Which position are Broncos most likely to target with first pick in 2026 NFL Draft?

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The Denver Broncos are approaching the 2026 NFL Draft with championship aspirations, looking for a few extra pieces to get over the hump this coming season.

After trading away several picks to obtain wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins, the Broncos have much less draft capital than they began with, but could still get creative enough to come out of the selection process sitting pretty. But which direction will the team go in with its first pick?

The Broncos could use more depth at inside linebacker, tight end, running back and defensive line. It would also be a good idea to consider another offensive tackle to be developed into an eventual replacement for either Garett Bolles or Mike McGlinchey.

With only seven picks at their disposal, the Broncos will have to work a trade or be fortunate with the way the board falls in order to come out of this draft with all of those things but if last year's draft was any indication, the tandem of Sean Payton and George Paton don't really put much stock into positional needs and just take the top player on their board.

But you're looking for an answer to the question of which position the team will target, right? Let's take a closer look at what many consider the team's top needs.

What will Broncos do with pick No. 62?

The Broncos don't have a pick until late in the second round, No. 62 overall, and because of all of the unpredictability in front of them, they likely don't have any one player or position etched in stone with this pick.

Running Back: If Notre Dame's Jadarian Price falls to this spot, it would be quite difficult to pass on him. Arkansas' Mike Washington Jr. would be another option. But the Broncos like their running back room much more than most of the fanbase seems to and Payton is likely not bothered by waiting until Day 3 to address this spot.

Tight End: Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers may have emerged as the top mock draft selection for the Broncos with this pick and it does make sense. He would give Payton the ability to be much more versatile at the tight end position due to his natural ability to make plays with the ball in his hands.

Defensive Line: The Broncos need to find a replacement for John Franklin-Myers, who departed in free agency, but it's much more likely that the team will turn to a player already on the roster, such as Sai'vion Jones, to fill that role before looking for that player with this pick.

Inside Linebacker: There could be some great options at this spot, including Anthony Hill, Jr., Jacob Rodriguez and Josiah Trotter. With Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad as the current starters, any of those players could knock them out of the lineup. At the very least, the Broncos need more depth here, but the potential move of Jonah Elliss to the inside could be a big factor.

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In all likelihood, the Broncos are going to take the best player on their board at No. 62, regardless of position. That could even be a player who doesn't fill any of these positions. If the team does take a player at one of these positions, inside linebacker is probably the correct move.