The Denver Broncos do not have first- or second-round picks to use in the 2023 NFL draft, so in order to have a great class (barring a trade up), general manager George Paton will have to find gems in the mid and late rounds of the draft.
The Broncos currently have five draft picks: Nos. 67 and 68 overall in the third round, No. 108 in the fourth, No. 139 in the fifth and No. 195 in the sixth. Denver does not currently hold a pick in the seventh round, but the club might acquire additional picks through draft-day trades.
Paton has made six trades through his first two drafts with the Broncos, trading down four times. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him trade down again this year to add more picks.
Today, we’re taking a quick look at 15 prospects that Denver could target in the fifth, sixth and seventh (late rounds) of the 2023 NFL draft.
1
WR Matt Landers (Arkansas)
Landers (6-4, 200 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the NFL combine. He totaled 47 receptions for 901 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games with the Razorbacks last fall.
2
TE Payne Durham (Purdue)
Durham (6-6, 253 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.87 seconds at the combine. He posted career highs in receptions (56), receiving yards (560) and touchdown catches (eight) in 13 games with the Boilermakers as a senior in 2022.
3
RB Chris Rodriguez (Kentucky)
Rodriquez (6-0, 217 pounds) earned second-team All-SEC recognition as a redshirt junior in 2021 after rushing for 1,378 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games. He was suspended for four games in 2022 after pleading guilty to DUI. In the eight games he played in 2022, Rodriquez rushed 175 times for 904 yards and six scores.
4
RB Keaton Mitchell (East Carolina)
Mitchell (5-8, 179 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the combine. He rushed for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games last season.
5
RB Lew Nichols III (Central Michigan)
Nichols (5-11, 222 pounds) led the NCAA in rushing yards (1,848) and scored 16 touchdowns in 13 games in 2021. Injuries then limited him to nine games in 2022 and he rushed for 601 yards and six scores as a senior.
6
OT Carter Warren (Pittsburgh)
Warren (6-5, 311 pounds) was a four-game starter at left tackle for the Panthers last season before suffering a season-ending meniscus tear. He started 39 of the 40 games he was available for in four seasons at Pitt.
7
OT Darnell Wright (Tennessee)
Wright (6-5, 333 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 5.01 seconds at the combine. He is a versatile lineman who has experience at guard, left tackle and right tackle.
8
OT Nick Saldiveri (Old Dominion)
Saldiveri (6-6, 318 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 5.21 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 24 times at the NFL combine. He is a versatile offensive lineman who spent time at guard and tackle in college, and some draft pundits believe he could play as a center as well.
9
DL Jordon Riley (Oregon)
Riley (6-5, 338 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 5.28 seconds at Oregon’s pro day. He totaled 21 tackles (1.5 behind the line), one pass breakup and a half sack in 13 games with the Ducks last fall.
10
OLB Eku Leota (Auburn)
Leota (6-3, 252 pounds) totaled 41 tackles (15 behind the line) and nine sacks in two seasons (17 games) with the Tigers. He suffered a torn pectoral muscle in 2022 and he sat out drills at the NFL combine with a calf strain.
11
OLB Andrew Farmer (Lane College)
Farmer (6-3, 252 pounds) stood out at the HBCU Legacy Bowl combine in February, running a 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds. He totaled 114 tackles and 17.5 sacks in two seasons (18 games) with the Dragons.
12
LB Mohamoud Diabate (Utah)
Diabate (6-4, 222 pounds) totaled 58 tackles — 13.5 behind the line of scrimmage — five sacks, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery in 12 games last fall.
13
LB/S Marte Mapu (Sacramento State)
Mapu (6-3, 216 pounds) is recovering from a pectoral injury so he did not participate in the NFL combine last month. He totaled 76 tackles (6.5 behind the line), six pass breakups, two interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble in 13 games last fall.
14
LB Ventrell Miller (Florida)
Miller (6-0, 232 pounds) totaled 74 tackles (8.5 behind the line), two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 11 games in 2022.
15
CB Alex Austin (Oregon State)
Austin (6-1, 195 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds at the combine. He totaled 105 tackles, 17 pass breakups, four interceptions, one forced fumble, one sack and one defensive touchdown from 2021-2022.
16
Broncos' order of picks in 2023 NFL draft
Round 3: No. 67 via Colts (2022 draft trade)
Round 3: No. 68 (own selection)
Round 4: No. 108 (own selection)
Round 5: No. 139 (own selection)
Round 6: No. 195 via Steelers (Malik Reed trade)
The 2023 NFL draft will be held in Kansas City from April 27-29.
