Broncos target Day-3 depth in late rounds
- Denver spent the back half of the 2026 draft stacking cheap depth — adding RB Jonah Coleman, TE Justin Joly, S Miles Scott, TE Dallen Bentley and LB Red Murdock. - The clearest tell was Denver’s trade down from No. 62 to No. 66, adding pick No. 182, which helped finance its move for Joly. - This was Denver’s first draft since 1995 without a first- or second-round pick, so Day 3 wasn’t a luxury — it was the plan.
The Broncos didn’t treat Day 3 of the 2026 draft like cleanup work. They treated it like the center of the project. That matters because Denver entered this weekend without a first- or second-round pick for the first time since 1995, which meant the usual top-of-the-board swing was gone. So the front office built a class another way — by stacking usable, low-cost depth and betting on roles instead of star upside. ### Why did Day 3 matter so much? Because Denver’s draft basically started late. The Broncos’ first selection didn’t come until No. 66, when they took Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim after trading down from No. 62. That move brought back pick No. 182, and Denver later used that extra capital in the maneuver that landed tight end Justin Joly. In other words, the trade-down wasn’t just about value on paper — it helped shape the rest of the board. (espn.com) ### What kind of players did they chase? Mostly players with clear second-job value. Jonah Coleman came in as a physical, three-down-capable back who the Broncos believe can help quickly. Joly profiles as a moveable receiving tight end. Miles Scott gives them a late safety add. Dallen Bentley gives them another hybrid tight end body. Red Murdock, the final pick of the entire draft at No. 257, arrived with linebacker production and special-teams-style traits all over his résumé. (denverbroncos.com) ### Why two tight ends? Because Denver’s tight end room needed both juice and volume. The position group combined for just three touchdowns last season, and none of the Broncos’ tight ends averaged more than 9.8 yards per catch. Joly looks like the upside swing as an “F” tight end who can move around the formation, while Bentley looks more like a depth piece who can survive in multiple alignments. Basically, Denver didn’t solve the room with one premium pick — it attacked the problem with numbers. (denverbroncos.com) ### Why does special-teams value show up here? Because that’s how late-round picks make the roster fast. Coaches can carry only so many developmental players who don’t dress on Sundays. A late safety, linebacker, or backup tight end has a much better path if he can cover kicks, tackle in space, or hold up on core units. Murdock’s production — 142 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and six forced fumbles in 2025 — screams “find a role any way possible.” (espn.com) ### Was this conservative? A little — but that was probably the point. Denver didn’t have the draft capital to miss big on luxury bets. So instead of hunting for raw, boom-or-bust prospects, the Broncos leaned into players scouts described in practical terms: future starter, three-down backup, swing tackle, move tight end, immediate help. That’s not flashy. But it’s how teams fill the bottom half of a roster without blowing up the cap. (denverbroncos.com) ### What does this say about the roster? It says Denver thinks the top of the team is mostly in place. Day 3 classes like this are about insulation — injury protection, special teams, and developmental competition behind veterans. Coleman sits behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. Kage Casey looks like a developmental tackle. The tight ends and back-seven defenders were drafted to push for jobs, not to carry the franchise on arrival. (denverbroncos.com) ### So what’s the real takeaway? The Broncos’ late rounds weren’t random dart throws. They were targeted depth buys. When a team starts the draft this late, hitting on one star would be nice — but finding four or five usable players is the real win. (espn.com) (denverbroncos.com)
