Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos TRADE UP in New Mock Draft Predictions

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Broncos get another weapon for the offense and trade up for a future defensive starter in a new mock draft edition, Locked on Broncos. You are Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. It's a brand new week Broncos country and you know what that means. It's time for a brand new mock draft here Locked on Broncos. We're just over three weeks away from the 26 NFL draft, which is kind of crazy to think about considering it's been a bit of a slower off season for the Denver Broncos.

Starting point is 00:00:38 Of course, got Jalen Waddle coming in. So we'll be thinking about his impact on the offense during the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. But we'll see how the Denver Broncos dominate day two and day three. They've got seven picks to use in this year's draft starting at pick number 62 overall. And that's where we're going to begin today. But Broncos country want to quickly say welcome in to all of you. My name is Sarah Beninger. I'm the co-host here of Lockdown Broncos,

Starting point is 00:01:05 as well as the site expert over there at predominantly orange.com. We appreciate you every day or so much for rocking with us here at lockdown broncos every single day throughout the off season. And we've taken a look at a number of different scenarios here at lockdown Broncos. In our mock drafts, we've looked at offensive line with that top pick. We've looked at linebacker. We've looked at running back. And today we're going to take a look at tight end.

Starting point is 00:01:30 And Broncos Country, let me know what you. your thoughts are because every single simulation that I run, this guy is available at 62 overall. So in my mind, I'm kind of thinking, well, it's unlikely that this is going to happen. But what if Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers is available at pick number 62? I don't think the Broncos could pass on him. He's one of those guys that they're bringing in for what's called a top 30 visit. It doesn't mean he's necessarily one of the top 30 guys on their draft board. But what it means is that you're allowed 30 visits to your team facility every single offseason leading up to the draft.

Starting point is 00:02:07 And he's one of those guys that they brought in, a former quarterback who transferred to Vanderbilt from Texas A&M and has really blossomed over the past couple of seasons as a top pass catching threat at the tight end position. The reasoning behind this pick, the vision behind this pick is pretty simple, right? Evan Ingram, kind of a disappointment in year one for the Denver Broncos, although that seemed to be more of the team. fault than Evan's fault. His usage, not really what it should have been or could have been. He's got one year left on his contract. And the Broncos don't exactly have a true weapon in the passing game at the tight end position besides Evan Ingram. They're maybe hopeful that Caleb Loner can be that. They maybe have visions of getting Adam Troutman and Nate Adkins more involved in the passing game. But ultimately, Sean Payton is looking for a true impact player

Starting point is 00:02:56 at that position who can be what he's termed as the Joker for his offense. So Broncos country, I won't waste a bunch of time talking about the Joker position, things like that, but just know that Eli Stowers has that type of athletic ability to be a true mismatch weapon in the passing game, whether it's as a vertical threat after the catch. He can continue to develop as a rot runner, not necessarily as a former quarterback going to come in and be a dominant in-line blocking tight end for you, but certainly somebody that you believe could be that future elite weapon as a past catcher, which is kind of why I'm surprised to see he's still falling in these mock draft

Starting point is 00:03:35 simulations. I mean, it's going to be a beauty in the eye of the beholder sort of situation for a lot of positions in this draft. The tight end position is one of those that good players do tend to fall. I mean, it's just the positional value is not always there. And so we see really great tight end prospects falling in the draft. And because of his background as a quarterback, maybe perceived to be a little bit more raw,

Starting point is 00:03:59 despite his elite athletic traits, speed, explosiveness. Maybe the Broncos get lucky and Eli Stowers falls to them at pick 62. But in round three, and I know the Broncos don't right now have a pick in round three. They traded it to the Miami Dolphins. I think the Broncos are going to use one of their fourth round picks to move up into the back end of day two and get a future defensive starter. That's what I'm projecting in this mock draft. Now, my projection is only going to include trading a fourth rounder this year and maybe a pick next year.

Starting point is 00:04:31 As we know, the Broncos are expecting and anticipating a compensatory fourth round selection for John Franklin Myers. So maybe they decide, hey, we're going to trade a fourth rounder this year and we'll trade you a fourth rounder next year. And we're going to get back a late third rounder. And we're going to go after when I believe to be one of the most underrated guys that the Broncos brought him in for a visit. as well. Caleb Elarms or a linebacker out of TCU, an absolute tackling machine. And when I watched some of his highlights, man, this guy, he is excellent when it comes to blitzing. And that's something that I'm watching for in any linebacker that, you know, we're kind of scouting here for the Denver Broncos and watching their highlights early on is can you fit into the Vance Joseph defense?

Starting point is 00:05:16 And I find an interesting wrinkle here is that for depth at the linebacker position, the Broncos are considering and Sean Peyton said they're going to give Jonah Ellis some reps there at inside linebacker. So will that position be as heavily prioritized? Do they want to keep Jonah as more of a full-time edge and maybe float to the inside linebacker position in certain packages? We'll see what happens there. But ultimately, I think the Broncos could move up for a linebacker in this class. And I wouldn't be shocked if it's the team's top pick either. Look, this is a deep linebacker class. And as many mock draft scenarios as we've done, we haven't even talked about Caleb Elarms or out of TCU.

Starting point is 00:05:57 Just, I mean, it's one player after another with this linebacker class. I feel like you can't dig deep enough. Here's what I love about this guy. According to NFL.com, speedy, quick to chase the action, sideline to sideline, impressive agility and change of direction as an open field tackler, blitzes with excellent setup and timing to assault the pocket. I love that verbiage there. So he needs development.

Starting point is 00:06:23 He's got the athletic traits. He showed that off at the scouting combine 447 in the 40 yard dash, 40 inch vertical jump. I mean, the athletic traits are off the charts. The size, 6-2, 234 pounds. I mean, he has all of the traits that you look for at the position. Just need some seasoning and development. But you certainly believe that a guy like that can be a future starter for you, as well as immediately contribute to your special team.

Starting point is 00:06:49 So the top two picks for the Denver Broncos here in this mock draft edition of Lockdown Broncos. We're going with Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt. Love that potential fit. Even if the Broncos have to move up a handful of spots to get him, love that pick. And then Caleb Elarms or at the linebacker position. So we've touched on two pretty primary needs for this Broncos team. How are we going to address running back, kick returner, maybe some other areas of depth on this team? I've got a couple of guys from the Big Ten that I think you're going to really like on

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Starting point is 00:08:17 derivatives LLC, a registered futures commission merchant and Swapford. We got a tight end. We got a linebacker for the Denver Broncos in today's mock draft edition of the show. But how are we going to address the running back position? How are we going to address some depth areas on this team? Well, you got five picks to do it on the rest of day three. But Broncos country, I'm excited to unload these picks for you. But before I do that, I want to say thank you once again to all you every dayers out there.

Starting point is 00:08:46 an easy way for you to support the show if you haven't considered doing so already is the everyday or all access club we appreciate just so much for considering supporting the show in that way it means the world to cody and i let's get to the rest of these picks though i mean the fourth round the brachos have two selections we already used one of them to move up for tc u linebacker caleb elms or and here with the other selection i'm going with penn state running back nick singleton nicholas singleton he's a guy that i highlighted in another bonus episode where we talked about sort of some running back fits in the first two to four rounds for the Denver Broncos. And Nick Singleton has a lot of the traits that I would consider to be sort of non-negotiables

Starting point is 00:09:26 for this position when you look at this draft class. You've got to have size. You've got to have three down ability. And I think you got to have the ability to create some yards after contact, right? The Broncos need some players who they can bring sort of that physicality to the running back position. And that's really one of the biggest things that I love about Nick Singleton's game. And it's something that I've liked about him since his early years at Penn State.

Starting point is 00:09:50 Former big time recruit. He's only 22 years old. He's strong, man. He had 25 reps on the bench press in the pre-draft process, six feet tall, 219 pounds. He's just got outstanding athleticism. And like I said, as a former five-star prospect, like I'm talking he was like the national offensive player of the year in high school, Gatorade National Player of the Year, top 30 prospect nationally.

Starting point is 00:10:14 So he's somebody that I think Penn State fan probably thought was going to be the second coming of a Saquan Barkley or something like that. But I just feel like he has ideal running back three traits for this Denver Broncos team with his size, his upside, the physicality that he brings. He's going to be good in blitz protection. I think he's just going to do a lot of these little things well. And he was a full-time kick returner in his first three years at Penn State. So a little bit of an added bonus there that he can add some value to your. roster on special team. So Nick Singleton is our fourth round pick here for the Broncos after going with Eli Stowers and then Caleb Elarms or to shore up tight end and linebacker. So we're kind of

Starting point is 00:10:56 going chop Broncos country. Top three picks. We're attacking what at least I believe and I think a lot of you as well believe to be the top three needs of this team. Let's go to round five though. What are the Broncos going to do in the fifth round of this draft? I have a player that I haven't, I don't think included in any mock draft situations yet. We know his brother very well. Sonny Stiles. I think a lot of Broncos fans would have loved to have gotten the Ohio State linebacker. What about Lorenzo Stiles?

Starting point is 00:11:24 Right. We're talking about a couple of brothers here out of Ohio State who just have off the charts, athletic traits. On day three of the NFL draft, what are you most looking for? You're looking for guys that have one of two things. Either they've got tremendous upside or they can play special teams right away. And Lorenzo Stiles has both of those things. This guy has blazing, blazing speed, 427 in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine at six foot and a half, 194 pounds.

Starting point is 00:11:54 So the explosiveness is there, 39-inch vertical jump. The speed is there. He's been productive on kick and punk coverage, according to NFL.com, his scouting report, played a little bit of, you know, versatile, defensive back role at Ohio State and was dealing with an injury. this past season. So I think there's maybe more than meets the eye and a chance to be an even better pro than he was at the college level for somebody like Lorenzo Stiles. When you talk about instant special teams impact and the Broncos never go a draft without taking at least one defensive back. So I think you can kind of bank on that happening at some point, gives you some depth at maybe

Starting point is 00:12:32 the nickel spot, the safety spot. I think he can do a little bit of everything for you. And like I said, instant contributions on special teams. He had a kick return for a touchdown as well, so may even give you another option in that department. But special teams ace Lorenzo Stiles, I think a developmental defensive back for your new defensive backs coaches, Doug Belk and Robert Livingston there, just a really worthwhile day three dart throw, I think, for the Denver Broncos. And then, you know, you know me.

Starting point is 00:13:02 If you've been listening to this show for a while, you know, I've got to go with a couple of Iowa guys, or at least one Iowa guy. But in the seventh round, okay, I feel like, I feel like it's fair game for me to use. I can put on my Iowa Hawkeyes hat here for a second if I'm making picks as George Payton. I'm going with Caden Wedgin and Mark Grunowski in back-to-back picks. Caden Wedgin, a wide receiver and return specialist. I think to me, if I had to pick one guy from the Hawkeyes program to add to this Broncos roster in 2026, it would be Caden wetgen. And I think that would send some messages maybe to the future of Marvin Mims because of how good wetgen is as a return specialist, one of the best that we've seen in recent memory at the college

Starting point is 00:13:46 level. Six career return touchdowns is a game-changing threat in that phase of the game. I think he's a worthwhile seventh round pick, even if he's contributing minimally as a receiver. We know that the kicking game is so crucial in today's NFL. And then I kind of like the idea of Mark Grinowski. I threw it out there during the season, but Mark Grinowski really had an outstanding pro day for Iowa. He's got sort of that dual threat ability. He's kind of got that Sam Ellinger type of body type, athletic traits, things like that that you bring to the table for scout team that can be so valuable to an NFL roster or at least even in the preseason to give guys some good looks, maybe some scout team looks if he makes the practice squad. but the Broncos have been doing some sniffing around late round quarterbacks or undrafted types of quarterbacks. Maybe they throw one of these late round darts at the quarterback position and just add that

Starting point is 00:14:41 fourth guy to the room. Get whoever you would sign as a preferred college free agent. Just make sure that they don't go anywhere else and use one of these last two picks in the draft on that guy. And then with Mr. Irrelevant pick, I've got another guy the Broncos brought in for a pre-draft visit, Memphis offensive tackle, Travis Burke. If he lasts to this point, I mean, six foot nine. He's got good athletic trades. He's got long arms. It would be the first offensive tackle. And I've mentioned this a million times. It'd be the first offensive tackle that the Broncos would have drafted since Garrett Bowles in 2017. And I would love to see the team end that streak this year, even if it is with their top pick. So we've got an offensive tackle

Starting point is 00:15:19 with the Mr. Irrelevant pick here. But I wouldn't be mad if the Broncos spent a second rounder on the offensive tackle position. But I might be on an island. It might be in the minority on that one, Broncos country. So to recap, we started off Eli Stowers at the tight end position out of Vanderbilt, ultra athletic, big time pass catching upside at the tight end position. The Broncos definitely need to come away from this draft with somebody like that. And then Caleb Elams or the future potential starting off ball linebacker, either next to Justin Sarnad, maybe Jonah Ellis now, maybe Drew Sanders breaks through.

Starting point is 00:15:54 We'll see what happens. But those are your top two picks. And then we went with Nick Singleton in the fourth round. the running back out of Penn State. And we took Lorenzo Stiles, a defensive back from Ohio State who can contribute immediately on special teams. And speaking of special teams, Caden Wedgin, seventh round pick out of Iowa. I love that option right there.

Starting point is 00:16:12 If the Broncos can get him in round seven, game changer in the return game, just straight up. And then Mark Grinowski, a potential future QB3 for this team, a scout team quarterback who could develop into a QB2 over time. You never know, but brings those athletic traits. got the ability to run with the ball in his hand so he can do a lot of different things for you. And then obviously we closed it off just like we did there, Mr. Irrelevant Travis Burke, the offensive tackle out of Memphis. So Broncos Country, let me know your thoughts on these mock draft picks.

Starting point is 00:16:43 A lot of fun putting this one together. I love the idea of the Broncos taking some shots on athletic guys in this draft class. Get some players who can contribute immediately for you on special teams, guys who can bring depth to this roster and hopefully get this team back. to winning another Super Bowl. We appreciate you so much for tuning in to today's show, and we'll catch you on the next one.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - Denver Broncos TRADE UP in New Mock Draft Predictions

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