The Denver Broncos are preparing for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, which is just over two weeks away, and will enter the event without a first-round pick after trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in March, according to an April 8 update. Despite this, the team holds seven selections in this year’s draft.
The absence of a first-round pick comes as a result of acquiring Waddle, who is expected to bolster Denver’s offense. The Broncos will look to strengthen their roster through later rounds, with several analysts offering predictions on who the team might select.
In recent mock drafts, ESPN’s Matt Miller projects that Denver could choose linebacker Josiah Trotter from Missouri with their second-round pick at No. 62 overall. Miller said: “Denver’s defense is elite, but there’s room for a downhill thumper. Trotter has NFL bloodlines and the speed to make a huge impact in the run game, where he’s a missile with quick read-and-react skills.” Other projections for this spot include tight end Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt by Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News; cornerback Davison Igbinosun from Ohio State by Josh Edwards of CBS Sports; tight end Sam Roush from Stanford by Chad Reuter of NFL.com; and tight end Max Klare from Ohio State by Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic.
For later rounds, analysts predict different prospects across positions such as defensive tackle Albert Regis (Texas A&M), guard/center Parker Brailsford (Alabama), tight end Justin Joly (NC State), running back Kaytron Allen (Penn State), tackle Drew Shelton (Penn State), edge rusher Jack Pybrun (LSU), safety Bishop Fitzgerald (USC), quarterback Behren Morton (Texas Tech), and others.
The various projections highlight both offensive and defensive needs that Denver may address during the draft process. Tight ends appear frequently among predicted selections in multiple rounds. As anticipation builds ahead of draft day, fans await confirmation on which prospects will join the Broncos’ roster.
