The 2023 NFL Draft is about one week away, and as we get closer to it, NFL analysts have gone deeper in their mock drafts, which gives Broncos fans a look at who might be in play when Denver is on the clock in the third round and beyond. We rounded up several recent multi-round mocks from local and national reporters and analysts to compile the following overview:
Round 3, No. 67 overall (from Indianapolis)
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: OLB Byron Young, Tennessee (April 18)
"At 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Young is undersized, but he has a nose for pressuring quarterbacks. This is Denver's first pick in this draft, and it should focus on the front seven with one of these selections."
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: RB Devon Achane, Texas A&M (April 17)
"Be it was Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles or Alvin Kamara, the Saints always seemed to have a big-play igniter as part of their backfield rotation. Achane could be that for Sean Payton in Denver, where he'd complement Samaje Perine and Javonte Williams (who's coming off a major injury)."
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: EDGE Will McDonald, Iowa State (April 18)
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune: EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State (April 11)
"Anudike-Uzomah carries a substantial toolbox as a pass rusher despite lacking much starting experience. He'll need to develop as an edge setter in the pros to truly become an asset against the run, but it's clear he's going to be a problem for quarterbacks early in his career."
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin (April 7)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: OL Chandler Zavala (April 18)
Round 3, No. 68 overall
Todd McShay, ESPN: RB Tyjae Spears, Tulane (April 18)
"Denver can stay right there at the podium to announce its new third-down back. Spears makes defenders miss, has breakaway speed and can make an impact in the pass game."
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: EDGE Zach Harrison, Ohio State (April 17)
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: CB D.J. Turner, Michigan (April 18)
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune: T Blake Freeland, BYU (April 11)
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: G Anthony Bradford, LSU (April 7)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson (April 18)
Look back through some of the best third-round draft picks in Broncos history, as the franchise has found some of its best players in that range.
Career stats with Denver: 108 games, 107 starts
Drafted: 1969 NFL Draft - third round, 61st overall
Years with Broncos: 1969-81
Broncos career stats: 179 games, 40 interceptions, three interceptions returned for touchdowns, 21 fumble recoveries, four fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns, 4.0 sacks
Ring of Fame induction: 1987
All-Pros: 1977
Pro Bowls/AFL All-Star Games: 1977-78, 1981
Career stats (all with Denver): 187 games, 147 starts
Career stats (all with Denver): 125 games, 123 starts
Years with Broncos: 1991-92, 1997-2000
Experience with Denver: 94 games, 66 starts
Broncos stats (per Pro Football Reference): 206 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, six passes defensed, one interception, one touchdown
Accolades: Three-time Super Bowl champion, including Broncos' wins in Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII
Three-time Pro Bowler; All-Pro selections in 1995 (second-team by AP), 1998 (second-team by AP) and 2001 (second-team by AP)
Two Super Bowl appearances and victories (XXXII and XXXIII)
Inducted into the Ring of Fame in 2016
Career stats with Denver: 236 games, 80.6% career FG percentage, 99.5% career extra-point percentage, 63 yards on longest career field goal
One Pro Bowl selection in 1999 (special teams)
Two Super Bowl appearances and victories (XXXII and XXXIII)
Career stats with Denver: 91 games, two starts
Two Super Bowl appearances and victories (XXXII and XXXIII)
Career stats with Denver: 108 games, 104 starts
Pro Bowl selection in 2000
One Super Bowl appearance and victory (XXXIII)
Career stats with Denver: 53 games, 51 starts, 62.2 completion percentage, 11,763 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, 84.1 quarterback rating
Super Bowl champion (Super Bowl 50), selected to Sports Illustrated's All-NFL team in 2008
Career stats with Denver: 62 games, 50 starts (via pro-football-reference.com)
One Super Bowl appearance (XLVIII)
Career stats with Denver: 62 games, 44 starts, 222 receptions for 3,070 yards and 33 touchdowns
One Pro Bowl, one second-team All-Pro selection, 2016 Week 10 AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, ranks second in franchise history in interceptions by a Broncos player through his first five pro seasons, two-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee
Career stats: 74 games, 64 starts, 16 interceptions, one interception returned for a touchdown, 37 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, two sacks, 385 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three quarterback hits
Round 4, No. 108 overall
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: RB Devon Achane, Texas A&M (April 7)
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: S Sydney Brown, Illinois (April 17)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: CB Kei'Trel Clark, Louisville (April 18)
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: LB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas (April 18)
Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network: LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati (April 18)
Round 5, No. 139 overall
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: CB Garrett Williams, Syracuse (April 17)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: S Daniel Scott, California (April 18)
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: S Trey Dean III, Florida (April 18)
Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network: G Nick Broeker, Ole Miss (April 18)
Look back through some of the best draft picks in Broncos history from the sixth round, where the franchise has found some key contributors — including one of the best running backs of all time.
Draft position: Sixth round, 47th overall in 1964 (AFL) College: Alabama A&M Years with Broncos: 7 (1964-70)
Broncos stats (via Pro Football Reference): 91 games, 71 starts, 250 receptions, 4150 receiving yards, 32 receiving touchdowns
Career stats: 98 games, 74 starts, 260 receptions, 4275 receiving yards, 32 receiving touchdowns
Career accolades: Broncos Top 100 Team selection, two-time AFL All-Star selection, led Broncos in receiving yards in four seasons
Draft position: Sixth round, 157th overall in 1980 College: Nebraska, Baylor Years with Broncos: 10 (1980-89)
Career stats (via Pro Football Reference): 129 games, 87 starts (all with Broncos)
Career accolades: Broncos Top 100 Team selection, Broncos 50th Anniversary Team first-team selection, two Pro Bowl selections (1986-87), three-time AFC champion
Draft position: Sixth round, 161st overall in 1986 College: Purdue Years with Broncos: 7 (1986-92)
Broncos stats (via Pro Football Reference): 100 games, 70 starts, 276 receptions, 4746 receiving yards, 24 receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown
Career stats: 130 games, 84 starts, 342 receptions, 5551 receiving yards, 29 receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown
Career accolades: Broncos Top 100 Team selection, three-time AFC champion,
Draft position: Sixth round, 196th overall in 1995 College: Georgia Years with Broncos: 7 (1995-2001)
Career stats (via Pro Football Reference): 78 games, 77 starts, 1655 rushing attempts, 7607 rushing yards, 60 rushing touchdowns, 169 receptions, 1280 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns
Career accolades: Pro Football Hall of Famer (2017 inductee), Broncos Ring of Famer (2007 inductee), Broncos Top 100 Team selection, Broncos 50th Anniversary Team first-team selection, two-time Super Bowl champion (1997-98), Super Bowl XXXII MVP, 1998 AP league MVP, three-time Pro Bowler (1996-98), three-time AP first-team All-Pro (1996-98), two-time AP Offensive Player of the Year (1996, '98), franchise record-holder in career rushing yards, career rushing attempts and career rushing touchdowns, ranks first and second in rushing yards in a single season in franchise history, was the fourth player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a single season
Draft position: Sixth round, 189th overall in 2000 College: Utah Years with Broncos: 6 (2000-05)
Broncos stats (via Pro Football Reference): 74 games, 51 starts, 865 rushing attempts, 3822 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, 79 receptions, 657 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns
Career stats: 98 games, 51 starts, 919 rushing attempts, 4067 rushing yards, 37 rushing touchdowns, 92 receptions, 727 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns
Career accolades: Broncos Top 100 Team selection, 2000 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2000 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 2000 December AFC Offensive Player of the Month, two-time AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 13 and Week 14 in 2000), fifth all time in career rushing yards in Broncos history, fourth all time in career rushing touchdowns in Broncos history, holds the single-game rushing yardage record in Broncos history
Draft position: Sixth round, 188th overall in 201 College: Kentucky Years with Broncos: 4 (2012-15)
Broncos stats (via Pro Football Reference): 50 games, 32 starts, 282 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 18 passes defensed, five interceptions, one defensive touchdown, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three sacks, eight quarterback hits
Career stats: 117 games, 94 starts, 741 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 39 passes defensed, eight interceptions, one defensive touchdown, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 10 sacks, 24 quarterback hits
Career accolades: Super Bowl 50 champion, two-time AFC champion, Broncos Top 100 Team selection
Draft position: Sixth round, 207th overall in 2014 College: Boise State Years with Broncos: 5 (2014-18)
Broncos stats (via Pro Football Reference): 57 games, 57 starts
Career stats: 98 games, 98 starts
Career accolades: Super Bowl 50 champion
Round 6, No. 195 overall (from Pittsburgh)
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: WR David Durden, West Florida (April 17)
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: C Trevor Downing, Iowa State (April 18)
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: LS Alex Ward, UCF (April 18)
Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network: WR Demario Douglas, Liberty (April 18)
BONUS: Round 2, No. 43 (via mock trade with New York Jets)
Cam Mellor, Pro Football Network: EDGE BJ Ojulari, LSU (April 18)
[Mock trade would exchange Denver's two third-round picks for the 43rd-overall selection and a 2024 sixth-round pick]
"With BJ Ojulari sliding and the pool of edge defenders dwindling, the Denver Broncos make a move up to grab their guy. Ojulari can rush the passer incredibly well from either side and has great instincts to influence passing lanes."
