In February, Broncos head coach Sean Payton described his franchise’s roster as a “puzzle,” built through subsequent free-agency and NFL draft windows.
This particular puzzle takes roughly two months to complete, and comes in two sets, and is entirely contingent on whether one has the money to properly pay for pieces.
Denver, though, has filled in plenty of gaps as free-agency slows. Now it’s time to turn attention to late April, with Monday officially marking just a month until the NFL draft. The Broncos face plenty of questions in the upcoming month. An obvious need still remains at running back, and the club could use depth at receiver, cornerback, quarterback and more.
The Broncos are armed with pick Nos. 20, 51, 85, 122, 191, 197 and 208 in April’s draft, with the obvious potential for trades. Until Roger Goodell officially takes the stage in Green Bay, The Denver Post will be updating this live tracker with intel from reporters on prospects who are visiting and meeting with the Broncos. Let the draft buzz begin.
Latest whispers
Craig Woodson, S, Cal
Monday, April 14: The Broncos are doing their due-diligence on safety options, as a source told The Post that Woodson’s done a Zoom with Denver’s defensive-back coaches. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was also at Cal’s Pro Day in late March, along with another Broncos scout. Woodson’s athleticism is intriguing, and he could be a Day Three fit if the Broncos are looking for secondary depth.
Jacob Bayer, C, Arkansas State
Monday, March 31: Broncos assistant OL coach Chris Morgan FaceTimed Bayer recently, according to a source. Don’t rule out the Arkansas State pedigree here — Bayer had a very solid 2023 and 2024 at center, and has drawn some buzz despite not receiving an invite to the NFL combine.
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OT, Florida
Monday, March 31: The Broncos have met with Crenshaw-Dickson multiple times, including a Zoom, according to a source. His combine performance wasn’t particularly impressive, but Crenshaw-Dickson had a tremendous year for Florida at right tackle in 2024 after transferring from San Diego State, allowing just 12 pressures in 685 snaps. He has plenty of collegiate experience at both tackle spots, and could be a later-round target if the Broncos are looking at some OL depth.
Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
Monday, March 31: All the signs are there for Neal as a potential mid-round RB fit with Denver. The Broncos have held multiple Zooms with Neal, a source told The Denver Post, including one with running backs coach Lou Ayeni. As general manager George Paton made clear to media at owners meetings in Florida Monday, the Broncos see RB talent up and down the draft, and Neal has four years of proven production at Kansas. His 40 time at the NFL combine wasn’t particularly inspiring, but he’s a fairly steady prospect.
Thomas Fidone, TE, Nebraska
Thursday, March 27: New Broncos tight end coach Austin King was on hand Tuesday for Nebraska’s pro day, where among other prospects he got an up-close look at tight end Thomas Fidone.
Fidone, considered a likely Day 3 pick, has put together a strong pre-draft process. He had one of the best overall testing sessions for his position at the NFL combine and checked in with a 9.4 Relative Athletic Score, which combines known measurables and testing marks on a 1-to-10 scale. He had two ACL injuries over his college career, but he played in 25 games for the Huskers the past two years and in 2024 caught 36 passes for 373 yards.
James Burnip, P, Alabama
Wednesday, March 26: Yes, the Broncos are still in the market for a punter. Sure, they signed free agent Matt Haack a week ago. But Haack hasn’t received consistent opportunity since a stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, and the Broncos appear interested in bringing in competition in the room. They’ve had multiple conversations with Burnip and met with him at Alabama, a source told The Post.
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Wednesday, March 26: A source told The Post that Warren had a Zoom meeting with the Broncos earlier in March, as Denver — still seeking a tight end even after signing Evan Engram in free agency — would have obvious interest in the Penn State standout. It’s highly unlikely, though, that Warren would fall to the Broncos at pick no. 20, after a breakout 104-catch season with the Nittany Lions in 2024.
Max Brosmer, QB, Minnesota
Monday, March 24: A source told The Post that Brosmer has had a couple Zoom calls with Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb. Brosmer has prototypical size at 6-foot-2, 217 pounds, but only one season of decent production at the FBS level with Minnesota in 2024.
Taylor Elgersma, QB, Willfred Laurier (Canada)
Monday, March 24: The Broncos have picked up on one of the most intriguing stories of this year’s draft, as Elgersma is vying for a selection in April despite never having played a single snap for an American school. Instead, he lit it up in Canada, throwing for 4,011 yards and 34 touchdowns last year. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 227 pounds. A source told The Post the Broncos had met with Elgersma at “at least three” all-star or bowl events, and at a pro day at the University of Buffalo. Potential UDFA fit here.
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Monday, March 24: Denver’s had multiple touchpoints with Gordon, a possible late-round target, holding meetings with him at the NFL combine and Senior Bowl and a Zoom with running backs coach Lou Ayeni, according to a source. He’s a prototypical power back at 6-foot-1, 226 pounds. He saw his production dip from 1,732 rushing yards in 2023 to 854 in 2024, though, and ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine.
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Monday, March 24: Royals had two standout seasons at Utah State and ran a 4.42 40-yard-dash at the combine. A source told The Post that Broncos wide receivers coach Keary Colbert was present for Utah State’s pro day last week, but didn’t meet individually with Royals there.
Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
Monday, March 24: Felton has a Zoom with the Broncos on Tuesday, March 25, a source said. He’s a burner who broke out in 2024 with a 1,119-yard season for Maryland, and could offer Denver depth at Z-receiver alongside rising second-year player Troy Franklin.
Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
Thursday, March 27: Well, there’s definite Denver interest here. The Broncos scheduled a second Zoom with Smith for Thursday, specifically with receivers coach Keary Colbert, according to a source. He’s the type of big-play threat (17.0 yards per catch in 2024) that could give the Broncos some juice on the outside, and could be a late-round flyer.
Monday, March 24: Smith broke out for the Bulldogs in 2024, racking up 801 yards on 48 catches, and he’s a certified athlete with a 38-inch vertical jump and a 4.36 40-yard time at the combine. His hands are a concern, though, as he dropped 10 passes in 2024. He’s met with the Broncos on a Zoom, according to a source.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
Monday, March 24: Keep an eye here. TeSlaa earned the highest “Athleticism Score” at the combine of any receiver. He’s 6-foot-4 with a 39.5-inch vertical jump and has the potential to be a massive red-zone threat in the NFL. He had just 28 catches last year at Arkansas, but turned them into 532 yards. He’s raw, but could be a mid-to-late-round steal. The Broncos have had multiple conversations, via phone call or Zoom, with TeSlaa, according to a source.
Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State
Monday, March 24: Martin’s stock has dropped after playing just five games in an injury-shortened 2024, but he racked up 140 tackles and six sacks at OK State in 2023. The Broncos could use young depth at inside linebacker, and a source told The Post that Denver’s had multiple meetings with Martin via the combine, Senior Bowl and Zoom.
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Monday, March 24: Emmanwori is one of the top safeties in the draft, and it seems unlikely the Broncos would use a first-round pick on him when they just signed Talanoa Hufanga to a three-year deal. Still, a source told The Post that the Broncos met with Emmanwori and a group of teammates at South Carolina’s pro day last week.
Confirmed top-30 visits
Kitan Crawford, S, Nevada: The Broncos have done their diligence on Crawford, who broke out last year at Nevada after four inconsistent years at Texas. Crawford isn’t a consistent tackler, but he was very good in coverage in 2024 and is one of the most athletic safeties in the draft, with an eye-popping 41.5-inch vertical. He could also be a special-teams fit as a gunner.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green: The search for the Joker, evidently, is never over, as a source confirmed to The Post that Denver’s hosting Fannin on a visit April 8. Even after the Broncos inked Evan Engram, they’ve still been active in tight-end evaluation in this draft class. And Fannin could be a massive upside swing in the early rounds, after an eye-popping 117-catch season at Bowling Green in 2024. The 40 time (4.71 seconds) and vertical (34 inches) don’t particularly stun, but the production’s there.
Vernon Broughton, DL, Texas: Well, George Paton’s emphasized the importance of building on the lines of scrimmage — and despite a wealth of defensive-line talent, the Broncos are still clearly looking for depth. Denver’s hosting Broughton on a 30 visit the week of April 7, a source told The Denver Post. He’s a 6-foot-5, 311-pound collegiate vet who broke out in 2024 for Texas, quietly racking up 32 pressures (per PFF) as one of the best pocket-pushing defensive tackles in the country.
Likely draft position: Late rounds
Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon: It wasn’t an official 30 visit, since the former Heritage High standout is from Littleton originally — but the Broncos hosted Ferguson at their facility for a local visit March 31, his agent Steve Caric told The Denver Post. The ties between tight end and Denver continue to grow, as local Ferguson played with Bo Nix at Oregon and even grew up as a Saints fan in Denver. He’d offer a solid early-to-mid-round option as tight end, a 6-foot-5 matchup threat who ran a 4.63 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
Likely draft position: Early-middle rounds
Nash Jones, OL, Texas State: First reported by 9News, a source confirmed to The Denver Post that the Broncos held a 30 visit with Jones, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound lineman from the South. He’s had five seasons of proven collegiate tape at Incarnate Word and Texas State, and has spent seasons at both tackle and guard, a versatile piece who’s been solid in pass protection at both line spots.
Likely draft position: UDFA
Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas: Signing Evan Engram hardly precludes the Broncos from pursuing a tight end, and Helm is a 6-foot-5, 231-pound pass-catching threat who broke out for 786 yards and seven touchdowns last year at Texas. He’s also a hometown kid, born in Englewood and prepping at Cherry Creek High. A note here — Helm’s visit with the Broncos didn’t count as an official top-30 visit, a source said, given his local ties to Denver.
Likely draft position: Middle rounds
Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas: A source confirmed Tuesday that Blue was set to visit the Broncos, after the Texas running back told the SEC Network he had upcoming visits also scheduled with the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. ESPN’s Jordan Reid reported Blue had blazed a sub-4.30-second 40-yard dash at Texas’ Pro Day Tuesday, the 5-foot-9 back offering a natural home-run threat and receiving upside that’d be a perfect fit for Payton’s offense.
Likely draft position: Early-mid rounds
Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State: Don’t be fooled by Miller spending five years at the FCS level. North Dakota State is a powerhouse, and Miller had an impressive five-year run with the Bison, throwing for 3,251 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2024 while rushing for 12 touchdowns. He’s a potential target for the Broncos as they search for a QB3.
Likely draft position: UDFA
Trey Wedig, OT, Indiana: The 6-foot-7, 319-pound Wedig transferred to Indiana in 2024 after three seasons at Wisconsin and authored a terrific season, finishing with Pro Football Focus’s eighth-highest run-blocking grade (85.1) of any tackle in the country with more than 500 snaps. He also has some collegiate experience at guard.
Likely draft position: Late-round/UDFA
DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State: A 6-foot-1, 200-pound back who put up an impressive 4.43 40-yard dash and 39.5-inch vertical jump at the combine, Giddens authored two 1,200-plus-yard seasons on the ground at Kansas State. In a deep, deep RB class, he could bring depth as a late-round fit. One potential concern: he struggled in pass protection in 2024.
Likely draft position: Late-round
Bryson Green, WR, Wisconsin: A logical fit for a top-30 visit, as the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Green is an athletic marvel but struggled with injuries and a lack of consistent opportunity in two years at Wisconsin. He finished with just 219 yards in eight games in 2024. According to Wisconsin site BadgerExtra, Green posted a 39-inch vertical jump at Wisconsin’s pro day.
Likely draft position: Late-round/UDFA
Reported top-30 visits
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State (per The Draft Network): Judkins shone in a time-share with TreVeyon Henderson last year for the national-champion Buckeyes, rushing for 1,060 yards on 193 carries with 14 touchdowns. He’s a 221-pound tank who’d bring a power-back threat to Denver’s backfield.
Likely draft position: Middle rounds
Keleki Latu, TE, Washington (per Sportskeeda): Latu has played for three schools in three years, but quietly displayed some after-the-catch potential last year with the Huskies in a 40-catch season. He’s a 6-foot-6 body who’s the younger brother of 2024 first-round pick Laiatu Latu.
Likely draft position: UDFA
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