NFL Draft Grades: How did the experts grade the Broncos' 2026 draft?

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The Denver Broncos added seven new players to the roster in the 2026 NFL Draft, addressing several positional needs in the process.

It will take years to be able to fully assess how the team did in this year's draft, but instant reactions are always interesting. Draft experts generally issue their report cards within 24 hours of the draft; some do it immediately.

For a team that didn't have a single pick until late in the second round (which was traded), the Broncos seemed to come out of this process nicely. Before we get into what the draft experts think, I graded each one of the team's draft picks and my composite grade for each one of those picks came out to an 84.8 average score, or a solid B grade.

Denver Broncos' 2026 draft class

Round 3, Pick No. 66: Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M

Round 4, Pick No. 108: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

Round 4, Pick No. 111: Kage Casey, OT, Boise State

Round 5, Pick No. 152: Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State

Round 7, Pick No. 246: Miles Scott, S, Illinois

Round 7, Pick No. 256: Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah

Round 7, Pick No. 257: Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo

Broncos' 2026 expert grades roundup

Mel Kiper, ESPN: C+

"When Denver traded the No. 30 selection to Miami, coach Sean Payton said he didn't believe the players who would be on the board in that range would help the team "as much as Jaylen Waddle." Taking contract implications out of the picture, it's hard to argue with that logic.

The best players on the board at No. 30 were probably Denzel Boston, Zion Young and Keldric Faulk . Waddle has hit 900 receiving yards in four of his five seasons and should open up the Broncos' subpar downfield passing game. I would have liked seeing Boston in orange at Mile High, too, but quarterback Bo Nix is going to love having Waddle running routes for him.

The downside is Denver was left with seven total selections and only one in the first three rounds (No. 62). Denver dropped back to No. 66 to add an additional sixth-rounder and took Tyler Onyedim . I heard some buzz on him in the lead-up to the draft, but it was of the "Day 3 sleeper" variety. I ranked Onyedim at No. 109 on my board, but Payton likes to get his guys on Day 2, value be damned. He could help fill the John Franklin- Myers void, playing at a similar weight (292 pounds, compared to 288 for JFM). But there's no guarantee we see a similar pass-rush impact, as Onyedim had 5.5 sacks over 53 career games and is more of a run stopper. Jonah Coleman is another option at running back, scoring 17 scrimmage touchdowns last season. Kage Casey can be a backup at offensive tackle, Justin Joly is a stretch option at tight end, and Mr. Irrelevant Red Murdock is a tackling machine. But there isn't a ton to get super excited about here", wrote Kiper.

Carter Bahns, CBS Sports: B

"Early in Round 3, the Broncos became the final team to make its first selection. They did not have a first-rounder entering the draft and moved out of Round 2 in a Friday trade. With the No. 66 pick, they refueled their already stout defense with lineman Tyler Onyedim, who will not fully replace Jonathan Franklin- Myers but adds a fresh body to that group.

All but one of Denver's picks are Day 3 selections, and the first is a fun one. Jonah Coleman brings a lot of the same skills as R.J. Harvey, whom the Broncos selected a year ago, as a versatile running back with experience making electric plays as a receiver. Kage Casey and Justin Joly bring some edge protection with the latter also boasting the ability to stretch the field as a receiving tight end.

The final two picks of the draft belonged to the Broncos, and they used the last of them on Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock, who is this year's Mr. Irrelevant. He might not be so irrelevant, though. Edwards called him a "spark plug" and said he offers good value to end the draft, and it's hard to disagree when you consider he is the FBS career record holder for forced fumbles with 17", wrote Bahns.

Chad Reuter, NFL.com: A-

"Jaylen Waddle essentially serves as Denver's first-round pick this year, given that the Broncos sent the No. 30 overall choice to Miami for the veteran receiver. That Waddle deal also included the Broncos' third-round selection, so their only pick of Day 2 was Onyedim, chosen despite the availability of Missouri's Chris McClellan (who was picked by the Packers at No. 77) to fill their need for an active, strong defensive lineman to replace departed free agent John Franklin-Myers.

Denver drafted Coleman with the fourth-round pick it acquired from New Orleans for receiver Devaughn Vele, adding a power runner to a deep running back group. Casey adds depth at tackle and guard for the Broncos. Joly and Bentley bolstered the tight end room. Linebacker depth was a need for the Broncos and Murdock's intensity in the box should absolutely make him relevant even though he was the final pick of the 2026 draft", wrote Reuter.

Pro Football Focus: C-

Highest-graded pick (2025): LB Red Murdock, Buffalo Bulls (91.2)

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: B

"The Broncos didn't have much capital after they made the trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and the draft got off to a shaky start with Onyedim as the first pick for GM George Paton. But Coleman, Casey and Joly were good additions with Bo Nix in mind", wrote Iyer.

Kristopher Knox, Bleacher Report: C+

"The Denver Broncos originally had the 30th pick in Round 1, but they traded it for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. It was a bold but sensible move, given Denver's lack of glaring needs and draft positioning.

The Broncos needed another difference-maker in their receiving corps, and they weren't guaranteed to get a top pass-catching prospect at No. 30. It turns out that Denver could have snagged Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. or Washington's Denzel Boston, but the Broncos should get several good years out of the 27-year-old Waddle.

Denver also traded out of Round 2, picking up the 182nd selection to move from No. 62 to No. 66. Finally, the Broncos made their first selection at the top of Round 3, and it was a reach.

Texas A&M's Tyler Onyedim has intriguing potential, but the defensive tackle was the 200th-ranked prospect on the B/R board. Ideally, he'll eventually develop into a replacement for John Franklin-Myers.

Jonah Coleman may make a more immediate impact as part of the backfield rotation. Justin Joly, who was a top-100 prospect on the B/R board, is a talented tight end who can be developed behind Evan Engram.

HOT READ: Broncos' "Mr. Irrelevant" selection is owner of impressive NCAA record

The Broncos didn't have many holes, and if we count Waddle as part of the class, they did a fair job of addressing them in the draft", wrote Knox.