Broncos’ grab steal at running back and Rugby player in this 7-round mock originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Denver Broncos are sizing up their big board heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, which kicks off on Thursday night. Does the team look to plug holes on the roster or use the picks it has to take shots on luxury players for the future?
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The Broncos have a unique position in this draft. Though they aren’t armed with a ton of draft capital, George Paton and Sean Payton know that they have a roster that is ready to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. The team took a calculated and measured approach to free agency, opting to re-sign their own players rather than look too far outside the organization.
A trade for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle last month changed the draft drastically for the team, as it cost multiple picks to make the deal happen, but the Broncos can still pick their spots in this draft to get the players they want.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com recently put forth a fresh seven-round mock draft and the Broncos were able to come away with some exciting picks. Take a look.
Round 2, Pick No. 62: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Round 4, Pick No. 108: Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri
Round 4, Pick No. 111: Logan Fano, EDGE, Utah
Round 5, Pick No. 170: Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M
Round 7, Pick No. 246: Jackson Kuwatch, LB, Miami (OH)
Round 7, Pick No. 256: Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona
Round 7, Pick No. 257: Joshua Weru, Edge
To begin with, Jadarian Price would be an incredible pick at No. 62 for the Broncos. It’s hard to gauge when the front office may feel is the right time to take a running back, but it would be a shame to pass on Price if he is there.
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Many fans and analysts feel he could be a late first or early second-round pick, meaning he would be long gone by this point, but if you buy into mock drafts at all, he’s available at this range in nearly every one of them.
Chris McClellan has been commonly mocked to the Broncos due to a need on the defensive line. The Broncos drafted edge rusher Jonah Elliss out of Utah last year and would be adding another Utes pass rusher in Logan Fano. With the rumor that Elliss could be moved to the inside this coming season, the Broncos could look to replace him on the outside.
Joshua Weru, despite being the final pick in the entire draft, would be one of the most talked-about choices as he has never played organized football. However, his background in Rugby and a strong showing at his pro day have led to some interest and a chance that he gets selected.
DRAFT NEWS:Broncos have less control than any team in NFL draft, will need to pick spots wisely
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The Broncos, who chose Utah basketball player Caleb Lohner in the seventh round last year, would have one of the more interesting “Mr. Irrelevant” picks ever made in Weru.
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