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

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos opened Day 3 of the NFL draft with a move to select a teammate of quarterback Bo Nix, who was their first-round pick Thursday night.

The Broncos, who traded five draft picks and three players to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson in 2022, dialed up the Seahawks again Saturday morning. Denver moved up from No. 121 overall to No. 102 — the second pick of Day 3 — to select Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin.

The Broncos also sent a fifth-round pick (No. 136 overall) and a sixth-round pick (No. 207) to the Seahawks and received a seventh-round pick (No. 235) in addition to the pick they used for Franklin.

With the trade of Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns, Franklin’s speed is needed in the Broncos’ offense. Franklin was one of the fastest receivers at the scouting combine this year with a 4.41 time in the 40-yard dash, and the Broncos’ expectation is that he should quickly threaten defenses in the intermediate and deep parts of the field.

A quality route runner, Franklin was a favorite target of Nix, with the wideout setting Oregon single-season records last season in receiving yards (1,383), receiving touchdowns (14) and 100-yard receiving games (eight). Each of those totals were more than Franklin’s first two seasons combined.

The Broncos made Nix the sixth quarterback off the board Thursday night when they selected him No. 12 overall. Nix played two seasons with Franklin and the Broncos got an up-close look at how they worked together when Franklin was one of the receivers for Nix at their private pre-draft workout for the quarterback.

Denver hasn’t officially said Nix will compete for the starting job as a rookie, but coach Sean Payton said Thursday night: “We have to maximize the [practice] reps that we have and let them develop, and that stuff will sort itself out.”

Nix is part of a quarterback room that includes Zach Wilson, whom Denver acquired in a trade this week, and Jarrett Stidham, who started the final two games of the 2023 season after Payton benched Russell Wilson.

With the 76th overall pick the Broncos drafted Utah EDGE Jonah Elliss, who is going to provide a great deal of athleticism when it comes to the pass rush and should make for a fine addition to this Broncos unit. The front office apparently looked highly upon Elliss as they would’ve moved down in the draft if it wasn’t for him.

And while the Broncos already have a room full of young EDGE rushers, many, including Sean Payton, felt like it was a position that they needed to improve at.

One main concern that was circulating around Elliss was his injury history. Elliss tore his shoulder labrum late last season and prevented him from the Combine and from initial Pro Day workouts. He was able to have a personal Pro Day session and was medically cleared thought. And while a labrum injury can take 6 months, it seems like Elliss will be plenty recovered and ready for camp.

Paton had this to day about Elliss’ injury:

Sean Payton also added:

We met on it. You go through the process… he’s above the board.

Payton also went on to say:

He’s an EDGE player that plays with energy, effort, all those things that you look for.

He also touched on the character that Elliss has and complimented his football make-up.

It’s clear that the Broncos got the player that they wanted with their third-round pick and were anticipating the chance to draft Elliss. Elliss is a versatile rusher and played out of eight different alignments last season with Utah. He’ll have a role on this Denver defense and, from the press conference, it seems like Payton has an idea of where Elliss will start, but he’s also keen on moving him around defensively.

Here’s the longer clip with Sean Payton and George Paton where these quotes came from: