The Denver Broncos announced on April 13 that their first selection in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft will be late in the second round, following a trade with the Miami Dolphins that brought wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to Denver.
This position is familiar to General Manager George Paton, who has previously added key players through second-round picks. The Broncos currently hold the No. 62 overall pick, marking the third time under Paton’s leadership that their first draft selection falls near this range. In both 2022 and 2023, Denver made its initial selections at No. 64 and No. 63 respectively, and also picked RJ Harvey at No. 60 in the second round of last year’s draft.
Paton said during the NFL Annual Meeting in March: “Obviously we’re focused on [Pick] 30 in the second [round]. We’ve fortunately been there before. … We have a good feel for that. We can home in. It doesn’t mean we won’t trade up at some point, but we’ll have a really good feel for the 62nd pick. We took Mims at [63], Bonitto at 64. Harvey maybe [at] 60, I think. We have a pretty good feel of that realm.”
Recent history shows notable success with these picks: Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was selected at No. 64 in 2022 and has since earned back-to-back Pro Bowl honors while posting double-digit sacks over consecutive seasons—a feat not seen since Von Miller’s tenure with Denver.
Wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., taken at No. 63 in the following year, has contributed as both a receiver and return specialist—leading the league in punt return average and yardage over two seasons and scoring his first punt return touchdown against Las Vegas last year.
Running back RJ Harvey made an immediate impact after being drafted at No. 60 last season by recording twelve scrimmage touchdowns—more than any other rookie—and becoming the first franchise rookie to score touchdowns across five straight weeks.
With this track record of productive second-round selections under Paton’s management, observers will watch closely to see if Denver continues its pattern of finding value outside of Round One.
