The Broncos’ season ended Sunday after losing to the Bills, 31-7, in the wild-card round.
Next up for Denver: The offseason and looking to the NFL draft. The Broncos locked in the No. 20 pick in the first round of the NFL draft. It’s a spot the franchise has picked from four times since the AFL-NFL merger, selecting Hall of Famer Steve Atwater (1989), offensive tackles George Foster (2008) and Garett Bolles (2017), and tight end Noah Fant (2019).
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After finding their franchise quarterback in Bo Nix in last year’s draft, the Broncos have numerous needs heading into the offseason, from revamping the running game to finding answers at inside linebacker to finding more playmakers on offense.
Here’s a look at who national draftniks are thinking will land in Denver.
247Sports | Brad Crawford | Updated Jan. 13
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III warms up before a game against Alabama on Oct. 26 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
No writeup available. See the full mock draft.
CBS Sports | Mike Renner | Updated Jan. 14
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III runs the ball during the first half against Oklahoma on Nov. 9 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
“Luther Burden III didn’t put up the stats of a first-rounder this past fall, but the tape still showed the most dynamic wideout in the draft class. He breaks tackles at an elite clip. That’s a great skill to have in a Sean Payton-coached offense.” See the full mock draft.
ESPN | Jordan Reid | Updated Jan. 7
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III, left, runs past the tackle of Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. during the first quarter on Nov. 9 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
“The Broncos could use pass-catching help alongside Courtland Sutton. Burden is a competitive receiver who can line up outside or in the slot. Though he couldn’t match his elite 2023 production (he had 61 catches for 676 yards and 6 touchdowns this season after going for 86, 1,212 and 9 the year before), Burden still forced 28 missed tackles this season. He’s extremely dangerous after the catch and would give rookie quarterback Bo Nix a versatile playmaking option.” See the full mock draft.
Yahoo! Sports | Nate Tice and Charles McDonald | Updated Jan. 12
Michigan tight end Colston Loveland runs after making a catch and is tackled by Oregon defensive backs Kobe Savage and Brandon Johnson (3) in the second half on Nov. 2 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Oregon defeated Michigan 38-17. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
“The Broncos’ main job this offseason is to keep adding players to help Bo Nix get more comfortable in the NFL. One area where they could use an upgrade is at tight end, which has a rather strong class this year. Loveland could be a top TE prospect with his high upside.” See the full mock draft.
Pro Football Network | Alan Goldsher | Updated Jan. 14
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren gains yardage against Maryland during the second quarter on Nov. 30 in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
“Did Bo Nix improve his receivers, or did Denver’s receivers improve Bo Nix? We can chicken/egg that one to death, but the facts are that over the last month of the season, the receiving tandem of Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. was legit, while the tight end tandem of Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull, not so much. The Denver Broncos would be wise to give Nix this shiny new toy.” See the full mock draft.
The Sporting News | Vinnie Iyer | Updated Jan. 14
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren pulls in a touchdown pass as Boise State safety Ty Benefield defends during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl College on Dec. 31 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
“The Broncos also haven’t had a big-time receiving tight end in a while, and Warren can take over games receiving with size, strength, and athleticism, which also are key assets in run blocking and wrinkle plays.” See the full mock draft.
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