WalterFootball.com: NFL Draft Grades - Denver Broncos

2024 Pick 12. (R:1 P:12) - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon MILLEN This reminds me of the Vikings drafting Christian Ponder or the Jaguars drafting Blaine Gabbert. Both quarterbacks were second-round prospects who were pushed way up because of position and need. This is the case here, as Nix should be a second-round selection. The Broncos, however, were very desperate for a quarterback and were backed into a corner. They should have traded back and tried to get Nix.

2024 Pick 76. (R:3 P:12) - Jonah Elliss, OLB/DE, Utah
B The Broncos had interest in Laiatu Latu, so they may have taken him had they not needed a quarterback. Thus, it's not a surprise to see them address their weak edge rush with this pick. Jonah Elliss fits the range and fills a need, but he's a bit undersized, so his snap count will be limited.

2024 Pick 102. (R:4 P:2) - Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon A+ What a steal! Troy Franklin easily could have gone in the second round. The Broncos are getting a steal, all while filling a need to replace Jerry Jeudy. Even better, Franklin gets to keep playing with his college quarterback. Definitely an A+ pick!

2024 Pick 145. (R:5 P:10) - Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri
A The Broncos didn't have much at cornerback aside from Patrick Surtain, so they had to address the position. Kris Abrams-Draine has a chance to become a starter in the future, as he was a potential third-round pick, so I like this value.

2024 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

2024 Pick 256. (R:7 P:36) - Nicholas Garguilo, C/G, South Carolina
A- The Broncos lost some linemen in free agency, so they had to find some depth. Why not draft a guy who can play every interior position? I thought Nicholas Garguilo would go a bit earlier than this, so I like the value.

2023 Pick 67. (R:3 P:4) - Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas A Drew Sanders definitely could have gone earlier than this. He's a high-upside, athletic player who can be used all over the field. He can be used in the middle of the field or on the edge. I love this value.

2023 Pick 68. (R:3 P:5) - Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee A+ I absolutely love this pick. Hendon Hooker is a quarterback I had rated above Will Levis, who went way earlier than this. He's an athletic player with great passing ability, but he fell because he's a 26-year-old coming off a torn ACL. However, he doesn't need to play right away. The Lions can develop him and have him as the starter down the road.

2023 Pick 108. (R:4 P:6) - Anthony Bradford, G, LSU
B+ The Seahawks had two stud rookies at tackle last year, but needed help at guard. Anthony Bradford can actually play both positions. He's a solid prospect who looked very smooth in the combine drills to help himself. This is a quality pick to help Geno Smith.

2023 Pick 139. (R:5 P:4) - Clayton Tune, QB, Houston
B The Cardinals needed to draft a quarterback to develop behind Kyler Murray and his albatross of a contract. Clayton Tune is an accurate quarterback who projects as a career backup. There's not much upside here, but the pick had to be made.

2023 Pick 195. (R:6 P:18) - A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
B No one should be surprised that the Saints added to their receiving corps, which is starved for depth. A.T. Perry is a massive wideout who should be a nice weapon in the end zone.

2022 Pick 64. (R:2 P:32) - Nik Bonitto, OLB, Oklahoma B+ Grade
Nik "Casa" Bonitto is a bit of a tweener, but he's an explosive edge rusher. The Broncos signed Randy Gregory, but they can't count on him to be a long-term player across from Bradley Chubb. Bonitto could be that guy.

2022 Pick 80. (R:3 P:16) - Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA A- Grade
I mocked Greg Dulcich to the Broncos at No. 75, so I'm glad they were able to trade down five spots and pick up some value! Tight end makes sense here after Denver traded Noah Fant to Seattle. I like Albert Okwuegbunam, but the Broncos want to give Russell Wilson two capable tight ends to throw to, and Dulcich has good upside.

2022 Pick 115. (R:4 P:10) - Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
B+ Grade
The Broncos had to address their cornerback situation, as it's not very promising outside of Patrick Surtain. Damarri Mathis could help sooner rather than later, as he's a solid choice here in the fourth round. I've had him in this range in most updates.

2022 Pick 116. (R:4 P:11) - Eyioma Uwazurike, , Iowa State
C Grade
Eyioma Uwazurike impressed during pre-draft workouts and did a good job of improving his draft stock, but I think this is a bit too rich for him. I had him pegged in the sixth round, so I'm not a fan of this pick, though it potentially fills a need.

2022 Pick 152. (R:5 P:9) - Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, Oklahoma
B Grade
The Broncos need to get younger at safety, so this pick makes a lot of sense. Delarrin Turner-Yell is someone I mocked around this range, so this is a solid pick for Denver.

2022 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

2022 Pick 179. (R:5 P:36) - Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina A- Grade
The Packers were looking for edge-rushing depth after losing Za'Darius Smith this offseason. Kingsley Enagbare, who was a quality pass rusher at South Carolina, should be able to fill that need. I had him a round earlier than this.

2022 Pick 207. (R:6 P:28) - Doug Kramer, C, Illinois
C+ Grade
Doug Kramer was a rock-solid center at Illinois. I just didn't think he had the athleticism to be in the NFL, but perhaps he'll prove everyone wrong. Kramer could compete for starting action because Chicago's offensive line is so bad.

2022 Pick 233. (R:7 P:12) - Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir-Rhyne
B Grade
I'm not sure why the Seahawks needed another receiver, but Dareke Young's range makes sense to me in the seventh round. I slotted him to the Seahawks at No. 229, so I can't grade this pick poorly!

2021 Pick 9. (R:1 P:9) - Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama B Grade
The Broncos loved Justin Fields, so this selection might suggest that they'll be trading for Aaron Rodgers - and perhaps Surtain will be part of the package. Cornerback isn't a big immediate need for the Broncos, but they have Kyle Fuller signed on for just one year, so the position would need to be addressed soon. If Surtain goes to the Packers, it'll be a huge upgrade across from Jaire Alexander, and I would boost the grade to an A-.

2021 Pick 40. (R:2 P:8) - Richie Grant, S, Central Florida B Grade
Another safety over Trevon Moehrig, so I wonder if there are injury concerns with the TCU product. Richie Grant is a quality safety prospect with great instincts, so he can start right away. That's needed for the Falcons, who have to deal with Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown and D.J. Moore in their division.

2021 Pick 71. (R:3 P:7) - Aaron Robinson, CB, Central Florida A+ Grade
The Giants added Adoree Jackson to James Bradberry, but they still needed one more cornerback. Aaron Robinson addresses that void, providing great value in the process. I've had Robinson in the first round of some of my updates, so I absolutely love this pick.

2021 Pick 114. (R:4 P:9) - Drew Dalman, , Stanford
B+ Grade
I had Drew Dalman slotted three picks later in my mock draft, so this value makes sense to me. The Falcons had to obtain a center after losing Alex Mack. They have a replacement in Matt Hennessy, but he's not a proven commodity, so competition was needed.

2021 Pick 152. (R:5 P:8) - Caden Sterns, S, Texas
A Grade
Caden Sterns is a great athlete who had a tremendous start to his Texas career, but an injury derailed his collegiate career. This is a great value pick because if Sterns gets healthier, he could perform like he did in his early days at Texas.

2021 Pick 237. (R:7 P:9) - Kary Vincent, CB, LSU
A Grade
Bryce Callahan hasn't been able to stay healthy consistently, so the Broncos did well to find a possible replacement. Kary Vincent Jr. was someone I pegged in the fifth round, so I'm a fan of this value.

2021 Pick 239. (R:7 P:11) - Jonathon Cooper, DE, Ohio State
B Grade
I mocked Jonathon Cooper 10 picks later than this, so the value makes sense to me. The Broncos had to find edge-rushing depth, especially considering Von Miller's off-the-field issues. Cooper could contend to start once Miller leaves the team.

2021 Pick 253. (R:7 P:25) - Marquiss Spencer, DT, Mississippi State
B+ Grade
Marquiss Spencer makes sense to me as a seventh-round prospect. The Broncos needed defensive line depth after what occurred in November last year when Denver had a slew of injuries on the front. Spencer is a great athlete with nice upside.

2020 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

2019 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

2018 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

2017 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

2016 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

2015 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

2014 Denver Broncos - Prospect:TBD

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