There are layers to the strong relationship that has grown between Payton and Paton over the past three-plus years, but their shared love of evaluating players is at the center.<\/p>\n
Spring weather on the Front Range can be invigorating, but for Paton and Payton, April beauty is identifying a mid-round pick who becomes an impact player.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are dying to fall in love with guys,\u201d Payton said last year.<\/p>\n
This spring, of course, the Broncos will be waiting quite a while to make their first pick. After trading their first-round pick and more for star receiver Jaylen Waddle, Denver is not currently on the board until No.\u00a0 62 overall, the 30th pick of the second round, which arrives on the draft\u2019s second day.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s familiar territory for Paton, though, who will be operating without a first-rounder for the third time in six drafts as Denver\u2019s general manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we\u2019re focused on 30 in the second (round),\u201d Paton said Monday at the NFL\u2019s spring meetings. \u201cWe\u2019ve fortunately been there before \u2014 I think two different times. We have a good feel for that. We can hone in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paton was careful not to rule out trading up from No. 62, but Denver has depleted draft capital after the trade. Packaging No. 62 and one of its fourth-round picks (Nos. 108 and 111) might allow the team to slide up a few spots and dealing both could potentially get the Broncos to the middle of the second round. Denver could dip into its haul of 2027 picks and is in line for potentially two compensatory selections, too.<\/p>\n
Overall, though, Payton and Paton are in for a long wait.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a pretty good feel for that realm,\u201d Paton said.<\/p>\n
When they finally do arrive on the clock, here are the positions the Broncos find themselves most in need of adding to.<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2244489770.jpg\")
Eli Stowers of the Vanderbilt Commodores makes a catch and runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond\/Getty Images)
\nThe Broncos still need a mismatch tight end<\/p>\n
Maybe the term \u201cJoker\u201d has finally fallen out of vogue in Broncos Country, but the value of that player \u2014 a mismatch in the middle part of the field \u2014 most certainly has not. Not to Payton.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year,\u201d Payton said earlier this year at the NFL Combine. \u201cWe\u2019re always looking for the tight end or running back that has those traits. They\u2019re hard to find, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
Particularly so for the Broncos and particularly so at tight end.<\/p>\n
Denver thought it might have found one in veteran Evan Engram last year. The results? More OK than wow. Even if Engram fares better in his second season with the Broncos, the club needs a young playmaker at the position. Noah Fant flashed at times, but this has been a sore spot more or less since the days of Julius Thomas more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n
Payton and Paton will be dying to fall in love with a tight end from a 2026 group that doesn\u2019t have the same star power as last year, but that is deep and diverse from a skill-set and body type perspective. Is there a big guy with blocking chops that they see untapped receiving potential in? An undersized pass-catcher who can be a stout blocker with a bit of fine-tuning?<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are some really good prospects, but I\u2019m anxious to see who they are because right now I just know the names,\u201d Payton said. \u2026 \u201cHopefully we can get to know them and possibly have a target in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has only Oregon\u2019s Kenyon Sadiq (No. 14 overall) in his latest top 50<\/a>, so perhaps Denver will have its pick of any tight end after Sadiq at No. 62, but Vanderbilt\u2019s Eli Stowers and Ohio State\u2019s Max Klare are among a group of others who could come off the board around the Broncos\u2019 first pick. Denver is doing its diligence on tight ends, including hosting NC State\u2019s Justin Joly on a visit this week.<\/p>\n The Broncos are no strangers to taking a running back late in the second round. They did it just last year when they grabbed RJ Harvey at No. 60 overall.<\/a><\/p>\n Harvey had a productive rookie season, accumulating 12 total touchdowns and 896 offensive yards. He struggled to consistently produce as a rusher when called upon to be Denver\u2019s lead back in the wake of J.K. Dobbins\u2019 Lisfranc injury in November, but he undoubtedly has explosive ability.<\/p>\n Denver re-signed Dobbins and believes Harvey, a dynamic pass-catcher, will only trend upward in Year 2.<\/p>\n \u201cWe love the way RJ played,\u201d Payton said Tuesday.<\/p>\n The day before, Paton called Harvey, \u201can explosive player and an explosive receiver out of the backfield. A matchup problem. He is going to get better as a runner. He got better as the year went on.\u201d<\/p>\n Both men called the position one Denver could address in the draft or over the summer and pointed out that, this time a year ago, neither Harvey nor Dobbins (a June signing) were on the roster.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s in the second round or later, though, the Broncos could use more youth and overall dynamic ability in their room.<\/p>\n There\u2019s an argument to be made for inside linebacker or safety as Denver\u2019s next priority, but the Broncos have addressed each of those positions in some way over recent weeks. The Broncos signed safety and special teamer Tycen Anderson to a one-year deal<\/a>. That\u2019s not a long-term defensive solution, which Denver could certainly still use and may look to the draft to address. Payton said this week that edge Jonah Elliss would get a look playing inside linebacker, too<\/a>. Now the Broncos have Elliss, Jordan Turner, Drew Sanders, Levelle Bailey and Karene Reid behind their starting duo inside. Not much proven production defensively, but several options to sort through.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the offensive line is one of the more fascinating groups on the roster.<\/p>\n Denver\u2019s is one of the best in the business, and is poised, if healthy, to continue that run in 2026 and perhaps beyond.<\/p>\n The group has a back-to-back first-team All-Pro right guard in Quinn Meinerz and a newly extended center in Luke Wattenberg. Both tackles, Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey, played at a high level in 2025, with Bolles being named a first-team All-Pro.<\/p>\n Left guard Ben Powers is entering the final year of his deal in 2026 and, with the caveat that things can always change, looks likely headed into his final season with the Broncos.<\/p>\n Denver\u00a0retained Alex Palczewski with a two-year deal,<\/a> and he could end up being the primary backup at three positions \u2014 LG, RG, and RT \u2014 in 2026 and then slide into Powers\u2019 spot beyond that.\u00a0Easy, right?<\/p>\n Well, yeah, as long as everybody else stays healthy. McGlinchey has had injury issues in the past, though he was mostly healthy in 2025. Bolles\u2019 longevity is impressive and he\u2019s shown not even a hint of decline from his perch as one of the premier athletes at left tackle.<\/p>\n And yet, Bolles and\u00a0 McGlinchey will be 34 and 32, respectively, when Week 1 rolls around.<\/p>\n They could each play multiple more years at a high level or age could start to catch up with either or both quickly.<\/p>\n The Broncos, then, are in an enviable position but also one that carries perhaps more risk than first glance might suggest.<\/p>\n![\"RJ](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-PATRIOTSAO2_8581xx.jpg\")
RJ Harvey (12) of the Denver Broncos rushes the ball against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter of the Patriots\u2019 10-7 AFC Championship Game win at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nSean Payton likes Denver\u2019s running backs, but\u2026<\/p>\n![\"Garett](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-PATRIOTSA03_3506xx.jpg\")
Garett Bolles (72) of the Denver Broncos locks in before the game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, January 25, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nOffensive line isn\u2019t a need right now, but could become one quickly<\/p>\n