With the NFL Combine completed and the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, several national analysts have shared their predictions for the Denver Broncos’ first-round pick at No. 30 overall.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic projects that Denver will select safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo. Brugler stated, “Safety might not be the Broncos’ No. 1 need, but McNeil-Warren’s range would be a nice fit in their secondary.”
Nate Davis from USA Today suggests wide receiver KC Concepcion of Texas A&M as a possible choice. According to Davis, “He has average size (6-0, 196) but elite short-area burst and quickness that could make him an ideal complement to Courtland Sutton in Denver’s passing game.”
Jordan Reid of ESPN also believes McNeil-Warren could join the Broncos. Reid commented, “Getting more offensive playmakers for quarterback Bo Nix might be an option here, but the Broncos could use this pick to make their already-stout defense even stronger.”
Charles McDonald from Yahoo! Sports predicts edge rusher Akheem Mesidor from Miami will be picked by Denver. McDonald noted, “Mesidor showed he can put heat on the quarterback on the edge and the interior of Miami’s defensive line, registering 12.5 sacks in the Hurricanes’ run to the national championship game.”
Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports and Charles Davis of NFL.com both point to linebacker CJ Allen from Georgia as a potential selection. Fornelli said, “CJ Allen doesn’t have the elite athleticism of other Georgia linebackers who have gone in the first round this decade, but he’s still a good athlete with strong instincts and the kind of leadership skills you look for at the position.” Davis added, “The Broncos boasted one of the top defenses in the NFL in 2025, and adding the talented Allen means there will be no dropoff.”
Daniel Flick from Sports Illustrated lists wide receiver Denzel Boston out of Washington as his projection: “The 6′ 4″, 212-pound Boston is a physical, big-bodied wideout with strong hands and high-level ball skills.”
Other analysts offer different options for Denver’s pick. Vinnie Iyer from Sporting News names defensive tackle Lee Hunter from Texas Tech; Lance Zierlein at NFL.com suggests linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas: “Hill hasn’t been getting much buzz up to this point of the draft process, but he should be. He’s fast, is consistent as a find-and-finish linebacker and provides a quality rush/blitz option.” Trevor Sikkema at Pro Football Focus recommends tight end Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt: “… As a true big receiver with a ton of athletic versatility, he would be a perfect fit in Denver.”
The variety among these projections reflects uncertainty about which direction Denver may take during April’s draft.
