3 Winners and 4 Losers on the Broncos roster after the 2024 NFL Draft

For better or for worse, here are the players I think were impacted the most from the Denver Broncos draft weekend.

Now that the 2024 NFL Draft and the Denver Broncos have mostly signed their undrafted free agent class, we can start to look more at what this roster will look like this season. Denver ended up selecting seven draft picks last weekend and then added 13 UDFA’s with another five invites to rookie minicamp by Sunday.

Looking over those players added and the players currently on the roster, there were definitely some winners and some losers coming out of this weekend. It doesn’t mean the losers will be cut this August, but they will need to grind for that spot.

Draft Day Winners

Sean Payton

We are two offseason’s into Sean Payton’s tenure with the Broncos and we can already see how he is reshaping this roster. It had looked like Payon would somehow push George Paton out the door in favor of his own guy, but the two seemed very much on the same page and the direction this organization is going.

Payton now has his quarterback. That’s the most important thing here. With his own quarterback, the clock now starts on his tenure in Denver. Turn things around and he’ll be a hero in Broncos Country. More 10+ loss seasons and he may be out the door sooner than we expect. This is how it goes in the NFL, but for today he was a big winner in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Greg Dulcich

Tight end was a need on almost everyone’s Broncos list, but tight end was one position Denver decided to pass on in the draft. That was probably a good thing given how weak this tight end draft class was, but even so it is a huge opportunity for Greg Dulcich who will need to prove he can remain healthy. He gets a chance to do just that this year.

Drew Sanders

With Josey Jewell long gone despite a rather rough rookie season by Drew Sanders, the Broncos decided not to address their linebacker position in the draft. There have been rumors of moving Sanders outside, but with their depth looking rather iffy inside that may not be an option. He should still be on the back end of the depth chart come training camp at either ILB or EDGE, but with no real threats drafted he has a chance to work his way onto the 2024 roster.

Draft Day Losers

2023 running back room

Once the Broncos completed their draft and signed their undrafted free agent class, it sure looks like no one is safe from that 2023 running back room. While Javonte Williams is likely safe as the lead back this season, I am not sure he’ll be getting an extension and will be a free agent in 2025. Meanwhile, the Broncos most consistent back last year, Samaje Perine, will get a strong push to be replaced by fifth-round pick Audric Estime, while Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie could face significant pressure from Blake Watson.

D.J. Jones

The Broncos did a really good job fortifying their interior defensive line without utilizing a draft pick. They picked up Angelo Blackson and Malcolm Roach in free agency and then traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets to land John Franklin-Myers. With Denver in need of some cap wiggle room, it could mean D.J. Jones might be a late veteran cut. The trade for Franklin-Myers and contract restructure there still likely necessitates a roster move elsewhere. It would not be surprising if Denver decides to roll with Blackson at nose tackle and move on from Jones.

2023 wide receiver room

Another group that will face a bit of pressure to make the roster will be the back half of the wide receiver room from last year. Jerry Jeudy is already gone and despite Courtland Sutton trade rumors, the team has continued to maintain he is part of their 2024 plans. With the addition of Troy Franklin, DeVaughn Vele, and Lincoln Victor last weekend, some of the other young players like Brandon Johnson or Jalen Virgil could face a more difficult task of making the team this summer.

Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci

How many quarterbacks do the Broncos need? Not five if we count the minicamp invite. Probably not even three if we’re being honest, but we could see one of these two battling it out for that third spot. It is unlikely that they don’t roll with Bo Nix and Zach Wilson this season just due to one being this year’s first round pick and the other having that first round pick pedigree.

Who do you think came out a winner or a loser on the Broncos roster after draft weekend? Share in the comments section below.

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