The Denver Broncos came out of the 2026 NFL draft with seven new players, and reactions are pouring in. Sean Payton has said it’s best to judge a draft class three (or so) years down the road, but instant draft grades are a fan favorite every April. So, even though these early takes should be taken with a grain of salt, we’ve put together a quick list of Broncos grades for the 2026 draft class.
NFL.com: A-
- “Denver drafted Coleman with the fourth-round pick it acquired from New Orleans for receiver Devaughn Vele, adding a power runner to a deep running back group,” Chad Reuter wrote for NFL.com. “Casey adds depth at tackle and guard for the Broncos. Joly and Bentley bolstered the tight end room. Linebacker depth was a need for the Broncos and Murdock’s intensity in the box should absolutely make him relevant even though he was the final pick of the 2026 draft.”
USA TODAY: B+
- “Their draft was pretty much about – and will ultimately be defined – by the acquisition of WR Jaylen Waddle for multiple picks this year, including the 30th overall selection,” Nate Davis wrote for USAT. “A reasonable gamble given how close the Broncos got to Super Bowl 60 as well as the defensible opportunity cost of largely bypassing this year’s middling prospects. Third-round DL Tyler Onyedim could soften the loss of John Franklin-Myers in free agency, and fourth-round RB Jonah Coleman should get some touches. Yet maybe the most fascinating aspect of Denver’s draft … was their decision-making into who wound up as “Mr. Irrelevant” given the Broncos made the final two selections in Round 7.”
CBS Sports: B
- “Early in Round 3, the Broncos became the final team to make its first selection,” Carter Bahns wrote for CBS. “They did not have a first-rounder entering the draft and moved out of Round 2 in a Friday trade. With the No. 66 pick, they refueled their already stout defense with lineman Tyler Onyedim, who will not fully replace Jonathan Franklin-Myers but adds a fresh body to that group.”
ESPN: C+
- “Jonah Coleman is another option at running back, scoring 17 scrimmage touchdowns last season,” Mel Kiper wrote for ESPN. “Kage Casey can be a backup at offensive tackle, Justin Joly is a stretch option at tight end, and Mr. Irrelevant Red Murdock is a tackling machine. But there isn’t a ton to get super excited about here.”
Sports Illustrated: C
- “A large chunk of Denver’s draft was traded away in the Jaylen Waddle deal,” Matt Verderame wrote for SI. “As a result, the Broncos primarily added depth, giving RJ Harvey a caddy in Coleman, while getting Casey to play as a swing tackle behind Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey. As for Onyedim, the former Aggies star should see rotational time after the departure of John Franklin-Myers. All told, it’s a draft that doesn’t have much wow factor, but provides short-term insurance and long-term upside.”
ProFootballTalk: C
- “Denver kicked off their draft by taking the 129th ranked player on the industry board, Tyler Onyedim, at 66th overall,” Eric Froton wrote for PFT. “That being said, each of their next three selections were at least 20+ picks ahead of consensus, with Jonah Coleman being a RB that I really like and think he can challenge for the starting job in Denver eventually. TE Joly could carve out a prominent role behind Evan Engram, but there isn’t going to be a major impact from this class and feels like the Broncos were just trying to fill holes with mid-to-late picks here.”
PFF: C-
- “Coleman may not have the flashy athleticism of a fan-favorite RB1, but his game is efficient, powerful and translatable to NFL success, specifically behind zone-blocking schemes where he can gain momentum and one-cut into rushing lanes,” PFF’s staff wrote. “He also brings plus third-down reliability as a receiver and pass protector.”
Denver is now working on filling out the 90-man offseason roster by signing undrafted free agents. We are tracking all of the team’s UDFA signings on Broncos Wire.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL draft grades: Experts rate Denver Broncos 2026 draft class