The Denver Broncos 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books, which means it’s time to review the actual picks. Thanks to a series of trades, the Broncos didn’t have much to work with in the NFL Draft, but they made the most of what opportunities they had to add some young talent.
In all, they obtained the following players:
- Second Round, 63rd Overall: Marvin Mims, WR
- Third Round, 67th Overall: Drew Sanders, LB
- Third Round, 83rd Overall: Riley Moss, CB
- Sixth Round, 183rd Overall: JL Skinner, S
- Seventh Round, 257th Overall: Alex Forsyth, C
- TRADE: Adam Trautman, TE
Denver Broncos 2023 NFL Draft Review Grade: 8.7/10
Denver Broncos 2023 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Drew Sanders
When the Denver Broncos traded up to the 63rd overall pick, this is the player I thought they were targeting. Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders is exactly what this defense needs and should be ready to start right out of the gate. Sanders is a versatile weapon that can line up just about anywhere and has an incredible football IQ. He blows up screens with regularity and has a lot of room to grow as an athlete – he will be good, he could be great.
The Head-Scratcher: Marvin Mims
The Denver Broncos entered the 2023 NFL Draft with hardly any draft capital, which made it hard to understand why they’d trade up for any prospect, much less a wide receiver. Marvin Mims is a solid deep threat, but he’s something of a one-trick pony, and how is he going to get on the field ahead of Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick? As of this posting, all three players are still on the roster, and if any of them were going to get traded, it likely would have happened by now.
The Surprise: Riley Moss
In a vacuum, selecting Riley Moss midway through the third isn’t too surprising. While I had him as a fourth-round talent, he was not an egregious reach. However, the fact that the Broncos of all teams wanted him is a bit surprising. The biggest weakness in Moss’ game is speed, and that is not a good flaw to have when you have to play the Kansas City Chiefs twice a year. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid aren’t going anywhere soon, and Moss’ tendency to bite on a fake without the recovery speed to get back to his receiver could be an issue.
The Steal: JL Skinner
On the complete other side of the coin, JL Skinner had no business still being on the board in the sixth round, and his borderline-elite athleticism will play up well in Denver’s defense. A dangerous straight-line threat with plenty of pop on his hits, Skinner will be able to deliver serious punishment in the box for any receiver that dares venture over the middle of the field.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Drew Sanders Again
It should go without saying that the best player in the Broncos draft class is the most likely to put on a show when the pads come on. While players aren’t going at full speed during training camp, Sanders’ should still be able to impress. What will be truly interesting to watch is where they put him in practice, as he truly can play all over the field.
The Rest
Alex Forsyth is the type of player you expect to find near the bottom of the seventh round. While he can hold his own in pass protection, he’ll need to add both muscle and speed if he wants to stick around in the NFL. That’s not a great combination, but at that point in the NFL Draft, who else are you going to pick?
While he wasn’t a draft pick, the Denver Broncos did add tight end Adam Trautman during the event, so we’ll include him here. Trautman is the textbook definition of the league-average tight end. He’ll make his way on the field, but he’s not good enough to prevent a Greg Dulcich breakout if the tight end can build on his rookie campaign.
Main Photo: Nathan Fish – USA Today Sports
