Broncos' 2024 Roster Needs: Early Look at 10 NFL Draft Fits

The 2024 NFL Draft preparation is underway with the Denver Broncos and every other team starting to get their looks at potential prospects.

The 2023 NFL draft ended almost two months ago, so it may seem early to get talking about next year's. However, NFL teams have already started setting up their assignments and taking early looks at potential prospects in the 2024 class. 

The 2024 NFL draft will be a vital one for the Denver Broncos. After missing out on first-round picks in the past two drafts, after dealing them away to acquire Russell Wilson and Sean Payton in successive years, the Broncos could use an early hit. There are multiple positions Denver can look at, and the picture will get more apparent as the season goes on.

It's next to impossible to project where any player might go in the draft with the season still to be played. Potential injuries, legal issues, and poor play will factor in heavily. 

This time last year, Will Anderson, Jr. was the clear presumptive No. 1 overall pick, C.J. Stroud was viewed as QB1, Anthony Richardson was a question mark, and Trenton Simpson was a first-round pick.

Some prospects stand out for the Broncos as better fits already while filling a projected top roster need. So, with much evaluation time left, here are 10 early standouts for the Broncos.

Offensive Line

This is a good O-line class, at least the projected group. A Penn State tackle stands at the top of the class at the moment, but he is also projected as a top-five pick. The Broncos could be looking hard at replacing left tackle Garett Bolles.

J.C. Latham | Alabama

Latham started every game at right tackle, and while there is talk he can switch to the left side, that may not happen. With the Alabama spring game, Latham stayed at right tackle. Watching his tape, he appears to have the ability to switch sides.

With his immense size and such light and quick feet, Latham is smooth with his play as a blocker. He did exceptionally well in pass protection and was a mauler in the running game. The knock is penalties, where he had 12 thrown with 11 accepted in 2022. If he can't switch sides, then that could hinder him when it comes to the Broncos unless they think Mike McGlinchey could handle left tackle.

Joe Alt | Notre Dame

When you get to tackles who are 6-foot-7 or taller, you wonder about their movement skills. Alt's movement skills, a former tight end, may be his best trait. His feet are quick and agile, and he plays with good bend, especially for his height.

Alt played left tackle the last two seasons allowing three sacks and 19 pressures, with all sacks and 11 of those pressures coming in 2021. There are some questions about his power to generate movement, but he does well in using momentum against defenders instead of trying to overpower them with brute strength.

Interior Defensive Line

The Broncos currently don't have a third starter on their defensive line and are betting on the development of Eyioma Uwazurike and/or Matt Henningsen. If the Broncos don't get that, especially with Mike Purcell's contract status and beginning training camp on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, they could desperately need help here, and this projected class is solid but not great. 

Michael Hall | Ohio State

Hall is undersized and has hardly played over the past two seasons, but he is expected to have a significant role this season. He has flashed his ability as a pass rusher, picking up 16 pressures and five sacks on less than 150 pass rush snaps. 

There are concerns about his run defense, but he looks like a good interior pass rusher.

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Edge Defender

With Randy Gregory in a make-or-break year with his contract, Frank Clark on a one-year deal, and this being the season for Baron Browning to step up, edge rusher is high on the Broncos' priority list. It also has the potential to fall down the needs list, depending on how these veterans turn out in 2023. 

This projects to be a good class with talent throughout the top 75, though not quite as strong as the 2023 class was.

Jared Verse | Florida State

There were questions if Verse would return or declare after a great season in 2022. He is a bit thin for the NFL, but there is plenty of room to add on his frame, and the lack of bulk did show as a tackler and run defender. 

However, Verse did exceptionally well as a pass rusher with nine sacks and 36 pressures on 202 total pass rush snaps. If he can bulk up and be more consistent as a tackler and run defender, he can easily be a top-10 pick. 

J.T. Tuimoloau | Ohio State

Ohio State has consistently put out pass-rush talent and Tuimoloau is yet another. Last year he picked up 32 pressures and seven sacks and also showed up well when dropping into coverage, though that was on a limited basis. 

For his size, weighing roughly 270 pounds, you wish he was more consistent in setting the edge, but that is a technical issue that could be improved. 

Bralen Trice | Washington

The knock on Trice is his tackling, which was terrible last year. However, he was solid against the run, picked up 70 pressures and nine sacks while looking clean and smooth on limited coverage drops last season. 

Trice has the size to move around the defensive front to get after the quarterback and has a good technical foundation, which should only get better with another year. He is projected as a top-15 pick and could easily climb with a good season.

Dallas Turner | Alabama

Alabama is another team that has been consistent in putting out pass rushers. Dallas Turner is a good one who can do it all for a defense. 

He's a clean tackler, a good run defender, a good pass rusher, and can drop into coverage. However, there doesn't seem to be one elite trait to Turner's game, and he is more of a jack-of-all-trades edge defender. With Anderson now in the NFL, Turner has to show he can step up and be the guy as a pass rusher. 

Cornerback

The Broncos could potentially be looking for two corners after the season. K'Waun Williams is a free agent, and Damarri Mathis has to take a step forward. 

Denver can't afford to waste its opportunity with Patrick Surtain II and find a threat opposite him. The Broncos also need to find a long-term solution for the slot, which is void after Williams. Rookie third-rounder Riley Moss is also a factor for playing opposite Surtain and in the slot. 

Cooper DeJean | Iowa

DeJean will be draft eligible after this season, and he is viewed as a first-round pick with only one season under his belt. He allowed less than 50% of targets to be caught while picking off five passes and breaking up another five. 

If the Broncos think DeJean can work in the scheme, that type of ability is what they need opposite of Surtain. 

Kool-Aid McKinstry | Alabama

McKinstry hasn't secured many interceptions, with only two in his career, but he broke up 16 passes during the 2022 season. He can be over-aggressive in coverage, but he has shown good awareness not to cross the line for many penalties so far in his career. 

Kalin King | Penn State

When watching Joey Porter Jr for the 2023 NFL draft, King stood out a lot. With three interceptions and nine passes broken up, it was hard not to notice him. He needs to be more as a run defender, especially with the current projections placing him in the slot in the NFL. 

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