The Denver Broncos have a roster capable of making a legitimate Super Bowl run in 2026, but have some key holes to fill before the regular season kicks off in September, and the NFL Draft may offer a compelling chance to add a difference-maker on defense.
In a division that houses Justin Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers, the retooling Kansas City Chiefs, and a Las Vegas Raiders offense that promises to be more explosive in 2026, the Broncos may need to beef up the front-seven, in order to take the next big step from last season’s run to the AFC Championship Game.
NFL Draft 2026: Could the Broncos add Josiah Trotter?
NFL Draft
Nov 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton during the first half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
If the Broncos are looking to add linebacker depth, Missouri’s Josiah Trotter could be in Denver’s crosshairs.
That’s exactly the selection that Denver makes, in the second round, with pick No. 62 overall, in ESPN NFL analyst Field Yates’ latest mock draft.
“Denver made its big splash to add Jaylen Waddle,” Yates writes of the Broncos. “A move that was logical in part because the roster has so few limitations. Inside linebacker is an area to continue to add at after Dre Greenlaw couldn’t provide a boost this past season. Trotter is one of my favorite fits in this round. He’s a tough, hard-nosed and instinctive run defender in traffic who could slide into coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense.”
Trotter, the son of former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, could have a similar ceiling at the next level.
The selection of a high-ceiling prospect like Trotter would be a clear signal that the Broncos are prioritizing the physical, blue-collar identity needed to withstand the AFC West’s offensive gauntlet.
If Totter can leverage his legendary NFL bloodlines to shore up Denver’s interior, he might just be the final piece of the puzzle for a defense that is already knocking on the door of a Super Bowl return.
NFL Draft
Oct 26, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images