The Denver Broncos have just one pick in the Top 100 for the 2026 NFL Draft after their trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Their roster is in good shape, but they still have a few long-term needs and depth concerns to address in the 2026 NFL Draft. One of those is a developmental offensive tackle.
Longtime veterans Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey will be tasked with protecting quarterback Bo Nix again in 2026. They’ve played good football the past few seasons. However, they are getting up there in age and have hefty cap hits in 2027. It’s certainly not the top need the Broncos need to address, but they haven’t used much draft capital over the years adding tackle prospects into the fold.
One prospect Broncos Country should take note of is Penn State left tackle Drew Shelton. Shelton has manned down the left tackle position for the Nittany Lions the past two seasons. He was a big reason for Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen’s success running the football and did a good job protecting Drew Allar. He isn’t ready to start right away but has the traits and tools to eventually be an NFL starter at tackle.
Let’s take a deeper dive into Shelton, his strengths and weaknesses, and when the Broncos should consider selecting him in April.
Player Profile: Drew Shelton — Offensive Tackle — Penn State
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 313 pounds | Arm Length: 33-3/8” | Hand Size: 9-5/8” | Age: 22 Years Old
40-yard dash: 5.16 seconds | 10-yard split: 1.79 seconds | Vertical: 31” | Bench: N/A | Broad Jump: 9’-4”
Statistics at Penn State: 48 games played, 34 starts. Two-year starter for Penn State at left tackle. Played nearly 2,400 snaps.
Hart’s Projection: Top 125 Selection – Early Day 3 Value
Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Shelton
The Broncos’ offensive line is one of the strengths of their team. As noted earlier, Bolles and McGlinchey are good starters and one of the best tandems in the NFL. Matt Peart is set to return as a potential swing tackle for the team, and the Broncos gave Alex Palczewski a two-year extension early on in free agency.
However, I still think the ‘26 Draft would be a wise route to add a developmental tackle to the roster. NFL teams in need of a prospect who boasts starting caliber traits will be interested in Shelton. There is no doubt he needs to add strength to handle the rigors of the pros. However, his traits and tape show a player who in time can eventually be a quality starter. What he struggles with can be corrected with coaching and further strength and conditioning.
Analysts and draft gurus seem to be split on Shelton’s potential. I’ve seen him ranked as a Top 75 player by some and as low as mid-Day 3 selection elsewhere. In my opinion, the truth is somewhere likely in the middle. I feel he will wind up coming off the board by the end of the fourth round. The Broncos currently have the 108th and 111th early on Day 3. Overall, I feel Shelton would present great value be a quality tackle to add to the roster at either of those selections.