Broncos' top three Day 3 picks in George Paton era

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The first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft are in the history books, but that doesn't mean the draft is over. In fact, in many ways, it's just getting started.

The Denver Broncos have made just one pick through the first three rounds, but the team will make seven choices between rounds four and seven. This is where the scouting really kicks in and this is where the best general managers earn their keep.

George Paton became the general manager of the Broncos ahead of the 2021 season and in that time, he's found some hidden gems. Many of these players, such as Jeremy Crawshaw and Que Robinson, who were drafted in later rounds last year, still have time to develop into good draft picks or bad ones. However, both are on the right track early in their careers.

Looking at past drafts in the Paton era, these are the three best picks he's made on Day 3.

George Paton's besty Day 3 draft picks

3. Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon

The Broncos had to move up 19 slots in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft in order to select Troy Franklin, a player primarily drafted because he was a college teammate of Bo Nix.

Franklin has been a solid player for the Broncos, catching 93 passes for 972 yards and eight touchdowns in his first two seasons. The Broncos would like to see him become an even bigger part of the offense and after a big improvement from year one to year two, he will be one to watch this coming season.

2. Luke Wattenberg, C, Washington

Drafted in the fifth round in 2022, Luke Wattenberg has worked his way into the starting center position and after receiving a four-year contract extension this past season, has that job locked down for the future.

1. Jonathon Cooper, EDGE, Ohio State

In Paton's first draft with the team, he not only made his best Day 3 pick to date, but it's one of the best any team has made in that time.

DRAFT NEWS: Best potential Day 3 picks for Broncos in 2026 NFL Draft

Jonathon Cooper, who is now one of the top players on one of the league's best defenses, was a seventh-round pick in 2021. It's hard to imagine how so many teams passed on him, but the Broncos have reaped the rewards. Cooper has 31.5 career sacks to this point.