Denver, CO
NFL Draft Grades: Grading the Broncos 2024 Draft Class
The Denver Broncos have put together quite a sneaky good draft class and despite most people thinking they reached to get Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, most generally loved their value and picks after that. The important thing for us fans is that they have again attempted to address the issue of not having a franchise quarterback and until they find one it won’t matter how many talented players they draft.
It’s Bo Nix’s chance to take flight now and we all hope he does. They also picked up a very interesting edge rusher out of Utah in Jonah Elliss in the third round. He has some highlight reel worthy pass rush moves and I am excited to see how that progresses. The real value in the draft came on Day 3 when they traded up to get Nix’s top wide receiver in Troy Franklin. Then in the fifth round they found a bruiser of a running back in Audric Estimé. There was a lot of love about this 2024 draft class.
We’ll start with our own draft grades here at Mile High Report, then I’ll share some of the more unbiased grades Denver received from around the Internet tomorrow. Those tend to come out the next day.
Broncos Draft Grades
Grade: B+
If you aren’t grading an A+ then you are projecting to an extent. A lot of us are going the A+ route until proven different, but I am going to project into the future for the fun of doing meaningless draft grades. I like what I see in Bo Nix and if he works out then this draft grade goes straight to A+. – Tim Lynch
Grade: A+
The Broncos draft class is great. They filled areas of need, got their quarterback, another edge rusher and depth on day 3. Grading a draft before they even take part in one practice is a ridiculous exercise that’s only necessary because people are desperate for instant gratification. So, here you are A+!! The Broncos nailed this draft. – Scotty Payne
Grade: A
They get an A from me. They addressed the two biggest needs on the team (starting QB, and edge) with their first two picks. Franklin obviously has a connection with Nix, so that is a no-brainer to draft him as a WR. He’s a solid deep threat and should help Mims. Abrams-Draine hopefully can fill the CB4 role in 2024 with his high level of football intelligence. Estime is a bruiser who reminds me of pre-injury Pookie, but with better vision. – Joe Mahoney
Grade: A++
Not only did the Broncos address positions of need, they got some great players in the process. On top of getting Bo Nix, they add his top target at Oregon in Troy Franklin. They also added a running back who wants to “run right through your face.” But what makes me really like the last three days for the Broncos is the trade for John Franklin-Myers. Yes, I know this wasn’t a Draft move, but this is a great trade by Sean Payton and Co. to get a great defensive lineman who instantly makes the defense better but is an even better man. – Ian St. Clair
Grade: A+
I don’t know how you can walk away from this draft and not feel good about it. There was no mortgaging of the already mortgaged future to trade up for a QB. Bo Nix was the guy, he was there, boom. Adding a weapon that Nix already has a level of comfort with, along with a solid pass rusher, makes this a good draft. We will wait and see how the plan plays out, but it appears Sean Payton executed his draft exactly how he wanted to. This gets an A+ from me. – Adam Malnati
Grade: A
The Broncos were able to come out of the 2024 NFL Draft by adding Bo Nix, Troy Franklin and Audric Estime. Those are three players who will be starters for the Broncos during their careers. I liked them getting Kris Abrams-Draine in the fifth-round who also has starting potential. Getting Jonathan Franklin-Myers for a future 2026 sixth-round selection was an absolute steal. I’m going to give Denver’s draft endeavors an A. – Chris Hart
Grade: A-
I feel like this might be a pessimistic grade compared to everyone else, but this draft was a grand slam, at least on paper it was. Denver got their quarterback and put plenty of talent around him. And although I think Denver’s starting center is already on the roster (Alex Forsyth) it was good to use their last pick on an offensive lineman. My only concern is the interior defensive line, but most issues were addressed and they made some great value picks. – Ross Allen
Grade: A
The Broncos get a solid A from me on this draft. We got a guy in Bo Nix that is the perfect fit for what Sean Payton wants to do on offense. We got a high ceiling pass rusher in Jonah Elliss who will add much needed talent at edge. The team added a ton of offensive weapons to start building the roster on offense for a bright future. This was a front office that made smart choices and helped their roster a great deal. – Sadaraine
Poll
How would you grade the 2024 Broncos draft class as a whole?
The ecstasy of victory, followed by the crushing news of injury; Denver Broncos fans are reeling after coach Sean Payton revealed that starting quarterback Bo Nix will miss the remainder of the postseason with a broken bone in his ankle.
The fractured occurred during the second to last play for the Broncos in their 33-30 overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills, and the former Oregon Duck is already scheduled for surgery. Looking at this injury in the scope of Nix’s overall career, the stall in postseason momentum provides a massive challenge but also proves an upside in Nix’s influence with the Broncos.
Bo Nix Brings Success to the Broncos
For any Bronco fan, it’s obvious that Nix’s impact can be directly seen in the production of the team flourishing after almost a decade of stagnancy. This upcoming AFC Championship will be the first hosted at Mile High since 2014.
Amassing 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns this season with three touchdowns (26/46 and 279 yards in the passing game) against the Bills, Nix was securely the starter at Mile High prior to his broken bone incident. Nix took nearly every single snap over Stidham in 2024 and 2025.
The Broncos were also a Super Bowl favorite heading into the divisional round. However, after Nix’s injury broke into the headlines, their odds have dropped down to +850 at DraftKings Sportsbook, further illustrating Nix’s importance as a leader.
Bo Nix’s Success at Oregon Shows His Ability to Endure
After Nix’s tenure at Auburn, he took a potentially dwindling career and pivoted to the Ducks which resulted in a breath of new life and the current success he’s having to this day.
Getting benched from the starting position at Auburn halfway into the 2021 season, Nix joined Oregon and coach Dan Lanning in 2022 to help produce a 10-3 season and then continued to fight with a 11-2 2023 season topped off with a Fiesta Bowl win and a visit to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Nix’s past history of leadership and comebacks shows that the current success in Denver isn’t a fluke, and likely isn’t a one time spark depending on his ankle recovery. He revived his career at Oregon, and Nix hit the ground running in the NFL. This latest injury might be a speed bump in his path, and how it affects the Broncos team remains to be seen, but Nix has shown the ability to get back up after being knocked down.
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Bo Nix Dealt With Ankle Injuries Before
With all this success, there’s proven ground that Nix can bounce back for another successful season with the Broncos. Plus, according to Payton’s same post-game media availability, this type of injury is something Nix dealt with in the past.
“He’s such a strong, faith-based guy,” Payton said. “He’s sitting in the hallway with his family and coming over and we’re all talking to him. He knows that God’s got a plan for him and he said he had (a broken ankle) in high school and then he said he had one at Auburn.”
“He’s a tough cookie,” Payton added. “And this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge.”
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Denver police put a shelter-in-place order in effect on Saturday night for a two-block area in the southern part of the city. A wireless emergency alert about the order was sent out to a “broader area than intended,” according to the Denver Public Safety Department.
The police department said people in the area of 2495 South Vine Street should stay inside and stay away from windows and doors “until further notice.” That’s in the University neighborhood close to the University of Denver campus.
Numerous police cars could be seen with lights flashing at 8:30 p.m. in the area around an apartment building near the intersection of Vine Street and East Harvard Avenue.
Officials from DU Campus Safety said there is “no active threat to DU” in a post on X.
So far it’s not clear what sort of threat has prompted the safety warning.
Curtis Samuel was activated off Injured Reserve on Friday, solidifying the Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver position ahead of a critical Divisional Round matchup with the Denver Broncos.
With Samuel now on the active roster and expected to be part of the team’s game-day plans against Denver, there should be a clear pecking order for targets in this game.
Buffalo Bills activate Ed Oliver, WR from IR before Divisional Round vs. Broncos
Top to bottom
Khalil Shakir has been the team’s leading receiver each of the past two seasons and is coming off a performance against the Jaguars this past week in which he hauled in all 12 of his targets. He will be the team’s top option once again vs. the Broncos.
Behind Shakir, Brandin Cooks had a big game against the Jaguars as well, continuing his development into the downfield threat the Bills have been searching for throughout the year. He needs to be incorporated into the passing game early if Buffalo hopes to find the consistency required to push past one of the league’s top defenses.
Then you have Keon Coleman and Samuel, who will be jockeying for the leftover targets on the outside. Samuel’s history against the Broncos, which included a 55-yard touchdown in last year’s Wild Card game, may play in his favor. However, Coleman recorded an impressive 36-yard catch and run against the Broncos, and the Bills could elect to give him the leg up in terms of snap share on the critical postseason affair.
Mecole Hardman was elevated from the team’s practice squad on Friday but it remains unclear if he will suit up to play on Saturday.
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Tough matchup
It will be interesting to see how the Bills define the pecking order when the two teams take the field at 4:30 p.m. But regardless of which players see their fair share of targets, they will be going up against a talented Broncos’ secondary highlighted by reigning Defensive Player of the Year, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, paired with one of the league’s most fearsome pass rushes.
It’s going to take a heroic effort from the Bills’ pass catchers to help sustain a Buffalo passing game that took positive steps a week ago.
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