The Denver Broncos are currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff race thanks to an 11-2 record, and fans in Colorado are thinking about the NFL postseason, not the 2026 NFL offseason. But this is the time of year when mock draft season heats up, and even the teams in playoff contention are featured in the mocks.
Last week, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler published an updated 2026 NFL mock draft that has Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Browns. Much later in the mock, the Broncos went on the clock at pick No. 30, and they shored up their defensive line depth by selecting Florida’s Caleb Banks.
This was Brugler’s commentary on the pick:
NFL scouts had high expectations for Banks in 2025, but a foot injury sidelined him most of the season. Nonetheless, the intrigue and interest are still there for the 6-6, 330-pounder, who has 35-inch arms and can impact both the run game and passing game. Banks would give the Broncos important depth at multiple spots in their various fronts.
With John Franklin-Myers currently scheduled to hit free agency in 2026, the team’s top returning defensive linemen are Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwazurike and 2025 third-round draft pick Sai’vion Jones. Banks would add even more firepower to an already-stacked front seven in Denver.
The Broncos currently hold seven picks in the 2026 NFL draft, which is set for Pittsburgh from April 23-25.
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