HEADLINES

Denver Broncos News & Rumors

Jared Verse Drawing Interest From Seahawks, Bucs, Broncos, Bears

April 12th, 2024 at 6:18pm CST by Ben Levine

APRIL 12: Verse has found himself on Chicago’s radar as well. A ‘top-30’ visit with the Bears has been lined up, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. Chicago owns pick No. 9, and the team is heavily scouting edge rush prospects for that slot. That process has included a pre-draft meeting with Dallas Turner, but Verse will also make a trip to the Windy City.

APRIL 9: One of the draft’s top pass rushers is generating interest around the NFL. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse is set to meet with the Seahawks tonight and tomorrow. Garafolo also passes along that Verse previously met with the Buccaneers and Broncos.

After spending his first three collegiate seasons at Albany, Verse put himself on the NFL map following two standout campaigns at Florida State. The edge rusher earned first-team All-ACC and first-team All-American nods in each of the past two seasons, compiling 18 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss along the way.

Described as a “violent tempo setter” by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, Verse has earned high draft grades for his versatility. The prospect lined up both on the outside and inside of Florida State’s defensive line, excelling in both pass-rushing and run-stopping situations. At six-foot-four and 260 pounds, Verse should be able to carry over that positional versatility to the NFL.

Thanks to his impressive performance over the past two seasons, Verse will likely hear his name called during the first round of the 2024 draft. He’s competing with the likes of Alabama’s Dallas Turner and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu to be the first edge rusher off the board.

Both the Broncos (No. 12) and Seahawks (No. 16) pick towards the middle of the first round, putting them in prime position to score one of the draft’s top pass rushers. The Buccaneers, armed with the 26th pick, may need to make a trade if they hope to snag one of draft’s elite edge prospects.

Latest On Broncos’ First-Round Plans

April 12th, 2024 at 11:04am CST by Sam Robinson

Holding a first-round pick for the first time since they chose Patrick Surtain in 2021, the Broncos obviously enter this draft with a major need at quarterback after releasing Russell Wilson. But they are not flush with ammo to move up to acquire a top QB prospect.

Denver’s 2023 trade for Sean Payton‘s rights cost a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 second. The Broncos already traded the third-rounder they acquired for Payton to move up for cornerback Riley Moss last year. Denver does hold another third-rounder but is certainly outflanked by Minnesota (two first-round picks) regarding assets to trade for a top-four draft slot. J.J. McCarthy‘s pre-draft rise certainly could make a top-four pick necessary to acquire one of this draft’s top four QBs.

[RELATED: Broncos Host QB Michael Penix Jr. On Visit]

Despite this, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes Payton has “desperately” wanted to move up for a passer. We heard that was the case in February, and the second-year Denver HC is open to a move up the board. But reporting around the Senior Bowl indicated the steep cost would likely steer the Broncos away from yet another trade involving a first-round pick. As it stands now, the Broncos should be considered more likely to trade down than trade up from No. 12 overall, ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold writes.

The Broncos’ lack of first-round picks over the past two years has certainly impacted the roster. With Jerry Jeudy being traded to the Browns, only two homegrown first-rounders (Surtain, Garett Bolles) are on Denver’s roster. The team has traded three homegrown first-rounders (Noah Fant, Bradley Chubb, Jeudy) since the 2022 deadline. While the Broncos’ QB depth chart may be the NFL’s worst (of the teams not in position to land a passer atop this draft), they could attempt a move down the board to add draft capital while picking up a passer later in Round 1.

Bo Nix and the Broncos have been tied together for several weeks, due partially to the team’s draft slot. Though, no news of a Broncos-Nix “30” visit has emerged. Nix has met with the Raiders and Seahawks and scheduled a Vikings workout. Setting the record for Division I-FBS starts by a quarterback (61), the former Oregon and Auburn arm posted big numbers with the Ducks over the past two seasons. Last year, he closed with a 45-3 TD-INT ratio with the Pac-12 program. This came in a QB-friendly system, one that has generated questions about the Auburn recruit’s ability to function at a high level in an NFL offense.

Nix is 29th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, and ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him falling out of Round 1. If Nix falls past the Broncos at No. 12, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy writes he could experience a Will Levis-like draft slide. Levis tumbled to No. 33 last year.

Still planning to add a veteran to a depth chart that currently houses Jarrett Stidham as the starter, the Broncos’ need here is no secret. While offseason reports have indicated the Broncos would be OK going into the season with Stidham as the starter, an AFC exec told ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid in the above-reference piece there is “no way” heads into the season with the QB room the team currently possesses.

With the Raiders joining the Vikings as a team that will be eyeing QBs, the Broncos have a complex mission. It would indeed be unusual if Payton, who turned 60 earlier this year, agreed to effectively stand down at quarterback this year and go through a stopgap season with Stidham. But the team did not add one of the bridge-type arms in free agency. Though, Ryan Tannehill remains available.

Payton’s 2021 season featured four starters — due to Jameis Winston going down with an ACL tear — and led to a steep quality drop from the Drew Brees era. After making it clear he was not happy with where Wilson was late last season, Payton and GM George Paton will likely attempt to upgrade in the draft. The Broncos will be a team to monitor as the draft moves past its Caleb Williams stage.

Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2024

April 10th, 2024 at 10:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the 2024 draft nears, numerous picks have already changed hands. A handful of picks have already been moved twice, with a few being traded three times. Multiple deals from 2021 impact this draft. Here are the 2024 picks to have been traded thus far:

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

QB Jayden Daniels To Meet With Six Teams

April 9th, 2024 at 7:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY, 7:20pm: Daniels’ visit with the Commanders has officially been scheduled. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the quarterback will visit with the team next Monday and Tuesday.

MARCH 27, 11:00am: Jayden Daniels is going through an abbreviated pro day Wednesday. The 2023 Heisman winner is expected to throw, but NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes the LSU product is not planning to perform other drills. He will then prepare for a cross-country tour of “30” visits.

The fast-rising prospect already has six meetings scheduled, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Commanders, Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders are planning to meet with Daniels. This sextet of teams makes sense due to QB needs or draft proximity.

The Bears not being included is notable, and the team not meeting with the dual-threat talent would only further solidify its intentions of starting the draft with a Caleb Williams pick. Considering the 2022 Heisman winner has hovered over this draft class for months, the Bears not taking a meeting with another QB prospect would not be too surprising. Then again, a Chicago meeting could emerge down the road during the pre-draft process. Ryan Poles, however, is among several prominent execs or HCs at the pro day.

As should be expected, Antonio Pierce is at LSU’s pro day. The Raiders HC has offered persistent Daniels praise, after being on Arizona State’s staff during the QB prospect’s time with the Sun Devils. Jerod Mayo, Dan Quinn, Dennis Allen, Adam Peters and Joe Hortiz are among the other HCs and execs in attendance today in Baton Rouge, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham joins his boss at the pro day, per Breer.

High-end wide receiver prospect Malik Nabers is also generating considerable attention, as should be expected. After declining to weigh in at the Combine, Daniels checked in at 210 pounds today, per Breer.

Each of the teams preparing to bring in Daniels holds a pick between Nos. 2 and 13. The Raiders are on the low end here, landing at No. 13 after they completed a sweep of the Broncos in Week 18. Although mock drafts have regularly sent Daniels to Washington or New England at No. 2 or No. 3, Las Vegas has been consistently connected to him. Daniels attended the Raiders’ regular-season finale to support Pierce, celebrating with the team in the locker room after the game. Connected to a potential trade-up, the Raiders are also believed to have brought up Daniels during their OC search.

The Vikings (No. 11) and Broncos (No. 12) reside well outside of Daniels range as well, but both are logically being tied to a trade-up maneuver. Minnesota acquired Houston’s first-round pick (No. 27), providing more ammo to climb up for a passer. Denver does not have its second-rounder, sending it to New Orleans for Sean Payton, and traded three first-round picks — for Payton and Russell Wilson — from 2022-23. Although the Broncos are planning to acquire another veteran to compete with Jarrett Stidham, they will surely be in on first-round QBs.

Washington (No. 2) and New England (No. 3) have clear needs. How the Commanders proceed will be a pivot point in this draft, with the team now tied to three passers — Daniels, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy — at No. 2. Patriots trade-down rumblings have emerged, though a previous rumor suggested some of the team’s scouts are higher on Daniels than Maye. The Pats are doing considerable recon ahead of their Daniels meeting, with Breer adding nine New England representatives are on-hand today.

If the Commanders want Daniels, trade-ups will not factor into the equation. The Giants could also be left out if they are eyeing last year’s Heisman recipient, seeing as the Commanders will be unlikely to trade them the No. 2 pick. Steadily linked to QBs despite Daniel Jones‘ employment, New York has a big-picture decision to make. The team, which holds the No. 6 pick, can easily move on from Jones by 2025. The Giants have already met with Maye and McCarthy.

Transferring to LSU in 2022, Daniels broke through with a dominant final season and became the second Tigers QB to win the Heisman in four years. Following Joe Burrow, Daniels obviously displayed a more versatile skillset than the pocket passer. Accounting for 50 TDs (40 passing) last season, Daniels paired 3,812 passing yards with 1,134 on the ground. The ex-Arizona State recruit completed 72.2% of his passes, setting himself up to go early in this year’s draft.

Broncos Meet With Laiatu Latu; OLB To Visit Vikings, Cardinals

April 9th, 2024 at 10:43am CST by Sam Robinson

Among the first-round edge rushers in this year’s class, Laiatu Latu is coming off back-to-back 10-plus-sack seasons. This came after the UCLA alum had retired from football due to injury. Given the production and medical history, Latu is becoming popular on the visit circuit.

The Broncos have met with the former Washington recruit, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds Laiatu is in Minnesota today for a Vikings visit. The Cardinals will huddle up with Latu on Wednesday. The Bears met with Latu on Monday, with the Eagles having already brought him in for a previous visit.

[RELATED: Vikings, Cardinals To Host Dallas Turner]

It certainly should be expected a talent with this medical issue in his past will log a number of visits before the draft. A neck issue during the Huskies’ training camp in 2020 led to a medical retirement. Latu, however, resurfaced at UCLA in 2022. He ripped off 10.5- and 13-sack seasons. The latter effort produced a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honor in the conference’s swansong season. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board slots Latu 16th — behind fellow edges Dallas Turner and Jared Verse — while Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board places him 12th.

The Broncos jettisoned both their veteran edge players — Frank Clark, Randy Gregory — during the season and went with a trio of younger performers (Jonathon Cooper, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto) and saw improvement. An argument can also be made the Broncos are missing an anchor pass rusher. While Latu only makes sense for the Broncos if they pass on a quarterback at 12 or avoid the urge to trade up for one. Considering the need Sean Payton‘s team has at the game’s premier position, mock drafts continually send QBs Denver’s way.

Although the Vikings lost Danielle Hunter after nine seasons, they replaced him with Jonathan Greenard. Ex-Dolphin hybrid linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel also joined the Vikings, but the team lost D.J. Wonnum and Marcus Davenport as well. Brian Flores‘ bunch is in need of a pure edge rusher to complement Greenard.

After totaling just 33 sacks last season, the Cardinals have a bigger need than most at this position. While Arizona moved Zaven Collins to the edge and returns 2023 sack leader Dennis Gardeck (six), the team certainly needs more help here. Arizona used a second-round pick on edge BJ Ojulari last year. The Cardinals hold the Nos. 4 and 27 picks in this year’s first round. Closely tied to being the team that trades out of the top four to give a QB-needy team — like the Vikings or Broncos — the opportunity to land one of this draft’s top four arms, the Cards could wind up in the Latu range if they move out of 4.

Draft Notes: Sweat, Seahawks, Titans, Bears, Patriots, Packers, Mims, Eagles, Broncos

April 9th, 2024 at 10:06am CST by Sam Robinson

Ranked as the No. 3 defensive tackle on Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board, T’Vondre Sweat has an off-field issue to navigate ahead of the draft. The Texas alum was arrested on a DWI charge over the weekend. Sweat was involved a two-car accident, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg, who indicates the DT’s SUV collided with a sedan shortly before 5am on Sunday. The Seahawks and Titans are among the teams performing some due diligence on Sweat, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicating the ex-Longhorns D-lineman met with the Titans on Monday and will fly to Seattle for a “30” visit later this week. Sweat posted a $3K bond following his arrest.

Here is the latest from the draft ranks:

  • Widely expected to begin the draft by taking Caleb Williams first overall, the Bears still hold another top-10 pick. Pertaining to the latter draft slot, the team is hosting Alabama tackle JC Latham on a two-day visit that runs through Tuesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Latham has already met with the Cardinals and Titans. One of this draft’s supply of intriguing tackle prospects, Latham is on track to be a first-round pick. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board ranks the first-team All-SEC blocker 18th overall, while ESPN slots him 12th. The Bears have Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, their 2023 first-round pick, as their starting tackles. A recent report indicated Chicago is unlikely to trade its No. 9 pick.
  • Another of the Round 1-level tackle prospects in this draft pool, Tyler Guyton visited the Patriots recently, ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes. Ranked 23rd on Jeremiah’s big board, Guyton stands 6-foot-8 and is more projection than proven talent. Only garnering honorable mention All-Big 12 acclaim last season, Guyton made just 15 college starts. Five of those came at TCU in 2022 before transferring. The Patriots re-signed Michael Onwenu with the intention of keeping him at right tackle, but with Trent Brown leaving for Cincinnati, New England still has a need at left tackle. Barring a trade out of No. 3 — certainly a possibility — the Pats would need to address this issue after the first round.
  • This draft class features another raw tackle talent drawing first-round consideration. Amarius Mims has Guyton beat, starting eight games in three Georgia seasons. Six of Mims’ starts came at right tackle last season. The 6-foot-8, 340-pound tackle missed time at Georgia, requiring ankle surgery early last season, and suffered a hamstring injury while running at the Combine. Viewed as high-ceiling talent, Mims has drawn understandable concerns about his durability, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid.
  • The Eagles and Broncos are two teams to monitor with regards to an early-round tackle investment, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller writes. Although Philadelphia just extended left tackle Jordan Mailata, stalwart RT Lane Johnson is heading into his age-34 season. The Eagles are typically proactive on their O-line. The Broncos have two high-priced tackles (and a rather glaring QB need) in Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey, but Bolles is going into a contract year. The second pick going to the Saints in the Sean Payton trade is the Broncos’ 2024 second-rounder, leaving Denver with only a third after its No. 12 overall slot.
  • Add the Packers to the list of teams to meet with cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. The Alabama product visited Green Bay on Monday, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein. This will follow McKinstry meetings with the Jaguars, Buccaneers and Lions. Regarded as a more highly touted prospect going into last season, McKinstry has seen teammate Terrion Arnold leapfrog him. The latter ranks higher now, though McKinstry should still hear his name called early. Save for the Jordan Love pick, the Packers have used a defense-focused approach in Round 1 for more than a decade. Beyond Love, Green Bay’s last offensive player chosen in Round 1 was tackle Derrick Sherrod in 2011.

Latest On Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

April 5th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Ely Allen

The runup to the 2024 NFL Draft has been a rollercoaster for Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Initially viewed in the second tier of top draft-eligible passers alongside Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Penix has dipped in and out of the first round in mock drafts over the past several weeks, while McCarthy has skyrocketed into the top tier. Now, at this point in time, OutKick’s Armando Salguero tells us that at least three teams have Penix on their board with a first-round value.

Initially, there were concerns about Penix’s history with injury issues, as detailed in his recent Prospect Profile. His four season-ending injuries in as many years at Indiana had many uneasy about his health at the next level. After getting cleared in medical evaluations, Penix will be able to get most teams to look past his injury-history, though some may still hold on to their reservations.

As for which three teams have him slotted as a first-rounder, it’s difficult to say for sure. Penix has scheduled several different “top 30” visits over the last week. He’s set to meet with the Giants, Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, Steelers, Vikings, and Commanders, while the Seahawks have been mentioned as a team of interest, as well. The Commanders can probably be taken out of the mix. Even if they have a first-round grade on Penix, they are seemingly set to draft one of the top-tier passers at No. 2 overall.

The Falcons are an interesting team to watch after they sent “a sizable group to Seattle to conduct a private workout with” Penix today, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. It’s hard to see them as one of the teams with a first-round grade on the 23-year-old, though, as they just signed Kirk Cousins to a big contract to start for them at quarterback.

Instead look to teams like the Raiders, who have been mocked to draft Penix on multiple occasions. Despite the team’s aggressive efforts to move into the top three draft picks, Las Vegas doesn’t seem to have the capital to make it happen. Those efforts show their desire to draft a quarterback, though, and if they’re stuck at 13th overall, they may have to settle for Penix.

With most mock drafts predicting a run of four passers in the first four picks, it only takes one or two more teams in the remaining 28 picks to pull the trigger on Penix or Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. With plenty of teams needing help at the position, Penix could join the ranks as one of up to five or six first-round quarterbacks.

Broncos Sign C Sam Mustipher

April 4th, 2024 at 5:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Losing Lloyd Cushenberry, the Broncos will have a new center starter in 2023. Cushenberry had held that role for nearly his entire rookie contract, only ceding the role due to a 2022 injury. Younger blockers will be in the mix for the job, but the Broncos now have a veteran set to enter the competition.

Denver added Sam Mustipher on Thursday, per a team announcement. The former Bears regular has made 42 career starts. He operated as Chicago’s full-time center from 2021-22, before spending last season in Baltimore.

A former UDFA out of Notre Dame, Mustipher will join holdovers Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth. Broncos GM George Paton praised the two younger snappers, Forsyth in particular, but Mustipher laps both in terms of experience. Wattenberg, a 2022 fifth-round pick, played in 16 games last season but has one career start through two years. Forsyth did not see any action as a rookie, effectively redshirting. The Broncos have enjoyed success with this center path in the not-so-distant path, plugging in Matt Paradis after he did not play as a rookie. But Mustipher provides some insurance.

Mustipher, 27, signed with the Ravens in May of last year and did not make the their 53-man roster last year but ended up playing in nine games (two starts). He played 199 snaps at center and three at guard in 2023. With the Bears, Mustipher surpassed the 1,000-snap mark at center in both his starter seasons, missing only one game from 2021-22. After grading Mustipher as one of the league’s worst centers in 2021, Pro Football Focus ranked him 18th — ahead of Cushenberry — in 2022.

The Titans gave Cushenberry a big-ticket deal — four years, $50MM, $26MM guaranteed at signing — but the former third-round pick was not viewed especially highly until his contract year. The Broncos already have three O-linemen — Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Mike McGlinchey — signed to veteran contracts. Right guard Quinn Meinerz also looms as a presumptive extension candidate. It certainly looks like they will use a low-cost center plan in 2024.

Latest On UNC QB Drake Maye

April 2nd, 2024 at 9:16pm CST by Ben Levine

With Caleb Williams effectively locked in with the first-overall pick and J.J. McCarthy quickly climbing up draft boards, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye‘s chance of being a top-three pick isn’t as definitive as it once was.

Fortunately, the prospect can rest easy knowing that the Commanders (No. 2) and Patriots (No. 3) had the largest contingents at his pro day. The Commanders also met with Maye privately before his public workout, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB. Specifically, coach Dan Quinn, general manager Adam Peters, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury spoke with the prospect.

While there were reports from earlier today that the Patriots may prefer Jayden Daniels over Maye, the organization was still well represented at the prospect’s pro day. The Patriots also met with the quarterback before he threw, and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf got an up-close look at the prospect during his workout, according to Evan Lazar of the team’s website.

“It’s been awesome,” Maye said of his meeting with the Patriots (via Lazar). “Try to get to know them. Trying to get to know what they’re about, and their championship mindset to get back to the glory days.”

Interestingly, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com writes that the Broncos were also among the most represented teams at Maye’s audition. The Broncos currently sit with the No. 12 pick, and even if Maye does fall out of the top-three, it’s unlikely he drops all the way out of the top-10. In other words, the Broncos would surely have to move up in the first round if they want the UNC product.

As Adam Caplan of ProFootballNetwork.com passes along, NFL evaluators have lauded Maye for his size, arm strength, and aggressiveness. However, the prospect received criticism for hastily leaving the pocket and trying to make “hero throws,” a pair of attributes that could surely be curbed with experience.

Broncos To Sign G Calvin Throckmorton

April 1st, 2024 at 3:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

The reach of Saints-based inside jokes expanded once again for the Broncos on Monday. Sean Payton is bringing in another of his former New Orleans charges, with 9News’ Mike Klis indicating offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton is joining the Broncos.

Although the Broncos released Chris Manhertz this offseason, they re-signed Wil Lutz, Adam Trautman and Lil’Jordan Humphrey last month. The team also signed defensive tackle Malcolm Roach from the Saints. Throckmorton competed against Roach in practice for two seasons but spent the 2023 campaign with the Panthers and Titans.

[RELATED: Broncos Sign T Matt Peart]

The Panthers waived Throckmorton last year, doing so after he had made seven starts for a team that lost guard starter Brady Christensen in Week 1 and had Austin Corbett out of the mix until late October. Also sustaining a number of injuries up front, the Titans claimed Throckmorton and used him as a backup in six games. The Titans made Throckmorton an offer, per Klis, but he will instead opt to rejoin Payton (and former O-line coach Zach Strief) in Denver.

Throckmorton, 27, made 14 starts for the Saints in Payton’s final New Orleans season (2021). He has worked almost exclusively at guard in the pros. During the 2021 slate in New Orleans, the 2020 UDFA logged 626 snaps at left guard and 282 at right guard. The Saints lost Andrus Peat to a torn pec midway through that season, and they played five games without center Erik McCoy as well. Throckmorton added six starts in 2022.

Pro Football Focus has not viewed Throckmorton as a quality guard, ranking him near the bottom among regulars throughout his career. The Oregon product, however, obviously brings familiarity with Payton and Strief. The Broncos enjoyed good health along their O-line last season; starting guards Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers started throughout. Both remain under contract, but Throckmorton will enter the mix to work as an interior swingman. Peart is tentatively in place as the team’s swing tackle, with The Athletic’s Dan Duggan noting his one-year deal is for $1.3MM ($368K guaranteed).

The team losing center Lloyd Cushenberry (to the Titans) in free agency could lead to one of the 2023 backups — 2023 seventh-rounder Alex Forsyth or 2022 fifth-rounder Luke Wattenberg — moving into the lineup, though the team could still add a higher-level investment at the spot as well. One of the holdovers moving into the lineup would free up an interior backup spot. Throckmorton supplying 27 career starts, along with his familiarity with the Broncos’ offensive system, would stand to help his cause at making Denver’s 53-man roster.

Load More Posts