After starting with a 2-5 record, the Broncos have gone on a nice run, going 6-3 since then. Despite starting the season as one of the worst defenses we’ve seen in quite some time, they’ve improved week by week. That said, defense is still a big problem as the Broncos ranked 29th in points allowed per game (25.1 PPG) in 2023.

 

Unfortunately, the problems don’t stop there. Just before week 17, Russell Wilson was told by the Broncos that if he didn’t restructure his deal, they would bench him. According to Yahoo Sports, Wilson had this to say about the situation, “They came up to me during the bye week and beginning of the bye week, Monday or Tuesday, they told me if I didn’t change my contract, my injury guarantee, that I’d be benched the rest of the year,”

 

Obviously, this is a bad look for the organization, but they’ve made it clear that they want a new quarterback. While I believe Wilson isn’t the quarterback of the future, I’m surprised they’re going to bench him or even cut him and take the dead cap hit. Nonetheless, it’s clear what direction the team wants to go in, and these wishes will be reflected in my three-round NFL mock draft. 

 

First-Round Pick: 14th Overall

 

The pick: Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU

 

As I mentioned earlier, it’s clear that the Broncos want to move on from Russell Wilson. If the Broncos take Jayden Daniels, they still might keep Wilson to let Daniels develop, which will be an interesting dynamic. Either way, after all the drama surrounding Wilson, it’s almost impossible to see a world where the Broncos don’t address the quarterback position this off-season.

 

The expectation for Sean Payton is for him to develop a quarterback, so what player better to give him than Daniels? Daniels is a phenomenal athlete but still needs to grow as a passer. Right now, Daniels is projected to go in the mid-first round, but If he has a great combine, I wouldn’t be surprised if he skyrockets like Anthony Richardson.

 

In Daniels’s 2023 Heisman winning campaign, he threw for 3,812 yards, ran for 1,134 yards, and scored 50 total touchdowns. Daniels has a fantastic deep ball and is a great scrambling quarterback, but he still needs to be better on his short and intermediate throws. That said, standing at 6′ 4″ 210 lbs, Daniels has all the intangibles an NFL coach could ever ask for.

 

 

Third-Round Pick: 78th Overall

 

The pick: Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State

 

After addressing the offensive side of the ball in round one, grabbing a defensive player needs to be a priority. Jack Sawyer is the perfect fit in the third round, as he’ll help out the Broncos pass rush a ton. Not only is Sawyer a great fit, but he’s one of the best overall talents on the board.

 

As a junior at Ohio State, Sawyer recorded 48 total tackles, ten tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks. Sawyer is 6′ 4″ 265 lbs but still has a quick first step to pair with excellent power. On top of this, he has great body control, which helps him rush the passer and play the run very well. That said, Sawyer needs to improve at setting the edge and winning at the point of attack more often. 

 

 

 

2024 Denver Broncos 3 Round NFL Mock Draft

 

 

2024 Simulated 1st Round NFL Mock Draft