After snagging NC State tight end Justin Joly with the 152nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos found themselves in for a long wait. Their next selection wasn't scheduled until pick 246—nearly 100 spots later. So, how did the team's brass pass the time during that lull? According to head coach Sean Payton, they turned to trivia.

"We were reading," Payton said with a grin. As the fifth round wrapped up and the entire sixth round ticked by, Denver's draft room stayed busy—not just with strategy, but with some NFL history. The team explored a fun question: Who is the best seventh-round pick of all time? The answer? Several Hall of Famers, Payton noted. The trivia didn't stop there—they moved through the sixth round, the fifth, and even dug into the 19th round of drafts past.

Payton reflected on how much the draft has evolved. "I can remember when I was in college, I think there were 13 rounds," he said. "So it's certainly come a long way." These days, the NFL Draft features just seven rounds, and despite multiple trades, Denver walked away with seven new rookies—including three selected in the seventh round.

While they waited, the Broncos' front office also hoped for a bit of draft-day luck. "You're hoping that players to the right of your board are getting taken to your left and pushing players that you want down," Payton explained. General Manager George Paton chimed in, wondering how long the gap actually was: "Rounds five to seven, I don't know how long that was. Three hours?"

Now, the focus shifts to the field. Denver's seven new rookies will report for rookie minicamp next week, ready to prove that late-round picks can make a big impact. For fans, it's a reminder that the draft isn't just about the first round—sometimes, the best stories come from the long waits and the trivia that fills them.