Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Denver Broncos finally made a pick! They traded back into the top end of the third round and selected Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim. He will help replace the void left behind by John Franklin-Myers, who left via free agency and signed with the Tennessee Titans this offseason.
Now, the Broncos head into Day 3 and have a total of seven selections, including two early 4th-round picks to kick off the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft. It will be a much busier day for the Broncos, who are likely to move up and down the board throughout the day and currently own the final two selections of the draft.
They still have needs at linebacker, tight end, and running back, and could use some depth at safety and along their offensive line. Look for the Broncos to address all the areas on Day 3 and hopefully find some steals late in the draft.
Looking at the best available player list, there are still many talented players available to the Broncos, and they should be able to come away with a few good players, especially with their two 4th-round picks.
The BPA list is via The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s best remaining players rankings
Running Back: Mike Washington Jr., Emmett Johnson, Jonah Coleman, Kaytron Allen, Demond Claiborne, Nicholas Singleton, and Eli Heindenreich
We saw only one back get selected on Day 2, and it was a surprise. Kyle Shanahan couldn’t resist drafting yet another back, and this time, he selected Indiana’s Kaelon Black in the 3rd round. Looking at the remaining backs, the Broncos should be able to get a good one with one of their 4th-round selections.
Mike Washington Jr. has the explosive speed and size you look for and would add some real juice to the Broncos’ backfield. Emmett Johnson is an elusive slasher who would bring some playmaking ability to the backfield, while Jonah Coleman is a do-it-all well-rounded back who would be an excellent addition to the Broncos’ running back room. Coleman is my top choice, but players like Kaytron Allen would be good fits as well. Either way, one of these backs will likely be a member of the Denver Broncos come tomorrow.
Tight End: Justin Joly, Jack Endries, Joe Royer, Dallen Bentley, and Riley Nowakowski
The tight end board evaporated quickly, and the Rams selected Max Klare one spot before the Broncos were on the clock in the second round. Now, the board isn’t looking as stacked as we hoped, but there are some talented players still available for the Broncos.
Justin Joly is the name that sticks out, and he’s probably the best receiving threat available. Jack Endries isn’t a flashy tight end, but would give the Broncos a big and reliable target in the middle of the field, while Joe Royer is another well-rounded tight end who profiles as a future TE2. Bentley has some real pass-catching upside and could be a solid addition to the Broncos tight end room. Finally, Riley Nowakowski is more of an H-Back who contributed in multiple ways and might be best as a fullback in the NFL.
There are several late-round tight end prospects that the Broncos could target, like Dae’Quan Wright, Michael Trigg, Tanner Koziol, DJ Rogers, and others.
Linebacker: Kyle Louis, Keyshaun Elliott, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Bryce Boettcher, Jimmy Rolder, Jack Kelly, and Harold Perkins Jr.
It was looking like a linebacker would fall right into the Broncos’ laps in the second round, but the board dried up quickly. Now, heading into Day 3, there are still a number of talented linebackers available, and I expect the Broncos to select one.
Kyle Louis is an undersized coverage linebacker who might be a safety in the NFL, but his coverage skills are legit, and he could be a weapon on third downs. Keyshaun Elliott is an instinctual run-stopping linebacker who fits what the Broncos look for in a prospect. After that, you have Jimmy Rolder and Bryce Boettcher, who are both players who feel like Denver Broncos players. Great character, special teams upside, and loves football. I wouldn’t be shocked if they selected one of them.
However, the name I am watching here is TCU’s Kaleb Elarms-Orr. He has been connected to the Broncos throughout the process and is a highly athletic player who can develop behind Alex Singleton and contribute on special teams in the short-term. I would keep an eye on him in the 4th round.
Offensive Line: Travis Burke, Jude Bowry, Drew Shelton, Isaiah World, Jalen Farmer, Kage Casey, and Beau Stephens
Look for the Broncos to add some offensive line depth on Day 3, and could do so as early as the 4th round. Travis Burke and Jude Bowry profile as potential swing tackle candidates, while Farmer, Casey, and Stephens are more interior depth.
They have done well with late-round picks and undrafted free agents recently (Palcho, Forsyth, and Crum), so I expect them to dip their toes in that market again this time around.
Wildcards: Jermod McCoy, Keionte Scott, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zakee Wheatley, Jalon Kilgore, Deion Burks, Kamari Ramsey, Robert Spears-Jennings, Jeff Caldwell, and Bishop Fitzgerald