The Denver Broncos entered the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear mission: fill the gaps on a roster many believe is championship-ready. One week after the draft, the team added seven new players, but one pick in particular has raised eyebrows across the league.

After trading out of the second round, general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton landed an early third-round pick plus a sixth-rounder. With that third-round selection, they chose Texas A&M defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim—a move that has sparked debate among analysts and fans alike.

Many Broncos supporters were hoping for an inside linebacker, but a heavy run on that position in Round 2 forced Denver to pivot. Onyedim fills a clear need, stepping in to compete for snaps after John Franklin-Myers departed in free agency. He'll join a rotation featuring Sai'vion Jones and Eyioma Uwazurike, giving the Broncos some much-needed depth along the defensive front.

But not everyone is convinced. CBS Sports' Josh Edwards labeled the Onyedim pick as the team's most "eyebrow-raising" of the draft. "Despite not having a first-round pick, Denver filled in some of the gaps on its roster nicely with Washington running back Jonah Coleman, Boise State lineman Kage Casey, and NC State tight end Justin Joly," Edwards wrote. "Onyedim also filled a void created by the departure of John Franklin-Myers. However, it was a bit early relative to how I graded the player."

To be fair, Edwards assigned a "most questionable" pick to every team, so this is more about nitpicking than outright criticism. Still, the sentiment is echoed by CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles, who believes defensive line remains Denver's biggest need even after the draft. Pereles suggests veteran free agent Calais Campbell as a potential solution to shore up that unit.

For Broncos fans, the Onyedim pick may not be the flashy move they wanted, but it addresses a real roster hole. Whether it proves to be a reach or a steal will depend on how quickly the Texas A&M product adapts to the pro game—and whether Denver's defense can take the next step toward that championship level.