Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - MOCK DRAFT: Denver Broncos AGGRESSIVELY Tackle BIGGEST NEEDS

Starting point is 00:00:00 We're getting aggressive and attacking the Denver Broncos biggest needs in this 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. If the Denver Broncos are going to make big splashes in the 2026 off season, it might be in the NFL draft. The Broncos have a chance to address some of their biggest needs to get aggressive and to go after some weapons for Bo Nix as well as potentially some future starters at the linebacker position on defense. We're going to explore one possibility out of many on today's bonus episode,

Starting point is 00:00:44 Lockdown Broncos. My name is Sarah Bedinger. I'm the co-host of Lockdown Broncos here, as well as the site expert at Predominantly Orange.com. And we appreciate you so much for tuning in today. All you every day is out there. Shout out to you for rocking with us all throughout the off season. And you know there's no off season here at Lockdown Broncos. We got a mock draft to get to it. It is mock draft Monday or whatever day you happen to be listening to this or watching this on YouTube. But I want to start off with maybe a bit of a controversial pick for the Denver Broncos. And I've been critical of even this idea, but the more I think about it, the more I don't hate it. With the first round pick 30th overall for the Denver Broncos, we are

Starting point is 00:01:25 taking Notre Dame running back Jedarian price. And I know I've said all the reasons why the Broncos shouldn't make this pick. Well, he'd be your third running back right away. Well, he's not even the starter on his own team at the college ranks, but the more I dig into Judarian Price, the more I like. I feel like being a backup in college is not always necessarily a bad thing. I mean, you're playing behind somebody like Jeremiah Love. He's a truly elite prospect,

Starting point is 00:01:52 and you just happen to sort of cross paths at the same time that he's there. And some things that you love about Judarian Price being a backup is the fact that, well, number one, he's going to have a lot of tread left on the tires, right? He's going to be not necessarily as much wear and tear on his body coming into the NFL, but you see the traits that could make him a really exciting starting running back in the NFL, specifically the explosiveness and the contact balance. And it's that second point right there that you really get excited about when it comes to

Starting point is 00:02:23 the running back position in today's NFL. To have contact balance is so, so important. The Broncos know they need a deep stable of running backs. And there's been some sort of rumblings about the Broncos potentially maybe wanting to add another kick returner to the mix and let Marvin Mims play a little bit more on offense. We saw last season that Marvin Mims was certainly injured a couple of times doing kickoff returns. The Broncos probably want to keep him as a punt returner.

Starting point is 00:02:53 He's an all pro return specialist after all. But Jadarian Price, he could do it all. and he's one of the better kickoff returners in this draft class. Don't believe me. Well, guess what? He had two kickoff return touchdowns just this past season at Notre Dame, had another kickoff return touchdown back in the 2023 season when it was the last time that he was actually the full-time kickoff returner for them.

Starting point is 00:03:16 So he's a dynamic kickoff returner. And I feel like that could play a major factor in the way that the Broncos specifically perceive him as a prospect. So I'm really interested by his future potential as a possible running back one. The Broncos need to add depth to the backfield. They need another kickoff returner. And Judarian Price gives them an option to potentially start alongside RJ Harvey for the future. You got to have more weapons for the offense.

Starting point is 00:03:44 The Broncos don't necessarily need a first round running back after resigning J.K. Dobbins. But I think Jadarian Price, he's 40th overall on Daniel Jeremiah's big board. I like him and his fit with the Denver Broncos, even if it is at 30 overall. Maybe they trade back and still try to get him, but that's not that much of a reach. If he's the 40th best player on the board, and he can do all those things for your offense

Starting point is 00:04:07 and special teams right away, Jedarian Price plus Broncos country, let me cook here. Let me build out this draft class because in the second round, I have the Denver Broncos going after another really big need for this team. It's the wide receiver position. We've seen the Broncos the past couple of, off seasons sniffing around wide receivers.

Starting point is 00:04:27 They finished second in the bidding for Stefan Diggs just last year. And they were obviously in the mix for Jalen Waddle at the NFL trade deadline. Those two players are not necessarily tiny by any means, but they're a lot smaller than what we've come to just get used to the Broncos prioritizing at the receiver position, which is the guys who, when they get off the bus, they're like intimidating to the opposing team. I mean, Cortland Sutton, Lil Jordan Humphrey, even guys that they've drafted recently like Devon Bailey, big receiver, Pat Bryant, six foot three, Troy Franklin, six foot three. So they've typically gone after bigger guys. I picked in the second round Clemson wide receiver, Antonio

Starting point is 00:05:08 William. He's one of those guys that when you look at his scouting reports, when you watch him play, he is tough and he has strong hands, a 1.6% drop rate over the course of his four years. at Clemson. So he's sure handed. He's a little bit smaller when, you know, 511, about 187 pounds. And he's closer to six feet. He's five 11 and a half. So you got to count the half, right? But he's got strong hands. He moves really well. He's quick. And I just feel like after the catch, he's going to give you so much because he does have such strong hands. And he has that element after the catch and his just savvy in terms of making defenders miss. I really like that fit in round two. I think the Broncos will be in the mix for wide receivers early in this draft, but we'll see.

Starting point is 00:05:55 I know that there's a lot of talk about potential first round players at that position. I can see the Broncos going so many different ways with how free agency has gone down. I don't think there's any necessarily, hey, you got to go this way in the first, second, third round, but I do think that these positions are non-negotiables for the Broncos. And in the third round, we are going after tight end Marlon Klein from Michigan. I may be higher on Marlon Klein than some out there, but when I watch him play and when I see what he's able to do as a blocker, as a receiver, a 9.8 on the Rast scale.

Starting point is 00:06:32 So big time athletic traits and import over from Germany, played behind Colston Loveland at Michigan. And we know that the Broncos scouted Colston Loveland heavily when he was coming out of Michigan and wanted to trade up for him in the 2025 NFL draft, but weren't able to get that done because Colston Loveland went 10th overall. to the Bears. So what about taking the guy who was playing behind him at Michigan? Well, what we saw this past year from Marlon Klein at Michigan was a true breakout season. He showed that he's got strong hands. He's really tough at the catch point. But most importantly,

Starting point is 00:07:04 I think to the Denver Broncos, he can play in line. So they want to go to these 12, these 13 personnel looks. Marlon Klein is exactly the type of prospect that they will look at. And I was just seeing that Daniel Jeremiah had even said that he's one of his favorite potential day two prospects in this class. So before we get to the day three picks, let's recap day one, or day one and day two. We've got Jedarian Price coming in at the running back position. Let me know your thoughts about that. Definitely a controversial pick at the top of the draft. And then Antonio Williams coming in to be another playmaker at the wide receiver position. And then Marlon Klein at the tight end position. I think all three of those players can be future starters.

Starting point is 00:07:45 instant impact players in some way, shape, or form for the Denver Broncos. And we got plenty more instant impact coming with the day three picks on today's episode of Lockdown Broncos. We're going to go after the linebacker position. We're going to double up at both linebacker and tight end in this mock draft coming up on today's show. This episode of Lockdown Broncos is brought to you by Fan Dual. College basketball is nonstop.

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Starting point is 00:10:17 We went after playmakers for Bo Nix. If I'm going to put it out there, I better practice what I preach, right? So if I've got my GM hat on and I'm the GM of the Denver Broncos, I want playmakers for my quarterback. So we went running back Judarian Price out of Notre Dame with the first round pick, Antonio Williams, a wide receiver out of Clemson, strong hands, sure hands there in the second round. And in the third round, we went with Marlon Klein, sort of a bit of a sleeper at the tight end position.

Starting point is 00:10:44 But I think somebody that NFL teams are really going to like, especially given the offense that he played in there at Michigan and his ability to run block as well. But the Broncos are not done addressing needs here in this mock draft. Come on, Broncos country, you know me. We're going to be attacking these needs, starting with on our first day three pick, which the Broncos, by the way, have two fourth round picks. And this is really one of my favorite turns of the draft is this 92nd overall pick and the 108th pick and the 130th pick. I feel like the Broncos, excuse me, it's the 94th pick.

Starting point is 00:11:17 So 94, 108, and 130, I feel like the Broncos can really do some damage in this particular range of the draft. So with the 108th overall pick, we took Oregon linebacker Bryce Betcher, who I feel like is going to be a really good potential fit for the Denver Broncos. And somebody who might be a potential sleeper to start early on in his NFL career. I mean, when you watch what he was able to do as a converted defensive back, 136 total tackles this past season, 13 and a half tackles for loss over the last two years. A couple of forced fumbles this season at Oregon there. So a four-year player, I think the Broncos will like his experience a lot.

Starting point is 00:11:58 And the fact that he played at Oregon, I think is this a benefit here as we kind of tie all these things back to Bo Nix. And so now he gets another former duck to come in and help him win a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. So Bryce Betcher there in the first, with the first pick here of day three, pick number 108 overall. And then I pick number 130. Here's my first double up.

Starting point is 00:12:20 And let me just say, I love it when NFL teams double up at certain positions, especially positions of need. I remember the Green Bay Packers, a couple of years ago, took a couple of tight ends in the 2023 draft, Luke Musgrave in the second round, and then Tucker Kraft in the third round. How thankful do you think the Packers are that they doubled up at the tight end position? Because the NFL draft, ultimately, you're throwing darts.

Starting point is 00:12:44 And you're seeing if you can hit a bulls, here. So we already took Marlon Klein, the tight end out of Michigan, but here at pick number 130, we are going to take Eli Raritan, the tight end out of Notre Dame. I felt like he was really too good of a value to pass up there at this juncture of the draft, the fact that I know this is a simulation. I know that this doesn't necessarily represent reality, but I feel like both of these guys, Raritan and Klein, can present you with an opportunity to have a couple of players you can play both in line and split out and be that sort of move tight end if you want them to be. But we know that the Broncos under Sean Payton want to run multiple tight end sets.

Starting point is 00:13:22 And so getting multiple new tight ends, I think is going to be essential. We have Evan Ingram back this year. Adam Troutman is back this year. Heck, everybody pretty much is back this year for the Denver Broncos. But ultimately, they need some new blood at tight end. And I feel like these two guys, they just really fit well what the Broncos want to do off offensively. So Eli Raritan, pick number 130 overall. We've taken a linebacker. We've taken a tight end here. What are we going to do in round five? The Broncos have the 170th overall pick. We are going to take

Starting point is 00:13:54 another linebacker here. Arizona State linebacker, Kishon, Elliott, another really productive player. And, you know, this has become sort of a buzzword in Broncos country these days, but a green dot player as well at Arizona State, somebody who was a team captain. We know that the Broncos value those things, whether they'll say it publicly or not. And I really like the idea of the Broncos stacking up that linebacker position because right now you have Alex Singleton, Justin Sternad, and a bunch of unknowns behind them. So you need to draft a couple of guys at linebacker, in my opinion in this class. I really like Bryce Betcher and Keishon Elliott here on day three.

Starting point is 00:14:35 And I don't think the Broncos necessarily have to take a linebacker in rounds one or two, although I wouldn't be a post. I know a lot of you love Jacob Rodriguez out there. He's a great player, C.J. Allen from Georgia, I just feel like there might be better bang for your buck in the first round, or maybe I just prefer going after playmakers for Bo Nix. But we'll see what the Broncos end up doing. I like the idea of double ups at tight end and linebacker in this class specifically.

Starting point is 00:15:01 So to round out, day three, we've got three seventh round picks. The Broncos have nine selections in this draft. I mean, it's a really, it's going to be a deep class for them. They have an opportunity to add some much needed depth and developmental starting prospects. Here with the 246th overall pick, I had to go with a Hawkeye, Xavier Nwankpa. I love the potential that he has to contribute immediately on special teams with the departure of P.J. Locke. So the Broncos have J.L. Skinner, obviously, Devin Kee, an all-pro special teamer. But now you get Nwangpa in there.

Starting point is 00:15:35 Somebody who's got the athletic traits to be molded into a potential starting safety. but needs the right coaching. The Broncos just hired two new guys to coach up the defensive backs in Doug Belk and Robert Livingston. So really intrigued by that possibility there for those guys to get their hands on somebody else. I don't think the Broncos need to prioritize safety early, but I could also see them going after a safety much earlier than this in the NFL draft. So we'll see what they end up doing there.

Starting point is 00:16:02 But in the seventh round, you get somebody who can contribute on special teams right away, possibly, you know, crack your rotation at safety down the line. developmental prospects, athletes, players that you want to invest in their long-term future. And then with the final two picks of the draft, the Broncos have two compensatory seventh-round picks, the last two picks in this draft. Caden Barnett, offensive linemen out of Wyoming, really, really great showing at his pro day, could play tackle, could play guard. I feel like he projects at the guard position in the NFL.

Starting point is 00:16:34 and with Denver Broncos specifically, would love to see offensive line darts thrown in this class. And with the Mr. Irrelevant pick, 257 overall, we are finally ending the drought and taking a true offensive tackle prospect. Diego Pounds out of Mississippi. The Broncos have not drafted a tackle since Garrett Bulls in 2017. So we double up on offensive linemen here in the seventh round,

Starting point is 00:16:59 Caden Barnett out of Wyoming and Diego Pounds out of Mississippi. And let's recap this draft class. First round, running back, Judarian Price, out of Notre Dame. Second round, Antonio Williams, wide receiver out of Clemson. Third round, 94th overall. You get Marlon Klein, the tight end out of Michigan. Fourth round picks, we have two of them. We got Bryce Betcher out of Oregon with 108.

Starting point is 00:17:22 And we got Eli Raritan at tight end out of Notre Dame with pick number 130. He also gets to play with Judarian Price at the NFL level. I mean, come on. You doubled up at positions and you got some teammates, which is just a win-win, in my opinion. Fifth round, Kishon Elliott, linebacker out of Arizona State. And then in the seventh round, we took Xavier, Nwank-Pa, the safety and special teams ace out of Iowa,

Starting point is 00:17:46 and a couple of offensive linemen with the last two picks, Caden Barnett and Diego Pounds. And I think those guys will be worthwhile developmental projects. So Broncos country, nine selections in this year's draft. The Broncos have a lot of picks. They have a lot of ammo to work with. We'll see if they make any big splash moves for veterans with any of those picks, but ultimately, you kind of get the impression that this team feels good

Starting point is 00:18:07 about where they're at in the starting lineup. Now they've got to focus this draft on guys who can make an instant impact in some way, but make an impact as starters potentially as early as 2027. So with that said, let me know your thoughts on this mock draft, Broncos Country. Appreciate you so much for tuning in today and every single day, and we'll catch you on the next episode of the show.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - MOCK DRAFT: Denver Broncos AGGRESSIVELY Tackle BIGGEST NEEDS

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