Reacting to Broncos' Active Day 3 Maneuvers in the Draft

The Denver Broncos punctuated the NFL draft with a busy Day 3.

On the final day of the 2023 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos were once again forced to be patient, as they began Day 3 with just two sixth-round picks, thanks to a pair of trades on Friday.

Broncos Country watched and waited while 31 NFL teams built their future through the draft. But aren’t good things supposed to come to those who wait?

We’re certainly hoping so, with the 2023 draft officially in the books for the first haul of the Sean Payton era. The Broncos finished Day 3 by executing another draft-day trade to acquire veteran tight end Adam Trautman from the New Orleans Saints, and making two more late-round selections. 

How should fans be feeling about Denver's Day 3 maneuvers? Let's dive in. 

JL Skinner | S | Boise State | Pick 183, Round 6

Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

The 6-foot-4, 209-pounder, who’s originally from San Diego, CA, was one of my favorite defensive backs in this year’s class. Skinner also played wide receiver in high school, along with basketball and track, in addition to being an honor-roll student.

I evaluated Skinner up close at the Senior Bowl, where he drew mixed reviews from the scouting community. Some felt that he had an underwhelming practice performance, while I subscribe to what my eyes told me, and that is that Skinner was disruptive and a menace to receivers and running backs alike.

A torn pectoral muscle suffered in the pre-draft process is likely why his draft stock plummeted from his projected second-round status. Skinner leaves Boise State playing in 38 career games, recording 208 tackles (133 solo), 9.5 tackles for a loss, seven interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 12 passes defended. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors.

Skinner becomes the newest Broncos defensive back tasked with defending tight ends, a position that has haunted Denver’s secondary for a half-decade. He has a natural ability to wrap and roll when tackling and can leave receivers shell-shocked with his violent hits. 

The 22-year-old has an innate ability to read QBs exceptionally well, and his preparation, paired with his study habits, will benefit him as he transitions to the NFL. Selecting Skinner all but signals that Riley Moss (Broncos' third-rounder) will be playing in a cornerback role, specifically in nickel and dime packages. 

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Alex Forsyth | C | Oregon

Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Refusing to just stay put for the sake of it, Broncos GM George Paton executed a third trade in this year’s draft when he dealt pick No. 195 (in the sixth round) to New Orleans to land the aforementioned Trautman and the No. 257 pick (seventh round).

This meant that Denver waited again until the bottom of the seventh round to select Forsyth out of Oregon with the No. 257 pick to conclude the draft. Standing at 6-foot-4, and weighing 303 pounds, Forsyth answers a demand that most of Broncos Country, including myself, thought would be addressed in the early rounds of the draft. 

A host of centers were projected and mocked to Denver in the second and third rounds, but the Broncos apparently felt they could add value with the versatile center/guard in the last round of the draft. A back injury combined with some pre-snap snafus are immediate concerns in Forsyth’s game, but the Broncos have the potential to clean it up as he matures in the team's power-gap blocking scheme.

The 24-year-old has started for Oregon since 2020 and has earned a reputation for his consistency on the interior offensive line, which is highlighted by his advanced football acumen. What Forsyth lacks in power, he makes up for with technique, as his attention to detail allows him to combat larger and stronger defenders.

Forsyth joins fellow centers in Denver in Lloyd Cushenberry III, Luke Wattenberg, and Kyle Fuller where he’ll also get an opportunity to provide depth for guards Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Will Sherman, and Quinn Bailey. Versatility is the name of the game for interior O-line in the NFL, and while I would’ve preferred the center position to be addressed much earlier, I’m pleased that Forsyth is coming to Denver.

While Forsyth may not have been worth a premium draft pick, his services would’ve been highly sought after in the college free-agent market post-draft, which caused the Broncos to pull the trigger and draft him with their final pick. One major intangible that gets overlooked with Forsyth is the fact that he was a finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award, which represents a player who embodies courage, integrity, sportsmanship, and leadership.

O-linemen are cerebral creatures, and centers are a rare breed of athlete. It’ll be interesting to see how Forsyth assimilates into Payton’s offense under first-year Broncos OL coach Zach Strief. 

Bottom Line

Skinner's measurements complement Justin Simmons nicely. Skinner still has room to add weight and gather experience before playing alongside the Broncos' All-Pro.

However, drafting Skinner might mean that Kareem Jackson’s days in Denver are over. While he needs to develop, Skinner’s competitive style of play will fit in nicely with Denver’s talented secondary. Plus, he gets to keep his orange and blue threads from Boise State.

On Day 3, the Broncos landed a former third-round pick, whom Coach Payton considers to be a prototypical Y tight end, in Trautman. And Denver still managed to maneuver into Round 2 to take Oklahoma wideout Marvin Mims Jr. and finished the draft with five selections — the same number the team entered with (just in a different order). 

As for Forsyth, he will be tested physically, but the mental aspect of adjusting to life in the NFL should be relatively comfortable for the mature and highly intelligent young player. Get ready for some fiery one-on-ones in the pit at Broncos training camp this summer, folks. Jobs depend on it. 

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