It’s still three months until the NFL draft, but there’s plenty of speculation as to who the Broncos will take with the No. 12 overall pick.
Denver has selected from the No. 12 spot three times before: offensive tackles Marv Montgomery (1971) and Ryan Clady (2008) and running back Knowshon Moreno (2009). So who will the team take this year?
Here’s a look at who national draftniks are thinking will land in Denver.
NFL.com | Bucky Brooks | Updated Jan. 22
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
“The Broncos pair Pat Surtain II with Arnold, a polished cover corner. With exceptional instincts and awareness, the former Tide star is a scheme-friendly defensive playmaker on the perimeter,” Brooks writes. Read the full mock draft.
Sports Illustrated | Luke Easterling | Updated Jan. 21
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
No write-up available. Read the full mock draft.
CBS Sports | Josh Edwards | Updated Jan. 21
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
“The combination of Patrick Surtain II and Terrion Arnold gives Denver one of the best cornerback rooms in football, in theory. Sean Payton still has a gaping hole at quarterback to fix, but there are limited options if a team is not in a position to draft one early. Could Kirk Cousins be the answer?” Edwards writes. Read the full mock draft.
The Athletic | Dane Brugler | Updated Jan. 16
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
“There won’t be a consensus CB1, but Arnold has the best package of traits — and I know several NFL scouts who feel the same way. Though he’s not the most disciplined corner in the draft, Arnold is a top-tier athlete with outstanding competitiveness and ball production (17 passes defended and five interceptions in 2023),” Brugler writes. Read the full mock draft (subscription).
NFL.com | Daniel Jeremiah | Updated Jan. 21
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
“I think Arnold could go as high as fifth overall. He’s the best cornerback in this draft and he would pair with Pat Surtain II to give the Broncos one of the best CB tandems in the league, if not the best,” Jeremiah writes. Read the full mock draft.
ESPN | Jordan Reid | Updated Jan. 10
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
“Russell Wilson could be released before the start of the new league year, which would leave coach Sean Payton in search of a young QB to mold in his offense. The Broncos might sign an experienced veteran, but McCarthy has some traits we’ve seen Payton gravitate toward in the past: The Wolverines star is an instinctive and accurate passer who makes plays to win games. He has really good ball placement, hitting 72.3% of his throws this season. Scouts have mixed opinions on McCarthy — mainly surrounding his role in Michigan’s run-heavy scheme — and he’s no lock to go on Day 1, but he has the chance to be a solid NFL starter,” Reid writes. Read the full mock draft (subscription).
The Sporting News | Vinnie Iyer | Updated Jan. 22
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
“The Broncos will work to get out of the Russell Wilson contract in the offseason given Sean Payton benched him late in the season and should be looking for his own QB solution going forward. Nix is an ideal prospect for Payton’s system with his arm, athleticism and accurate execution based on his experience,” Iyer writes. Read the full mock draft.
CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso | Updated Jan. 18
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
“If the Broncos do trade Russell Wilson, they’ll of course be in the quarterback market. Nix became an awesome point guard after transferring to Oregon, and that’s precisely what Sean Payton would ask him to do in his offense,” Trapasso writes. Read the full mock draft.
Draft Network | Brentley Weissman | Updated Jan. 17
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
“The second run on quarterbacks begins here. Bo Nix will be one of the more polarizing players in this class, but if you throw out the Auburn tape and just focus on his past two years at Oregon, you’ll see a franchise quarterback. He has an NFL arm, shows poise and good decision-making, and is an excellent athlete. Nix would be a great quarterback for Sean Payton to mold for his timing-based offense,” Weissman writes. Read the full mock draft.
Pro Football Focus | Trevor Sikkema | Updated Jan. 8
Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
“Quarterback is the Broncos’ top need, but it’s hard to justify that here after five are off the board. (I believe Nix, Penix and Daniels will certainly be Broncos targets). Turner has the best combination of size, speed and production in this year’s edge rusher class, sporting a 90.6 pass-rush grade on true pass sets over the past two seasons,” Sikkema writes. Read the full mock draft.
USA Today | Curt Popejoy | Updated Jan. 18
Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
No write-up available. Read the full mock draft.
USA Today | Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz | Updated Jan. 9
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
“Aidan O’Connell tossing two touchdowns in the regular-season finale should serve as a reminder that this secondary still is a problem. At 6-2 and 185 pounds with the fluidity to stick with receivers at every level of the field, Wiggins would make for an imposing cornerback tandem with Patrick Surtain II,” Middlehurst-Schwartz writes. Read the full mock draft.
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