johnny Newton-Illinois

3) Braden Fiske-FSU

4) Michael Hall- Ohio State

5) Kris Jenkins-Michigan

6) Leonard Taylor III-Miami

7) T'Vondre Sweat-Texas

8) Austin Booker- Kansas

9) Marshawn Kneeland-Western Michigan

10) McKinnley Jackson-Texas A&M

11)Mekhi Wingo-LSU

12) Marcus Harris-Auburn

13) Brandon Dorlus-Oregon

14) Justin Eboigbe-Alabama

15) Maason Smith-LSU

LB:

1) Edgerrin Cooper-Texas A&M

2) Jeremiah Trotter Jr-Clemson

3) Payton Wilson-NC State

4) Javon Solomon-Troy

5) Ty'Ron Hopper-Missouri

6) Tyrice Knight-UTEP

7) Jaylan Ford-Texas

8) Marist Liufau-Notre Dame

9) Junior Colson-Michigan

10) Cedric Gray-North Carolina

CB:

1) Terrion Arnold-Alabama

2) Quinyon Mitchell-Toledo

3) Nate Wiggins-Clemson

4) Kool-Aid McKinstry-Alabama

5) Ennis Rakestraw Jr-Missouri

6) Kris Abrams-Draine-Missouri

7) Cooper DeJean-Iowa

8) Kamari Lassiter-Georgia

9) Khyree Jackson-Oregon

10) T.J. Tampa-Iowa State

11) Nehemiah Pritchett-Auburn

12) D.J. James-Auburn

13) Andru Phillips-Kentucky

14) Mike Sainristil-Michigan

15) Josh Newton-TCU

S:

1) Tyler Nubin-Minnesota

2) Javon Bullard-Georgia

3) Calen Bullock-USC

4) Kamren Kinchens-Miami

5) Jaden Hicks-Washington State

6) Tykee Smith-Georgia

7) Jaylin Simpson-Auburn

8) Cole Bishop-Utah

9) Daijahn Anthony-Ole Miss

10) Evan Williams-Oregon

2024 NFL Draft Cheat Sheet-Offensive Players

Here is the draft rankings/cheat sheet for the 2024 NFL Draft. First up is the offensive positions.... 

QB:

1) Caleb Williams-USC

2) Drake Maye- North Carolina

3) Jayden Daniels- LSU

4) J.J. McCarthy- Michigan

5) Bo Nix-Oregon

6) Michael Penix-Washington

7) Spencer Rattler- South Carolina

8) Michael Pratt-Tulane

9) Jordan Travis-FSU

10) Joe Milton- Tennessee

RB:

1) Jonathon Brooks-Texas

2) Troy Benson- FSU

3) Braelon Allen-Wisconsin

4) Jaylen Wright-Tennessee

5) Bucky Irving-Oregon

6) Blake Corum-Michigan

7) Ray Davis-Kentucky

8) Michael Wiley-Arizona

9) Jabari Small-Tennessee

10) Audric Estime-Notre Dame

11) Will Shipley-Clemson

12) Emani Bailey-TCU

13) MarShawn Lloyd-USC

14) Dillon Johnson-Washington

15) Isaiah Davis-South Dakota State

WR:

1) Marvin Harrison Jr-Ohio State

2) Malike Nabers-LSU

3) Rome Odunze-Washington

4) Brian Thomas Jr-LSU

5) Ladd McConkey-Georgia

6) Adonai Mitchell-Texas

7) Xavier Worthy-Texas

8) Keon Coleman-FSU

9) Javon Baker-UCF

10) Troy Franklin-Oregon

11) Ja'Lynn Polk-Washington

12) Jalen McMillan-Washington

13) Malachi Corley-Western Kentucky

14) Ainias Smith-Texas A&M

15) Xavier Legette-South Carolina

16) Jermaine Burton-Alabama

17) Malik Washinton-Virginia

18) Jacob Cowing-Arizona

19) Roman Wilson-Michigan

20) Tez Walker-North Carolina

TE:

1) Brock Bowers-Georgia

2) Ja'Tavion Sanders-Texas

3) Ben Sinnott-Kansas State

4) Cade Stover-Ohio State

5) Theo Johnson-Penn State

6) Jaheim Bell-Florida State

7) Dallin Holker-Colorado State

8) AJ Barner-Michigan

9) Jared Wiley-TCU

10) Tanner McLachlan-Arizona

C:

1) Jackson Powers-Johnson-Oregon

2) Zach Frazier-West Virginia

3) Sedrick Van Pran-Georgia

4) Beauz Limmer-Arkansas

5) Hunter Nourzad-Penn State

G:

1) Troy Fautanu-Washington

2) Christian Hayes-UCONN

3) Cooper Beebee-Kansas State

4) Christian Mahogany- BC

5) Dominick Puni-Kansas 

6) Zak Zinter-Michigan

7) Brandon Coleman-TCU

8) Javon Cohen-Miami

9) K.T. Leveston-Kansas State

10) Layden Robinson-Texas A&M

OT:

1) Olumuyiwa Fashanu-Penn State

2) Joe Alt-Notre Dame

3) Taliese Fuaga-Oregon State

4) JC Latham-Alabama

5) Amarius Mims-Georgia

6) Tyler Guyton-Oklahoma

7) Jordan Morgan-Arizona

8) Graham Barton-Duke

9) Kingsley Suamataia-BYU

10) Delmar Glaze-Maryland

11) Christian Jones-Texas

12) Matt Goncalves-Pitt

13) Patrick Paul-Houston

14) Blake Fisher-Notre Dame

15) Walter Rouse-Oklahoma 

Broncos Free Agency Moves

Players Signed by the Broncos

-Re-signed WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey

-Re-signed FB Michael Burton

-Re-signed TE Adam Trautman

-Re-signed K Will Lutz

-Re-signed S P.J. Locke

-Re-signed LB Jonas Griffith

-Re-signed OL Quinn Bailey

-Signed LB Cody Barton

-Signed Safety Brandon Jones

-Signed DL Malcolm Roach

Players Signed to Other Teams

-Center Lloyd Cushenberry (Titans)

-LB Josey Jewell (Panthers)

-DL Jonathan Harris (Dolphins)

-TE Chris Manhertz (Giants)

-QB Russell Wilson (Steelers)

Traded

-WR Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland for 2024 5th and 6th Round Picks 

Justin Simmons Released

 This one hurts. The Broncos released Safety Justin Simmons in a move that was surprising to me. The All-Pro was the face of the Broncos and the unquestioned leader of the team the past few seasons. The move saves over $14 million in cap money, and it allows Simmons to pick a new team and perhaps go to a contender. Simmons was an all-time great Bronco since he was drafted in 2016. The only thing missing for Simmons' time in Denver was a playoff berth. The Broncos never made the playoffs in his eight years in Denver, and that will be a regret when you look back at his career. It is definitely sad to see him go, and Simmons was just as good off the field as he was on the field. He was very big in the community in Denver. On a personal note, when I went to Denver to see the Broncos play in 2019, my kids met Simmons before the game as we watched the players arrive. He stopped to take pictures with my kids, signed autographs, and even asked how Christmas was. He's a great Bronco and will be a member of the Ring of Fame at some point. 

Russell Wilson Released

 The Broncos informed Russell Wilson that he is being released. This ends the 2-year Russell Wilson era in Denver. This will go down not only as the worst trade in Broncos history but also one of the worst trades in NFL history. As a result of cutting Wilson, Denver will take on an $85 million cap hit (spread out over two years) which will be the largest dead cap charge in NFL history. I really can't believe that the Broncos are parting ways with Wilson after just two, albiet disappointing, seasons in Denver. Not even the hire of Sean Payton can save this situation. The Broncos thought it was better to move on now instead of paying Wilson a high salary over the next two years to try to maximize his value at the QB spot in Denver. Unfortunately, it just didn't work out in Denver, but I understand why the Broncos made this move two years ago. I also understand that Wilson wasn't coming to Denver without signing a contract extension, so unfortunately this not working out has major ramifications. The Broncos gave up so many high, premium draft picks to Seattle for Wilson, so that is the other factor that just kills the deal for Denver. I'll never forget how excited I was two years ago when Denver traded for Russ. I also remember how excited I was driving home from work listening to NFL Radio the day of the Monday Night Football opener against Seattle. It was going to be a playoff, division title, type of season with Russ leading the way. The Broncos were back in my opinion. Of course, we know what happened: Denver lost to Seattle that night and the Broncos 2022 season was a disaster for Russ and new HC Nathaniel Hackett. From there, it never worked out. It's a shame, and it will have major implications on the franchise for the next few years, but hopefully now Denver will finally solidify their QB position going forward.