Going into the 2026 NFL draft, we ranked tight end and inside linebacker among the biggest roster needs for the Denver Broncos.
When the draft arrived last week, the Broncos were not scheduled to pick until 62nd overall in the second round. Coming out of the first round, several talented linebackers and tight ends were still on the board.
Then, in the second round, LB Jacob Rodriquez (No. 43), LB Josiah Trotter (No. 46), linebacker Jake Golday (No. 51), linebacker CJ Allen (No. 53), TE Eli Stowers (54), TE Nate Boerkircher (No. 56), Marlin Klein (No. 59), LB Anthony Hill (No. 60) and TE Max Klare (No. 61) all went off the board before Denver's pick.
The Broncos presumably would have been interested in several of those prospects, and the Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson reported that they "really liked" Trotter, who was picked 16 spots before they went on the clock. Following the second-round run on LBs and TEs, Denver traded down to pick No. 66, adding another sixth-round pick in the process.
The Broncos then selected defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim in the third round at No. 66. Onyedim was one of six prospects the club was hoping would be available at pick No. 62.
“It’s a typical draft," general manager George Paton said of trading down. "There was a run at certain positions as we figured there would be. It fell like we thought it would. I think I mentioned we had six players, and they all started going — the six. Tyler was one of the six. It fell kind of like we thought it would."
When asked about several tight ends (including Klare, right before them) going off the board before Denver's pick, coach Sean Payton downplayed the team's reaction.
“I think you go into the day, and we’re looking closely at the grade and the stack," Payton said. "We’re never trying to worry about the splash. We’re really trying to look at it with the proper vision, the proper grade. Were there offensive players, defensive players, you’re following that. It was pretty clear without trying to reach maybe for another position. At that pick, and then our wiggle back, made complete sense. So I don’t think there was this, ‘Ah,’ either or — it was pretty clear where he sat with his grade versus the field. That’s being smart to the board.”
The Broncos ended up adding two tight ends later in the draft, including NC State's Justin Joly in the fifth round. Denver also added a linebacker (Red Murdock) with the final pick in the draft. So while it might not have been as early as we expected, the Broncos did address both key positions of need.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Denver Broncos explain why they traded out of 2nd round of draft