Creating a 2026 NFL Mock Draft with South Shore high school football players, including Scituate QB Jonny Donovan (left) and Milton receiver Ronan Sammon. | Graphic by Jason Snow. Photos by Greg Derr / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The first overall pick in the draft has been a QB in 19 of the 25 drafts this century with 2001 being the first draft of this century. The other six drafts have either had an edge (four) or an offensive tackle (two).2025 Cam Ward QB2024 Caleb Williams QB2023 Bryce Young QB2022 Travon Walker DE2021 Trevor Lawrence QB2020 Joe Burrow QB2019 Kyler Murray QB2018 Baker Mayfield QB2017 Myles Garrett DE2016 Jared Goff QB2015 Jameis Winston QB2014 Jadeveon Clowney DE2013 Eric Fisher T2012 Andrew Luck QB2011 Cam Newton QB2010 Sam Bradford QB2009 Matthew Stafford QB2008 Jake Long T2007 JaMarcus Russell QB2006 Mario Williams DE2005 Alex Smith QB2004 Eli Manning QB2003 Carson Palmer QB2002 David Carr QB2001 Michael Vick QBSo it’s a very safe bet that the first overall pick will be a QB, particularly since the Raiders are in dire need of one.The Denver Broncos do not have a pick in the first round after trading that pick to get Jaylen Waddle, which is a smart move since the chances or finding an elite WR at 26 are slim.
The last time the Broncos didn’t have a first round pick was 2023. Our first pick in that draft was Marvin Mims at 63. The Broncos didn’t have a first round pick in the previous draft as well.
In that draft we landed Nik Bonitto with the 64th pick. That’s two really good second round picks after years of making terrible picks in the second round, which I wrote about in the past. Here are a few of the failures that the Broncos took in the second round, not in chronological order.Adam Gotsis Cody LatimerBrock OsweilerAlphonso SmithTim Crowder Tony SchefflerTatum BellDeMarcus WalkerTy SambrailoMontee BallDarcel McBathRichard QuinnDarius WattsTerry PiercePaul ToviessiThe Broncos currently have seven picks this year with one in the second, two in the fourth, and three in the seventh.
The Broncos have ended up with seven picks in the last two drafts after having only five in the 2023 draft. YearDenver total picksPicks in top 64202671202572202471202351202291202110220201022019632018102201782201682201592201462201372201272201193201093200910520089220074220067220056120041032003102200282200162200010319991231998721997311996122199570199451This is a very deep draft so there should be some good talent available for the Broncos in the second and fourth rounds. The Broncos need and IDL to replace John Franklin-Myers and a TE to replace any of them, as they were all poor in 2025.
According to the realistic draft pick values (Fitzgerald-Speilberger, F-S), the Broncos have the second least draft capital to spend in this draft with only 3134 points. Only the Falcons have less with 2909. The money needed to sign the Bronco rookies from this draft is the 3rd least in the NFL at $7.6MM.
The Broncos have the least cap space available, but that will change when some expensive vets are released during or before camp. TeamRookie PoolCap SpaceF-S ValueDolphins$19,747,319 $10,012,319 8590Jets$23,895,180 $15,930,180 8539Raiders$21,606,084 $12,756,084 8115Browns$20,094,541 $12,129,541 7547Giants$22,006,407 $14,926,407 7328Chiefs$17,960,667 $9,995,667 7292Steelers$16,243,185 $5,623,185 7186Titans$19,331,846 $11,366,846 6945Ravens$15,752,971 $6,017,971 6437Cardinals$17,719,393 $11,524,393 6306Saints$14,677,759 $7,597,759 6107Cowboys$14,994,131 $7,914,131 6011Texans$12,792,302 $5,712,302 6007Patriots$13,855,524 $4,120,524 5789Eagles$12,134,420 $5,054,420 5732Jaguars$12,204,031 $2,469,031 5492Vikings$12,994,009 $5,029,009 5438Lions$12,986,547 $5,021,547 5356Buccaneers$11,755,452 $5,560,452 5096Panthers$11,037,337 $4,842,337 5034Bears$10,868,878 $4,673,878 495249ers$9,450,930 $4,140,930 4341Rams$11,101,499 $4,906,499 4256Commanders$12,054,155 $6,744,155 4227Bills$9,863,386 $3,668,386 4057Chargers$8,729,975 $4,304,975 4012Packers$8,968,333 $1,888,333 3941Bengals$8,494,459 $2,299,459 3748Colts$8,199,699 $2,004,699 3565Seahawks$6,721,897 $3,181,897 3169Broncos$7,586,808 $1,391,808 3134Falcons$6,212,824 $1,787,824 2909The 26th pick that the Broncos traded to get Jaylen Waddle has an F-S value of 1349.
F-S is a much more realistic pick value relative to the “Jimmy Johnson” chart (which he didn’t invent). The F-S chart assigns realistic value to second, third and fourth rounds picks which are grossly undervalued by the old/outdated chart. The approximate value by pick is shown on the right Y-axis.