The Denver Broncos didn't have a 2026 draft pick until the third round and had seven total picks in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds.
The Denver Broncos will play their third and final preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night, the last game on the slate, and aren’t expected to play key starters in the contest.
That opens the door for Broncos rookies and fringe players to earn a spot on the 53-man roster or an established role with the team moving forward. Denver made seven selections in the 2026 National Football League draft but didn’t pick in the first or second rounds.
The Broncos used their third-round pick on defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim (No. 66), fourth-round picks on running back Jonah Coleman (No. 108) and offensive lineman Kage Casey (No. 111), fifth-rounder on tight end Justin Joly (No. 152), and seventh-round picks on safety Miles Scott (No. 246), TE Dallen Bentley (No. 256) and linebacker Red Murdock (No. 257).
ESPN’s Jeff Legwold provided updates on how each draft pick has performed in the preseason thus far.
Onyedim
Legwold reported that Onyedim has been in the defensive line rotation and figures to be involved more as a pass-rusher. He will earn more playing time as he gets stronger at the point of attack.
Coleman
“It took only one 13-yard run in the preseason opener for coach Sean Payton to see all he needed to see,” Legwold wrote Friday. “Coleman is squarely in the backfield rotation and will get plenty of work.”
Coleman looks like one of the steals of the draft and has outplayed second-year player RJ Harvey in training camp, creating a competition for the RB2 spot behind veteran J.K. Dobbins.
Casey
Casey will likely make the 53-man roster due to his positional versatility and “ahead-of-his-time mechanics in his footwork and hand placement.”
Joly
Legwold mentioned that Joly has shown productivity as a pass-catcher and could make the roster because of that reason. It will be a battle between him and Bentley.
Scott
Scott likely lands on the practice squad because of the Taylor Rapp signing, but Denver likes his physicality, so he will more than likely stick around and be an injury replacement later down the line.
Bentley
As I hinted at earlier, Legwold believes that one of Joly or Bentley makes the 53-man roster, it just depends on what the team prefers from a rookie TE – inline or receiving. Bentley would be the inline option and is more consistent as one.
Murdock
“Mr. Irrelevant” has been far from irrelevant in camp and the preseason. His preparation is top-notch according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and he’s been calling plays when he’s on the field. He reportedly “has a nose for the ball.”
Official rosters are due Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. MDT.
