Denver Broncos Pre-Combine Mock Draft

Here's how Denver's six picks could shake out.

The Denver Broncos are undoubtedly on the hunt for a quarterback. Specifically, head coach Sean Payton hopes to fall in “love” with one of the top passers in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. 

Unfortunately, picking 12th overall with only two selections in the top 100 and still underwater on the salary cap, the Broncos could find it difficult to move up for the apple of their eye — whomever that may be.

Many mock drafts have Denver standing pat on Day 1 and taking either Michigan’s JJ McCarthy or Oregon’s Bo Nix. But what if the brain trust isn’t sold on them to fit exactly what Payton is seeking?

Given that mocks are merely exercises in how boards could fall and the directions teams might go, what does a draft look like if the Broncos miss out on a first-round signal-caller and cannot trade up?

Let's take a gander:

Round One: Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State

Rumors are swirling around Broncos Country that left tackle Garett Bolles could be on his way out this offseason. Entering the final year of his contract, Bolles’ cap hit for 2024 is $20 million; should the Broncos move on, they'd earn $16 million in savings with only $4 million in dead cap. Denver has or soon will likely approach Bolles’ agent to lower his 2024 cap hit and keep him rostered. However, if Bolles and his representatives don’t like what they're offered, it becomes exceedingly likely the team will search for a new starting lineman.

Though not an overly freak athlete, Fuaga is an explosive blocker who's excelled in both pass- and run-blocking during his time in Corvallis. Standing at 6’6”, 322 pounds with 33 ⅜” arm length, Fuaga is an energy player at tackle and arguably the most diverse run blocker in the class.

Fuaga is capable of playing guard or tackle in the NFL, which gives him many avenues to be a positive contributor. In this scenario, I'd imagine the Broncos play Fuaga at right tackle out of the gate and slide Mike McGlinchey to left tackle.

Fuaga would give Denver a building block along the front five and a power player next to guard Quinn Meinerz on the right side of the line, helping the Broncos establish a physical trench-oriented identity.

Round Three: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

As insiders and Payton have hinted, the Broncos are aiming to add to the offense and try to improve the core on that side of the ball. After nabbing an OL with the team’s first pick, the Broncos wind up taking a wide receiver in the third round.

Pearsall (6-1, 195) is a physical receiver who stood out during his one season in Gainesville. With strong hands to work the middle of the field and in contested catches, an array of releases at the line of scrimmage, and a willing blocker displaying effort on every snap, Pearsall has the makings of a potential WR2 in the NFL.

He won’t run away from many defenders or create consistent highlights after the catch, but he's a talented wideout who'd bring dependability, physicality, and toughness in the congested areas the Broncos have lacked from their receiving group.

Round Four: Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas

The Broncos need to get better at pressuring opposing quarterbacks, and twitched-up pass-rushers are difficult to find. There's a strong chance Booker tests so well at the Combine that he flies up the boards and is a mid-Day 2 pick by April. However, for now, there is enough variance in his apparent perceived range that an early Round 4 selection is fair.

At 6’5, 240 pounds, with 34-inch arms, Booker displayed promising flashes of burst, bend, and motor during his time at Kansas. He still appears to be a bit away from possessing an NFL frame; due to this, he'll likely enter his rookie season as a designated rusher.

Much projection with Booker revolves around his ability to put on functional strength and mass, but at worst, he'll carve out a situational role at the professional level.

Round Five: Delmar Glaze, OL, Maryland

The onslaught of offensive prospects continues as Denver selects an additional piece for the offensive line. With requisite size (6-4, 325 pounds), Glaze lined up at left tackle for Maryland last season but has the skill set that could see him moved into guard in the pros. 

A smart, in-control athlete while pass-protecting, Glaze gets in trouble when having to show his range against speed rushers. He should be penciled in as a second-string guard and tackle.

Round Five: Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest

With Delarin Turner-Yell suffering a late-season injury, the future of free-agent PJ Locke up in the air, and the presence of consistently injured Caden Sterns, the Broncos must address the depth of their secondary. 

Mustapha is not a giant prospect at safety but displays smarts and range both in the pass and run game. He plays with a physicality that does not match his athletic profile. 

This late into Day 3, another safety with special teams upside sounds like a George Paton draft special.

Round Six: Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois

Many folks in the Draft community expect this to be a down year for tight ends after blue-chipper Brock Bowers comes off the board. In a year like this, taking big athletes with projectable traits is never a bad idea. 

Reiman won’t impress one with his stat sheet, but the size and traits were apparent on tape and at the Shrine Bowl this season. Not heavily featured in Illinois’ passing attack, Reiman is a 6-foot-4, 273-pound bowling ball as a blocker, with enough twitch to develop into more than an afterthought as a pass protector. 

Tight ends with high Relative Athletic Scores are some of the best translators to the NFL of any position. If Reiman tests like he flashed, at his size, he's worth taking a late flier on.

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