Where Broncos Now Stand with NFL Draft Picks

The Denver Broncos have been busy dealing and acquiring draft picks. Where does that leave things?

The Denver Broncos have taken massive hits to their draft position over the last two years, mainly due to the trade for Russell Wilson. Both in the 2022 and 2023 NFL draft, Denver's first pick was the final pick of the second round. 

The Broncos have made multiple trades that impact their pick status for 2024 and beyond. So the question arises: Have the Broncos once again put themselves in a tough spot?

For the 2024 draft, the Broncos are poised to make a first-round selection at the moment. The Broncos managed to keep a hold of their 2024 first-rounder over their big trades to land Wilson and Sean Payton. 

However, as part of the Payton trade, the Broncos don't have their 2024 second-round pick. Denver got a third-round pick in return, which would have given the team two third-rounders, but it sent one of them in a package to move up to draft cornerback Riley Moss in the 2023 draft. 

That gives the Broncos only a 2024 first and a third, though it's unclear if the the third is Denver's or New Orleans Saints' pick is currently unknown. The Broncos aren't projected to land any compensatory picks, which would leave them with two picks in the top 100. 

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Getting to the Day 3 picks, the Broncos got an extra fourth-rounder as part of the Bradley Chubb trade to the Miami Dolphins but sent one to the New York Jets for Jacob Martin last fall, who's no longer with the team. That leaves the Broncos with one fourth-round pick. Denver also received a fifth-rounder in the Martin trade, so it has two fifth-rounders. 

The Broncos sent their sixth-rounder to the Los Angeles Rams for Kenny Young before the 2021 season trade deadline. In that same trade, the Broncos got a seventh-rounder back, giving them two seventh-round picks. However, the Broncos traded one of those sevenths to the Saints on Tuesday for kicker Wil Lutz. 

The 2024 Draft Total

• First-round
• Third-round
• Fourth-round
• Fifth-round (two)
• Seventh-round

The Broncos sit with six picks in next year's draft and could always make more. However, only having two picks in the top 100 isn't ideal, but it will be interesting to see if that changes and how it could. 

As for the 2025 draft, the Broncos have all their original picks in the first six rounds. The Broncos also get an extra sixth from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Albert Okwuegbunam and their 2025 seventh-round pick. So, for the 2025 draft, the Broncos still have seven picks, just with two sixths and no seventh. 

While it isn't ideal for the 2024 draft, Coach Payton has a history of using future draft picks to help in the current year. The issue with that is that it leads to a domino effect of having to do that yearly. 

Also hurting the Broncos has been their lack of compensatory picks. Hopefully, they can improve the roster and start winning games and developing young talent. 

That would help the Broncos' future draft position as they wouldn't be forced to spend on free agents that cancel out their losses, which is how the compensatory draft pick formula works. 

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