Jaylen Waddle acquired, yet key Denver Broncos needs linger. Tight end, linebacker, and defensive line demand attention for Denver's draft strategy.
Things look much different for the Denver Broncos after the stunning blockbuster trade to acquire Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
The slow free agency period by Denver can be forgotten, mainly because Waddle is a massive piece of the offense.
Still, with the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, there are several areas of need for Denver, and one is obvious after defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers left in free agency and joined the Tennessee Titans.
Now, the Broncos lost a draft pick in the Waddle trade, and they could decide to sign some free agents who could be cap casualties at some point.
Nonetheless, ESPN revealed the biggest needs for the Broncos ahead of the NFL Draft, and they are as follows: Tight end, defensive line and linebacker.
Yes, the Broncos re-signed a lot of players, including tight end Adam Trautman, but he isn't much of a pass-catcher.
"Denver re-signed 17 of their 21 unrestricted, restricted or exclusive rights free agents. But that means the biggest needs they went into free agency with are still their biggest needs -- none bigger than tight end and linebacker," ESPN's Jeff Legwold wrote.
The Broncos' tight ends had a combined three touchdowns in 2025, and that isn't very helpful to young quarterback Bo Nix.
A recent mock draft had Denver selecting Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers on Day 2, and Stowers would immediately come in and compete for the TE1 job with all of the traits he possesses.
ESPN's Jordan Reid even called Stowers the "perfect addition" to Sean Payton's offense, so this seems like an obvious fit for both Stowers and the Broncos.
Linebacker also needs to be addressed, especially after Dre Greenlaw left and returned to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.
Although Greenlaw didn't play many games due to injuries and a suspension, when he was on the field, he played a lot of snaps, and the Broncos need to find a way to replace his production and effectiveness.
And, lastly is the defensive line. Denver wasn't expected to keep Franklin-Myers due to financial reasons, but still, this is an area that needs to be addressed before the season begins.
The Broncos don't have many glaring holes, which is a good sign, but they also don't have a first-round choice since they sent it to Miami as part of the Waddle trade.
So, let's see what happens in the NFL Draft.