Broncos’ Bo Nix emerges as ultimate winner after monster Day 3 in 2026 NFL Draft that boosts offensive outlook in Denver
The Denver Broncos got busy during the last and final day of the 2026 NFL Draft. From protecting quarterback Bo Nix, to providing him more weapons, there was a little bit of everything on one of the most important weekends in all of sports. Denver got better over the weekend.
The Denver Broncos may not have had a first-round selection thanks to the trade for former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t have plenty of draft ammunition heading into one of the most important weekends in sports.
General manager George Paton and the front office will use the draft to help bolster one of the best rosters in all of football, with plenty of day three selections to do just that.
In total, the Broncos held six day three selections, and made more than a few slam dunks along the way. Without further ado, let’s dive in and take a look at the Broncos 2026 NFL Draft, specifically from day three. What a wild ride it’s been for Broncos Country.
Denver Broncos Day 3 selections
Round 4, Pick 108: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
The Denver Broncos have gained another weapon with their first selection in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team selected Jonah Coleman from Washington, a running back who will immediately compete for a starting job. Coleman, as A to Z Sports highlighted, is an eventual good starter from their analysis.
Throughout his four-year career in Arizona and Washington, Coleman has played in 50 games with 552 attempts for 3,054 yards and 34 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He’s also added 87 receptions for 939 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 9.6 yards per reception. He’s another weapon for quarterback Bo Nix.
A to Z Sports analysis: 5’8″, 220-lb bowling ball with elite contact balance and vision. Reliable pass catcher out of backfield. Average speed limits explosive plays; overall athleticism lacking with limited top-end gear.
Grade: A-
Round 4, Pick 111: Kage Casey, OT, Boise State
The Denver Broncos are in a fortunate position where there aren’t a ton of team needs. Let the board fall where it will and take the best player available. That’s exactly what they did with the selection of Kage Casey, offensive tackle from Boise State, with the No. 111 pick. Casey will be given plenty of time to grow as a professional in this offense.
Anytime you get some more key protection for Bo Nix, it’s a win in our book. He was a year starter who played in all 41 games for the team over the past three seasons. As A to Z Sports highlighted, he’s a good backup with starter potential. The team needed to get younger at the position, and they did exactly that.
A to Z Sports analysis: 6’5″, 311-lb tackle with solid technique and 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade. Better suited inside at guard given arm-length limitations. Inconsistent run-blocking finish and shorter frame limit ceiling as perimeter blocker.
Kage Casey was a three-year starter at left tackle for Boise State. He started all 41 games for the team over the past three seasons. One of his biggest strengths is his discipline, with just three penalties in those 41 starts. He has solid size at 6-5 and 310 lbs. He isn’t a quick mover by any means, and his arms coming in at just under 33” at the combine will worry some teams. In fact, that combo has some wondering if he’d be better off moving inside to guard.
If that’s the next step for him, I assume he will be asked to put on some extra weight. His play strength is fantastic, though, and would fit well at guard. Overall, he should be able to compete to be a backup guard or tackle as a rookie. He needs some coaching at both positions before I’d be comfortable letting him start. He is still only 22, though, so he has plenty of time to develop. I do think he’s closer to being a spot-starter guard right now than he is at tackle, though.
Travis May
A to Z Sports
Grade: B
Round 5, Pick 152: Justin Joly, TE, NC State
Another round, another position of need. The Denver Broncos traded up to 152 in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft to take tight end Justin Joly from NC State. The team gave up No. 170 and No. 182 to move up to take their guy. Joly has strong hands and an impressive catch radius with clean pass protection during his collegiate career.
He’s another weapon for quarterback Bo Nix, which seems to be the trend of the Broncos’ additions. The team needed another tight end and wasted no time moving up the board to get their guy. Joly should have plenty of fans heading into training camp. Just watching his tape, he can be a true difference-maker in this offense.
A to Z Sports analysis: 6’3″, 251-lb technician with strong hands and impressive catch radius. Clean pass protection across four seasons. Limited explosive athleticism and inconsistent quickness limit vertical stretch. Security blanket over deep threat.
Justin Joly is entering the NFL at the perfect time to take advantage of his talent as a receiver. At every stop of his collegiate career, Joly was the focal point of the team’s passing attack. Joly is an exceptional route runner and is excellent at the catch point. He dropped just a single pass in 2025 and showed off outstanding body control and focus to reel in numerous contested grabs. He won’t make a lot of defenders miss after the catch, but he can threaten down the seams and has the athleticism to pull away in open space. Despite his smaller frame, he’s a competitive blocker. Joly won’t ever be mistaken for a true in-line blocker, but he’s effective as a move blocker and can nail targets out in space. He’ll need a creative offensive coordinator to really maximize his ability, but there’s some Dawson Knox/Evan Engram-esque type of upside here.
AJ Shulte
A to Z Sports
Grade: B+
Round 7, Pick 246: Miles Scott, S, Illinois
When you have one of the most complete rosters in all of football, you can take the best player available in the seventh round. That’s exactly what the Broncos did with the 246th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting Miles Scott from Illinois. It’s not the sexiest of picks, but it’s a good one for Denver. They have one of the best backfields in all of football, and they added some much-needed depth to that position with Scott.
Scott played five seasons for Illinois, where he played in 55 games with 131 solo tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, seven interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, 11 passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries.
Grade: C+
Round 7, Pick 256: Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah
The Denver Broncos needed some tight ends, and they used their second-to-last pick to add some important depth to that room. Much like with Miles Scott, you take what’s available to you this late in the draft, and Bentley fell in their lap with the No. 256 pick.
He had 48 receptions for 620 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. Nix gets yet another weapon to work with, and it feels like the entire draft was catered directly to him. Not a bad thing by any means.
A to Z Sports Analysis: Thickly-built 6’4″, 253-lb tight end with smooth receiving skills and zero drops on 76 targets in 2025. Strong run blocker with impressive flexibility. Faster than expected with a 4.62-second forty-yard dash. Mackey semifinalist.
Grade: C
Round 7, Pick 257: Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo
Mr. Irrelevant. It’s such a rude name, but it’s the one that has been traditionally called for the final selection of the NFL Draft. With the last pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Red Murdock from the University of Buffalo. He forced 17 fumbles during his career in Buffalo, which was an FBS record.
Murdock is a tackling machine with nearly 300 over the past two seasons. He has an average size and overran the running lane at times. Despite all that, he may not be irrelevant after everything is said and done. He has a real shot to make some noise.
Grade: B
