Rhodes'S MOCK DRAFT
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1/5/24 no QB

  • Rhodes DRAFTING FOR THE
    Broncos
Draft Selections
Jared Verse Head Shot
PICK: 14 RND: 1 (DEN)
Jared Verse
DE-EDGE Florida State
Brian Thomas Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 57 RND: 2 (DEN)
Brian Thomas Jr.
WR LSU
Maason Smith Head Shot
PICK: 78 RND: 3 (DEN)
Maason Smith
DT-EDGE LSU
Max Melton Head Shot
PICK: 114 RND: 4 (DEN)
Max Melton
CB Rutgers
Justin Rogers Head Shot
PICK: 129 RND: 4 (DEN)
Justin Rogers
DL Auburn
Payton Wilson Head Shot
PICK: 151 RND: 5 (DEN)
Payton Wilson
LB North Carolina State
Jacob Cowing Head Shot
PICK: 235 RND: 7 (DEN)
Jacob Cowing
WR Arizona
Marques Cox Head Shot
PICK: 244 RND: 7 (DEN)
Marques Cox
OT Kentucky
Draft Picks Received
Brian Thomas Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 57 RND: 2 (KC)
Brian Thomas Jr.
WR LSU
Players traded away
Head Shot
Jerry Jeudy
WR
Draft Grade — Broncos
Overall D+
ValueB NeedB+ TradesF FutureB-
Larceny in pick No. 235 lands the Broncos a D+, Cowing and all.

The Broncos lost the trade war and it was not close, handing partners the better end again and again. Put together, it is a D+.

That is a wide receiver worth more than the slot they spent on him, plainly. Spending an early pick on DT-EDGE with tight end, quarterback and other spots open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to. If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through tight end.

They went 5 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.

Add it up and it is a weekend the front office will hope everyone forgets, tight end very much included.

Pick Analysis
Pick14 Rnd1 Jared Verse
In No. 14 they get a bendy edge with upside. The biggest hole, addressed.
Pick57 Rnd2 Brian Thomas Jr.
A tidy little value on Brian Thomas Jr. in slot 57, a step better than break-even. It fills a real need, too.
Pick78 Rnd3 Maason Smith
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Maason Smith adds a DT-EDGE and leaves tight end, quarterback and other spots untouched.
Pick114 Rnd4 Max Melton
By-the-book stuff, Max Melton at the Round 4 slot squarely in line with his ranking. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Pick129 Rnd4 Justin Rogers
Justin Rogers in Round 4, Pick 29 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick151 Rnd5 Payton Wilson
Payton Wilson at the 151st pick is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Pick235 Rnd7 Jacob Cowing
The board fumbled Jacob Cowing all the way to slot 235, and they scooped it up. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick244 Rnd7 Marques Cox
You do not let an offensive lineman like Marques Cox reach the Round 7 slot and blink. They did not. It patches a soft spot without any drama.