The Denver Broncos already have one of the best defenses in the NFL, but in this updated mock draft from Daniel Jeremiah, he has them selecting a linebacker.
Now this pick is less about adding to the defense and more about keeping the unit stable.
Alex Singleton is a free agent, and Jeremiah talks about the possibility of Denver replacing him with pick number 30.
For that reason, it shouldn’t be a shock if Denver goes defense in round one, if it’s at linebacker.
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Denver Broncos 2026 NFL Mock Draft Analysis: CJ Allen
With pick No. 30, Jeremiah has the Broncos selecting CJ Allen, the linebacker out of Georgia.
Here’s what Jeremiah had to say about the pick:
“Denver finds a replacement for Alex Singleton, who is ticketed for free agency. Allen is a steady, reliable player who can handle the nerve center of that talented defense.”
In terms of the value of this pick, it’s right in line with where most have Allen ranked. The consensus big board has Allen with an overall rank of 27, making him the LB3 in this class.
That’s just behind Arvell Reese (2) and Sonny Styles (12).
The most recent TWSN round one mock draft has Allen going at 19 to the Carolina Panthers, and his ADP on the PFF Mock Simulator is 27.2.
It would be tough to say that Allen in this spot is a bad pick. This is well within his range, and there’s a clear fit.
The question is whether, given this board, is that the selection that Denver should make?
Should the Denver Broncos Draft CJ Allen?
Although the selection of Allen is understandable, it’s not the pick that I would’ve made. KC Concepcion was still on the board, and he has an even higher consensus big board rank (25).
Adding Concepcion next to Courtland Sutton would be a great move for this offense, which needs more help than the defense.
If the Broncos want to get over the hump and make a Super Bowl appearance in 2026, their offense is going to need to step up.
Now, Denver still needs to find a strong replacement for Singleton if they want to have a top defense again in 2026.
Especially in this deep linebacker class, though, there’s more of a gap between Concepcion and the day two receivers than there is with Allen and the day two linebackers.
To put this theory into action, here are two scenarios, using the ADP from the PFF Mock Draft Simulator.
With pick No. 62, Denver could have Allen to pair with Elijah Sarratt (65.1), Zachariah Branch (73.5), Skyler Bell (79.8), or Chris Brazzell (84).
The other option is Concepcion as well as Josiah Trotter (64.2), Deontae Lawson (83.6), or Jacob Rodriguez (89.4).
You can make the argument either way, but when you compare the two options side by side, the idea of landing Trotter or Rodriguez is very appealing.
Of the four receivers mentioned, only Branch and Bell would be a great fit next to Sutton for 2026.
The bottom line is there’s a clear path for the Denver Broncos to replace Alex Singleton, even if it’s not in round one. The mock draft from Jeremiah makes sense, it’s just not the ideal move based on my analysis above.
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