The Denver Broncos are without a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft following a trade to acquire Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. They don't have a pick in the third round or sixth round, either.
But they still own seven picks in the selection process, scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. The Broncos have a few positions of need despite having one of the more complete rosters in the league heading into the 2026 season.
Using the draft simulator provided by Pro Football Network, I took on the role of Broncos general manager and made selections for the team. Trades can be offered during these simulations, but in this one, the Broncos stayed put and just went with the best value that could be found. This simulation was ran just one time, and these were the results.
Denver Broncos 7-round mock draft
Round 2, No. 62 overall: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
With their first pick in the draft coming at the bottom of the second round, the Broncos were left to decide between Caleb Banks and Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter. Though the need at inside linebacker is probably bigger than adding depth to the defensive line, the potential of Banks was too much to pass up.
Banks will have a first-round grade by many scouts and analysts and the only thing that may knock him down the board is his injury history. He's a huge athlete at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, but the combination of speed, power and athleticism that he possesses for a player his size is, quite frankly, scary.
The Broncos go with a player with a tremendous ceiling at No. 62.
Round 4, No. 108 overall: Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
With the inside linebacker position quickly thinning out, the Broncos decide to take the best one on their board at this point.
Aiden Fisher followed Curt Cignetti from James Madison to Indiana and helped the Hoosiers win a national championship. He is a tough, instinctive linebacker with a high football IQ. He is a solid tackler, but can be pushed around and would need to show improvement in pass coverage.
Round 4, No. 111 overall: Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah
This would be another pick that could bring the team tremendous value, particularly for a team like the Broncos, which needs more at tight end.
Dallen Bentley needs to improve in run-blocking situations, but you really can't fault his game anywhere else. He lines up all over the formation, is tremendous in pass protection and is a legitimate threat in the passing game. He would be an incredibly good addition for this team as it is currently constructed.
Bo's Board: Is Dallen Bentley the pass-catching tight end that Evan Engram was supposed to be? #BroncosCountry #Broncos @JoshuaDover | @CecilLammey pic.twitter.com/Hqh2uwitKR
— Denver Sports 104.3 (@DenSports1043) March 25, 2026
Round 5, No. 170 overall: Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
Adam Randall came to Clemson as a wide receiver before being converted to running back and it now looks like the position he's played his entire life. At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, Randall has great size and his days as a receiver helped him become a strong asset out of the backfield.
But most importantly, the Broncos need a running back that they can pound at the defense in those tough-yardage situations, who also has the ability to find a hole and create a burst for a huge play. Here he is.
Round 7, No. 246 overall: Isaiah Nwokobia, S, SMU
The Broncos can use more depth at the safety position, so they take a shot on one here late in the seventh round. Isaiah Nwokobia is an intelligent player who could make a quick impact on special teams as a rookie.
Round 7, No. 256 overall: Albert Regis, DL, Texas A&M
This would be tremendous value down this far in the draft as Albert Regis has the potential to be a starter in the league as a guy who can do all of the little things well.
He's incredibly strong and a very intelligent player. He knows what works and what doesn't and what he lacks in length and pass-rushing ability, he makes up for in being a stout, hard-nosed run defender. This would be incredible potential value at this stage.
Round 7, No. 257 overall: Athan Kaliakmanis, QB, Rutgers
The Broncos don't need another quarterback, but with the final pick in the draft, they take a shot on Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis, whom they have met with.
The Broncos have a solid QB room with Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger, but adding a developmental guy who could learn on the practice squad this season wouldn't hurt anything and if he looks better than expected, it could lead to a trade of Stidham, which has been rumored.
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This would be a fun pick for Mr. Irrelevant. In his college career, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Kaliakmanis passed for 8,604 yards and threw 55 touchdown passes.
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