The Broncos were armed with a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft after they finished the 2021 season with a 7-10 record. It was expected that the team would look for an upgrade on the offense, at quarterback or another position.
Instead, Denver was able to find that upgrade elsewhere. It swung one of the biggest trades of the 2022 NFL offseason and was able to land a franchise quarterback.
As part of the trade, however, the Broncos no longer have the No. 9 overall pick. They are one of eight teams currently without a first-round selection, joining the Bears, Browns, Colts, Dolphins, 49ers, Raiders and Rams.
The Broncos also don't have their second-round pick because of the deal. In fact, they don't have a pick until the final selection of the second round. Still, it seems as if the move was worth it considering the upgrade they made as well as their remaining draft capital.
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Why don't the Broncos have a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft?
The Broncos don't have a first-round pick because of their trade for Russell Wilson. They sent the No. 9 overall pick to the Seahawks as part of the package to land the veteran quarterback.
Denver had to give up a lot to get Wilson. The team surrendered each of its next two first-round picks, three other draft picks and three players.
Below are the full details of the Wilson trade:
Broncos get:
- QB Russell Wilson
- 2022 fourth-round pick (116th overall)
Seahawks get:
- QB Drew Lock
- DL Shelby Harris
- TE Noah Fant
- 2022 first-round pick (9th overall)
- 2023 first-round pick
- 2022 second-round pick (40th)
- 2023 second-round pick
- 2022 fifth-round pick (152th)
The cost was worth it for the Broncos, who have been searching for a franchise quarterback since Peyton Manning retired following Super Bowl 50. Now they have one in Wilson, 33, who is a nine-time Pro Bowler and led the Seahawks to a win in Super Bowl 48.
TRADE GRADES: Why the Seahawks won the Russell Wilson deal
Who is picking in the Broncos' position?
The Seahawks now own the No. 9 overall pick, which previously belonged to the Broncos. Seattle was supposed to have the 10th pick in the draft but had sent it to the Jets as part of the Jamal Adams trade in 2020.
Are the Broncos competitive without this pick?
The Broncos aren't just competitive without this pick; they are more competitive without it than they would be with it. The reason? The 2022 NFL Draft class is weak at quarterback, so even if the Broncos had landed Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis, they wouldn't be guaranteed to compete for a playoff berth, let alone a division title.
With Wilson, Denver will be legitimately in the mix for the AFC West crown in 2022. They'll face stiff competition from Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs, Justin Herbert's Chargers and Derek Carr's Raiders. But even if the Broncos don't win the division, Wilson will, at bare minimum, give them a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since Manning's last season.
Broncos' 2022 NFL Draft picks
Despite being without their first- and second-round picks because of the Wilson trade, the Broncos are still flush with draft capital. They have eight total picks, including three in the top 96 as a result of trading Von Miller to the Rams.
The Broncos also have two fourth-round picks, one of which came over in the Wilson trade. That will give them plenty of opportunities to add depth and talent as they look to become a contender in the AFC.
| Round | Pick (Overall) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 64 (from LAR) |
| 3 | 75 |
| 3 | 96 (from LAR) |
| 4 | 115 |
| 4 | 116 (from SEA) |
| 5 | 145 (from DET) |
| 6 | 206 (from TB via NYJ and PHI) |
| 7 | 232 |
MORE: How NFL teams value draft picks in potential trades
Broncos' 2022 NFL Draft needs
The Broncos have very few needs after their strong work in free agency. Adding Wilson filled their biggest need, while signing Randy Gregory helped them to replace the pass-rush production they lost with the Von Miller trade.
That said, there are still areas in which the Broncos could improve. Adding talent and depth at those positions would do a lot to help make Denver a Super Bowl contender.
Offensive tackle
The Broncos used veterans Bobby Massie and Cameron Fleming at right tackle last season and got mixed results. Neither one is back in 2022; the team opted to go with a different veteran pairing, Billy Turner and Tom Compton, at the position.
Denver should probably look to add a tackle who can eventually take over for Turner and Compton. Right tackle is one of the offense's few weaknesses, but a deep tackle class can help fix that. Perhaps Denver will consider Minnesota's Daniel Faalele if he makes it to their first pick, 64th overall.
Tight end
Denver had to give up Noah Fant in the Russell Wilson trade, so it could stand to add depth at this position. Albert Okwuegbunam can start while Eric Tomlinson can serve as a top blocker, but adding another do-it-all player would be a good move.
Again, the Broncos are lucky in that the 2022 NFL Draft has a lot of talent at tight end. They could use one of their four picks in the third and fourth rounds to add a Jalen Wydermyer or Jeremy Ruckert.
Linebacker
The Broncos retained Josey Jewell in free agency, but Alexander Johnson remains unsigned. Denver signed Alex Singleton to help replace him. It also has Jonas Griffith, but the team could stand to add another potential starter.
Damone Clark and Chad Muma could be options in the second or third round.
Check out the Sporting News 2022 NFL Mock Draft, brought to you by SN's lead NFL Writer Vinnie Iyer.