Most of the good teams in the NFL have been built through the draft. It’s hard to spend your way to the top in the league, and most teams that have tried end up crumbling before the eyes of fans.
The Denver Broncos have not been one of the better drafting teams in the NFL in recent years. None of the team’s picks from the 2020 draft class is currently on the team except for linebacker Justin Strnad, and the 2021 class featuring Patrick Surtain, Javonte Williams, Quinn Meinerz and Baron Browning is the only recent draft where the Broncos were able to pull more than two quality starters out of the bunch.
That could be changing in a big way in 2024. On the defensive side of the ball, this year’s rookie class showed out against the Indianapolis Colts. Fifth-round cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine was targeted twice in coverage, recording an incompletion and an interception. Pass-rusher Jonah Ellis, who the Broncos drafted in the third round, had a pressure that led to another pick, and contributed in the run game as well.
Broncos Rookie CB Kris Abrams-Draine in Preseason Week 1:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 13, 2024
🟠 19 Coverage Snaps
🟠 Zero Yards Allowed (2 Targets)
🟠 90.1 Coverage Grade@MizzouFootball pic.twitter.com/qy3XBjTWME
Seventh-round receiver Devaughn Vele played like a savvy veteran in drawing a key pass interference call on one scoring drive, and was praised by head coach Sean Payton again for not playing like a rookie in training camp on Wednesday. And of course, Bo Nix led the Broncos on four scoring drives, mostly showing the accuracy and quick decision making that led the Broncos to draft him 12th overall.
There were a few bumps in the road, of course. Running back Audric Estime fumbled while carrying the ball too high during a tackle, and fourth-round wideout Troy Franklin was more or less invisible. Nix had a couple plays where he needed to set his feet better before letting it rip. But if the Broncos can smooth out their rough edges, they could have a gem of a rookie class in 2024 that serves as the team’s foundation for years to come.
