Broncos 2026 NFL Draft takeaways: Denver gives itself more options at RB, TE

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The Broncos stayed put and selected Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock with the draft’s final selection. One pick earlier, they took Utah tight end Dallen Bentley, with head coach Sean Payton dubbing him “Vice President of Mr. Irrelevant.” “So anything that Murdock can’t handle, they can both (handle),” Payton said. The ending flurry of picks punctuated a final day of the draft in which the Broncos made six of their seven overall selections, adding depth to a roster that is already among the strongest in the NFL. Here are the key takeaways: Kage Casey. The former Boise State lineman had a simple answer to the question of what position he’ll play at the NFL level: “Wherever they want me to play.” Casey’s value could come in his versatility, a priority for the Broncos as they continue to build depth behind the veteran starters on their offensive line. Casey exclusively played left tackle at Boise State, but the Broncos often view their developmental linemen, Payton has said, as left or right side as opposed to guard or tackle. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Casey will get his snaps at tackle during the offseason, but the Broncos will also want to see what he can do at left guard, where starter Ben Powers is entering the final year of his contract. If Casey can prove to be a replacement at the position by 2027 — or at least an option to compete for the job — the pick could turn into a major hit. “I think even in the pre-draft process, me bumping to guard, playing a little bit of center in my pro day was something that helped me out a lot,” Casey said, “and something I think the Broncos could use.” Justin Joly. The surprise component of the pick is that Joly was still available well into the fifth round Saturday. He was the No. 93 prospect in Dane Brugler’s rankings in “The Beast” and his No. 5 tight end. He was second among all FBS tight ends in 2025 with seven touchdown catches and was charged with only one drop. He caught at least 43 passes in each of his past three college seasons (2025 and 2024 at North Carolina State; 2023 at UConn). There are concerns about Joly’s frame at 241 pounds that could limit his ability to play inline, and he’ll also need to grow as a blocker in space. He profiles as a strong fit for the Broncos in the “move” tight end role, though, as a player who could line up and run routes from multiple spots in the formation. “They just said I have to go out there and ball,” Joly said of his conversations with the Broncos. “They said to me, ‘Go play all over the field.’ … There are a lot of things they feel like I can do, being used in the backfield, in the slot. Obviously, I’m going to have to learn and get ready to just play. Overall, I look forward to it, and I know they do, too. I’m just happy they believe in my skill set.” Put simply, Denver needed more pass-catching juice at tight end. The 1,564 receiving yards Broncos tight ends have produced since 2023 is by far the lowest mark in the NFL. Joly will need to get stronger and hone his craft as a blocker, but he should instantly provide value as a receiver. It could be similar to what the AFC West Chargers received from their similarly sized fifth-round tight end in 2025, Oronde Gadsen II, who had 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns during his first pro season. Can Jonah Coleman quickly earn the requisite trust from Payton to become the team’s new third-down back? The team’s fourth-round pick out of Washington is built for tough yardage. He is a pile-dragging, downhill force who picked up first downs or scored touchdowns on 35 percent of his runs last season. There will be an immediate role for Coleman in the short-yardage running game. His potential as an upgrade over Tyler Badie, though, will hinge on whether Coleman can prove himself as a capable pass protector — and reliable pass-catcher — in third-down or two-minute situations. “Now, I get to go protect (quarterback) Bo Nix, and I take pride in that,” Coleman said moments after being drafted Saturday. “I may not have all the exciting plays and all of that, but I do the dirty work. I do those things that not a lot of people pay attention to.” His film at Washington suggests Coleman could quickly step into that kind of versatile role for the Broncos. He had by far his best season as a receiver in 2025, catching 31 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns. He had six receptions of 20-plus yards, a handful of those after he made defenders miss — or simply ran them over — on screens or swing routes near the line of scrimmage. At 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, Coleman certainly has the right frame to be stout in pass protection. If he can pick up the nuances of that job quickly, there is an important role waiting for him in Denver’s offense. There are no glaring needs for the Broncos. That was true before the draft even began. The defending AFC West champions brought back nearly every key contributor from their 14-win roster of a season ago and added dynamic wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in a trade in March. The Broncos, with their first four picks, added depth pieces on the offensive and defensive lines, a running back in Coleman who could prove to be a needed upgrade at the RB3 position and a tight end with pass-catching upside. It is somewhat surprising that the Broncos waited to address the safety position until seventh-round addition Miles Scott, a converted wide receiver out of Illinois. Starter Brandon Jones is entering the final year of his contract, and P.J. Locke, the team’s No. 3 safety last season and a starter down the stretch after Jones was injured, signed with the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. The Broncos signed former Cincinnati Bengals safety Tycen Anderson in March, but his role is largely expected to come on special teams. Inside linebacker stood out as another depth need given the Broncos’ relative inexperience at the position behind starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. Still, the Broncos have young options to evaluate this offseason with Murdock joining Jordan Turner, Karene Reid and Levelle Bailey. Edge rusher Jonah Elliss will spend time on the inside as well. Running back and tight end stood out as the biggest needs for an offense trying to be more explosive in 2026, and they’ve given themselves more options to evaluate with the additions of Coleman, Joly and Bentley, who is more of an inline blocker who can stretch the seam as a route runner. Paton likes to say building a roster is a year-round job, and Denver will look everywhere from undrafted free agency to the United Football League to evaluate more options. But the bottom line is that this is a complete roster, perhaps the most well-rounded since Payton arrived as head coach. That provides no guarantee, of course, that Denver will once again win 14 games. The AFC West still has teeth. The Broncos, though, are heading into preparations for the 2026 season with no obvious holes. The question now is whether some of the rookies the Broncos added this week can improve the team on the margins. As much as the NFL Draft generates excitement in an immediate sense — and is critical to the sustainability of a winning franchise — championship success for the Broncos in 2026 hinges on the big moves they made before the draft. The Broncos announced in February that new offensive coordinator Davis Webb will take over play-calling from Payton, a first in Payton’s two decades as a head coach. Can the 31-year-old Webb, one of the league’s fastest-rising assistants, unlock a new level from Nix in his third year? Can he put Waddle in the right spots to fully capitalize on the dynamic talent he flashed during his five seasons with the Miami Dolphins? Can the Broncos put together a more sound running plan, one built to weather a potential absence from starting running back J.K. Dobbins? The players the team added during a Day 3 flurry of picks could factor into the 2026 equation in small ways, but it will soon be time to see what the weighty decisions Denver made well before the draft can do for its Super Bowl pursuit. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms