For Broncos, if not running back or tight end in Round 1, then defensive line?

INDIANAPOLIS — What if the Broncos can’t get a “joker” in Round 1?

It’s certainly possible. Two running backs who have some potential “joker” traits, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, might be gone before the Broncos go on the board at No. 20. And the tight ends widely regarded at the top of the class at their position, Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland, could also be gone.

What then?

Or what if “best player available” isn’t considered to be one of them?

“Joker” is certainly a “must” for Sean Payton in this offseason, and it’s the one essential element of his successful offenses that the Broncos have been unable to obtain, for reasons related in part to limitations on draft capital and cap space in the last two offseasons, respectively.

But it’s not all that could aid Payton, the offense and quarterback Bo Nix.

“So, the running back and the tight end could obviously help in his development,” Payton said.

“And then I would also say, like, a really good elite pass rusher can help in his development, a really good cover corner. And so I’m only saying that, meaning the best player that helps the team get better is going to help in his development.”

This draft is stacked at three position groups to an unusual level: running back, tight end and defensive line. And even with the Broncos’ recent investments up front — and with only the expiring contract of D.J. Jones looming over the coming weeks at the position — you’re always looking for defensive linemen.

Philadelphia showed the value of keeping that position churning, as their overstuffing of the position allowed them to attack Patrick Mahomes during Super Bowl LIX in waves — and do so with only a single blitz in their title-game, Vic Fangio-strategized romp.

“You got to build in the trenches, you got to build that defensive line,” Broncos general manager George Paton said, “and we plan on continuing to do that.”

BRONCOS MET WITH TWO D-LINEMEN IN THEIR DRAFT RANGE

To that end, the Broncos lined up formal meetings with Michigan’s Kenneth Grant and Mississippi’s Walter Nolen during Combine week. They’re different types of defensive linemen; Grant is 340 pounds of gap-clogging presence who appears to be the stoutest run defender in the draft class, while Nolen is a smaller interior defensive lineman at 295 pounds, but was dominant during Senior Bowl week, with a lightning-fast first step and power to win most of his battles.

“I feel like I play fast. Fast and violent, that’s how the game is supposed to be played,” Nolen said.

Mississippi DL Walter Nolen says he’ll meet with the Broncos tonight.

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 26, 2025

They’ll turn over some other stones as they go deeper into the draft; they met with Marshall’s Michael Green and Kentucky’s Deone Walker during Senior Bowl week.

Walker is a particularly intriguing prospect; with 332 pounds on his 6-foot-7 frame, he has dropped 8 pounds from his weigh-in result Senior Bowl week. With his length, getting low is a struggle; he noted that in the coming months, working with the “chute” — the practice apparatus that forces defensive linemen to practice getting low as they burst froward — would be essential to help him prepare for the next level.

But Walker brings some unusual attributes, such as an ability to play any spot on the defensive line — as well as stand up on the edge.

“I feel like I’m a jack-of-all- trades and that aspect, I was blessed enough to be at Kentucky being able to play the zero shade, the 3-tech, 2-I, 4-I, 5, even wide 9. I even dropped back a few times,” Walker said. “So, I feel like I can play in many different schemes, many different type of ways. And I can do whatever the coaches ask me.”

Defensive linemen — the right ones — can help the Broncos. Because while they have just one expiring contract right now, they have three for Malcom Roach, John Franklin-Myers and Zach Allen next year. And that’s a position group at which there is a liberal rotation; it’s not like cornerback where the starters generally play every down.

Even if a first-rounder isn’t specifically a starter, he’ll play right away. He’ll have value.

And if the Broncos pounce on one at 20, it would be with helping Nix in mind.

“The best player that helps the team get better is going to help in his development,” Payton said. “And sometimes I think that when you talk about getting him weapons, I mean, certainly that’s important. And you mentioned two positions (running back and tight end) that obviously would help, but I think we got to look closely at what helps the team because that, in turn, can really end up helping that position.

“But I think at 20, we’ll have some good options. We’re here to sort through those options right now, and we’ll kind of go from there.”