Denver Broncos NFL Draft 2024 guide: Picks, predictions and key needs (2024)

The Beast, Dane Brugler’s expansive guide to the NFL Draft, is here.

The Denver Broncos have the 12th pick in the NFL Draft when Round 1 begins April 25 in Detroit. The Broncos own eight picks in the seven-round draft.

Broncos’ draft picks

Full draft order

Every pick in the seven-round NFL Draft.

NFL Draft details

• Round 1: April 25, 6 p.m. MT
• Rounds 2-3: April 26, 5 p.m. MT
• Rounds 4-7: April 27, 10 a.m. MT

All rounds will be televised on ESPN/ABC and NFL Network and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

About the Broncos

• Head coach: Sean Payton (second season with team)
• Last year’s record: 8-9

The Broncos have described an offseason defined by high-profile departures as a push toward a sustainable winning future. Team leaders insist that doesn’t mean they are entering a rebuilding phase in 2024.

“Other teams have been through this and came out ahead,” general manager George Paton said. “We want to build the right way for sustained success.”

Still, the Broncos’ actions this offseason suggest they are approaching a transition year that will depend heavily on young, inexperienced players stepping into larger roles. Denver released or traded quarterback Russell Wilson, safety Justin Simmons and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. They allowed two more starters, center Lloyd Cushenberry and inside linebacker Josey Jewell, to leave in free agency. Put simply, the Broncos have opened up room for many new players to contribute as the team moves in a new direction under Payton, but they must nail this draft to start putting the right pieces into place.

Broncos’ key position needs

Quarterback: Since releasing Wilson in early March, the Broncos have not added another quarterback to a roster that includes veterans Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci, who have made just five NFL starts between them. Any veteran passer Denver adds now would not significantly alter the team’s short- or long-term outlook. That makes the draft a critical piece of the puzzle. The Broncos may have to make a significant trade up from No. 12 to select the quarterback they covet, and Payton has called that a “realistic” possibility.

Tight end: Few teams had less production from tight ends in the passing game last season than Denver. Greg Dulcich enters his third season as a player who has flashed considerable talent during the rare times he is on the field. The Broncos are hopeful he can put his history of hamstring issues behind him, but the team will likely search for another pass-catching option in the draft. If Denver doesn’t take a quarterback with its first-round pick, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers could be an option.

Cornerback: The Broncos have one of the league’s best cornerbacks in Pat Surtain II, but the outside corner opposite of him has been a revolving door the past three seasons. Young players like Riley Moss and Damarri Mathis could be candidates to start, but Denver should be in the market to add another talented player at this spot in the draft.

Broncos draft analysis

Why Broncos’ climb back to relevancy must start by nailing long-awaited top pick

Evaluating top NFL Draft QBs with one advanced stat to love and one that will scare teams

Broncos and ‘The Beast’: NFL Draft guide takeaways on possible Denver targets

NFL executives, scouts rank draft’s top QBs: ‘He scares the hell out of me’

Which of the NFL Draft’s top QBs has the best mechanics? Experts grade each passer

Broncos NFL Draft big board: Dallas Turner, Taliese Fuaga among 25 first-rounders to consider

Sean Payton has overhauled Broncos’ O-line. But will they draft a tackle?

Can Broncos’ economical roster approach offset Russell Wilson cap aftermath?

Broncos mailbag: Trading up for a QB in draft is ‘realistic,’ but is it a smart move?

How Broncos and Sean Payton are testing quarterbacks during NFL Draft process

Broncos’ Sean Payton: Trading to top of NFL draft ‘realistic’ as team pursues QB

‘A lot of Drew Brees in Bo Nix’ — Why top draft analyst sees QB fit for Broncos

Kosmider: All signs point to Broncos grabbing QB in draft — but now or in 2025?

Browns acquire Jerry Jeudy from Broncos in exchange for 2024 fifth-, sixth-round picks

Sean Payton’s quarterback pursuit and other Broncos takeaways from the NFL combine

Could Brock Bowers become latest tight end to thrive in Sean Payton’s scheme?

Dallas Turner? Byron Murphy II? Broncos could use top pick to bolster defensive front

The Athletic’s latest mock drafts

April 8: Nick Baumgardner mock draft
Baumgardner sees a trade down and Denver taking their new QB.

April 4: Bruce Feldman mock draft
Feldman’s intel has him taking a cornerback with Denver’s first pick.

March 25: Ben Standig mock draft
Standig has the Broncos trading down and drafting Oregon QB Bo Nix while adding draft picks.

March 21: Beat writer mock draft 2.0
Nick Kosmider trades up again, this time to No. 8, to take Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy.

March 19: Broncos mock draft 2.0
First pick used to bolster the pass rush.

March 6: NFL GMs, execs mock draft’s top 10
Not surprisingly, QBs top the first round.

March 5: Dane Brugler’s post-combine mock draft
Brugler gives the Broncos an offensive boost with Georgia TE Brock Bowers.

Feb. 22: Beat writer mock draft 1.0
Nick Kosmider trades up to No. 9 to get Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy.

Feb. 1: Broncos 7-round mock draft
Nick Kosmider’s early mock likes Georgia TE Brock Bowers with Denver’s top pick.

Broncos’ last five top picks

2023: WR Marvin Mims Jr., No. 63 — Mims made the Pro Bowl as a returner during his rookie season, and changes to the NFL’s kickoff rules should help him be even more dangerous in that role. But the big question is whether he can make leaps as a complete receiver after showing flashes as a deep-ball threat last season.

2022: LB Nik Bonitto, No. 64 — Bonitto was one of Denver’s most improved players in 2023, finishing with eight sacks (he had 1 1/2 as a rookie) and placing near the top of the league in pressure rate. The 24-year-old must still become more stout against the run, but his arrow is trending in the right direction.

2021: CB Patrick Surtain II, No. 9 — Surtain has made the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2022. It has all set him up for a massive contract extension that could come as soon as this offseason. But if Denver does plan to make a massive trade up in the draft for a quarterback, the possibility of Surtain being included in a deal can’t be completely discounted.

2020: WR Jerry Jeudy, No. 15 — The Broncos traded Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns in March and got back a fifth- and a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft. The Browns promptly handed Jeudy a three-year, $58 million contract extension with $41 million in guarantees — a deal Denver wasn’t willing to make. It was ultimately a disappointing chapter in Denver for Jeudy, who eclipsed 900 yards only once in four seasons.

2019: TE Noah Fant, No. 20 — Fant was included in the 2022 trade with the Seahawks that brought Wilson to Denver, and he recently signed a two-year, $21 million extension with Seattle. Fant had 670 yards during his final season with the Broncos in 2021. The Broncos had 362 total receiving yards from the position last season.

(Photo of Bo Nix: Ric Tapia / Getty Images)