Denver Broncos 2022 NFL Draft picks and early top 3 needs
The Denver Broncos head into the 2021 season with playoff aspirations, but a hazy future at quarterback. What is their 2022 NFL Draft outlook?
The Denver Broncos have playoff aspirations in the 2021 season, but beyond this year, there are definitely some major questions about this team’s future, including at head coach and quarterback.
This season is a make-or-break season, in all likelihood, for head coach Vic Fangio who is 0-7 in the month of September as an NFL head coach.
The Denver Broncos have been one of the league’s better defenses under Fangio, to no one’s surprise, especially in the red zone. They have reloaded on that side of the ball heading into the 2021 regular season, making big splashes in free agency and the NFL Draft to acquire players like Ronald Darby, Kyle Fuller, and Pat Surtain II.
The return of a healthy Von Miller and a healthy Bradley Chubb has given this team hope for the present with one of the easiest schedules in the league based on last year’s records.
Still, new general manager George Paton will watch his 2021 squad with one eye on the future. There could be massive changes coming for the Denver Broncos if this team isn’t one of the seven AFC representatives in the playoffs.
Denver Broncos 2022 NFL Draft picks
1. First round
2. Second round
3. Third round
4. Fourth round
5. Fifth round
6. Fifth round (from Detroit)
7. Seventh round
8. Seventh round (from Detroit)
9. Seventh round (from 49ers)
The Broncos made a couple of trades to get from seven selections in the 2022 NFL Draft just over a week ago up to nine.
First, they sent wide receiver Trinity Benson to the Detroit Lions for fifth- and seventh-round picks. They also traded a 2022 sixth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for linebacker Jonas Griffith and seventh-round picks in 2022 and 2023.
Even without a selection in round six, the Denver Broncos’ draft capital for the 2022 NFL Draft is shaping up really nicely. George Paton emphasized that he likes to have as many “darts” to throw at the board as possible, so to have nine picks in the bag already is a big advantage for him.
Denver Broncos early top 3 2022 NFL Draft needs
1. Quarterback
Until this is resolved, it’s going to have to be the de facto number one need for the Denver Broncos.
Teddy Bridgewater could prove himself worthy of being the “bridge” quarterback beyond this season. Maybe he even plays well enough to work a longer-term deal out of this whole thing.
Until he actually goes out and does that, the Denver Broncos will have one eye on the 2022 quarterback market, be that via free agency, trade, or the NFL Draft.
2. Right tackle
This has been a problem area for the Denver Broncos almost longer than the quarterback position has.
Bobby Massie is hopefully going to hold down the fort for this team in 2021, but as of right now, there’s not a long-term option here. If the right guy is on the board, this is a first-round option for Denver in the 2022 NFL Draft.
3. EDGE
An argument could be made here for the off-ball linebacker position, but I think the Denver Broncos will be in good hands with one of Josey Jewell or Alexander Johnson as well as Justin Strnad and Baron Browning going forward.
Off the edge, there could be questions.
Von Miller is in a contract year. Both he and Bradley Chubb have been dealing with injuries the past two seasons.
Malik Reed is a possible starter beyond this season as well, and if the Broncos roll with Malik Reed and Bradley Chubb with Jonathon Cooper and Andre Mintze as depth in the event Von Miller leaves, I think this need transitions to the defensive line.