We love to grade NFL drafts right after they end, but the best time to do so is three years after a class has been picked — even Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton agrees with that.
So, now that we’re three years removed from the 2022 NFL draft, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports is revisiting his initial grades for that year’s class. Three years ago, Prisco gave Denver’s 2022 class a “B-” grade. His updated grade with the benefit of hindsight is “B+.”
“They traded their first-round pick to get Russell Wilson, and we know how that worked out. He was a flop,” Prisco wrote on CBS Sports. “Of the nine picks they had, two are starters and three are still on the roster as backups. The starters are edge Nik Bonitto (second) and center Luke Wattenberg (fifth). Bonitto has proven to be a steal with his ability to disrupt the game.”
Bonitto, the team’s second-round pick in 2022, ended up being the star of the class. Coming off a season in which he totaled 13.5 sacks and two defensive touchdowns, Bonitto is seeking a big contract extension. Bonitto is entering the final year of his rookie contract so if the Broncos do not re-sign him, he will be scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
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