Day 1: Broncos make big bet on Nix | Renck on Payton’s play for Bo | Day 1 winners, losers | Grading Broncos’ Day 1 | Brief history of QB draft picks | National media grades Nix pick
Day 2: Broncos grab Elliss | Nix on processing Payton’s offense | Keeler on Nix embracing Denver | Grading Broncos’ Day 2 | Best available on Day 3
NFL draft tracker: Picks, instant reaction and more live coverage
5:30 p.m.: The Broncos closed out their seven-man draft class by drafting offensive lineman Nick Garguilo with the penultimate pick in the draft. The South Carolina grad transfer played the first portion of his career at Yale, where he majored in political science and economics. He played center for the Gamecocks but was listed by the Broncos as a guard. — Parker Gabriel
4:23 p.m.: The Broncos added another wide receiver to their draft class, selecting Utah WR Devaughn Vele in the seventh round (No. 235th overall). Vele, 26, spent four seasons at Utah, recording 1,689 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2023, he led the Utes with 593 receiving yards. — Ryan McFadden
1 p.m.: Oh, the Broncos are wheelin’ and dealin’ now. They’ve swung a trade for New York Jets defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, multiple sources confirmed to The Denver Post. ESPN reported Denver is sending a 2026 sixth-round pick to New York for the 27-year-old.
Franklin-Myers, 6-foot-4 and 288 pounds, has been a regular starter the past three years for the Jets and has 19.5 career sacks. He’s logged 18 tackles for loss the past three seasons and likely becomes an immediate starter up front for Vance Joseph.
Franklin-Myers had signed a four-year extension with more than $30 million guaranteed in 2021 and the Broncos agreed to a contract restructure as part of the trade, a source told The Post. Denver is set to give Franklin-Myers a two-year deal worth $15 million ($10 million guaranteed) and a $4 million signing bonus. — Parker Gabriel
12:49 p.m.: Running back Audric Estime said he’s excited to work with Broncos running backs coach Lou Ayeni, whom he met during the pre-draft process. “He’s a guy I could see myself bonding with on and off the field and that’s what really caught my eye because this game of football doesn’t last forever,” Estime said. He is also thrilled to learn from head coach Sean Payton and said the former Saints coach can help him reach his full potential. “My goal in the NFL is to become the full version of myself and he has the attributes to help me achieve that.” — Ryan McFadden
12:34 p.m.: Denver made both of their fifth-round selections and landed a big, talented running back at No. 147 in Notre Dame running back Audric Estime. He’s listed at 221 pounds and probably fell because he ran 4.71 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. However, Estime has production. He ran for 18 touchdowns and racked up 1,341 yards (6.4 per carry) in 2023.
Estime is also one of the younger players in the draft class. He doesn’t turn 21 until September and he had just 373 carries over his three-year college career. So a back with plenty of tread on the tires still and a big, physically imposing runner to add to a collection that currently includes Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin. — Parker Gabriel
12:27 p.m.: The Broncos drafted Missouri CB Kris Abrams-Draine with the No. 145 overall pick. Abrams-Draine is 5-11 and 180 and ran 4.44 at the Combine. Three-year starter, first-team All-SEC and four picks in 2023. — Parker Gabriel
11:55 a.m.: The fifth round is upon us, y’all. Busy stretch potentially upcoming for Denver, which currently holds Nos. 145 and 147. — Parker Gabriel
10:55 a.m.: Draft picks, particularly third-day picks, often have winding paths. That’s most certainly the case with the package that landed Denver WR Troy Franklin. They dealt No. 121 (originally Miami’s from the Bradley Chubb trade in November 2022), No. 136 (originally Cleveland’s from the Jerry Jeudy trade) and No. 207 (originally San Francisco’s from the Randy Gregory trade) to move up to No. 102 to get Franklin.
The Broncos received Nos. 136 and 203 for Jeudy earlier this year, but didn’t use either on a player. Instead one was part of the move for Franklin and the other went to the New York Jets on Monday as part of the trade to acquire QB Zach Wilson. — Parker Gabriel
10:33 a.m.: Troy Franklin not only caught a ton of passes from Bo Nix in college, he also caught passes from Nix during the quarterback’s private workout with the Broncos in March. Franklin told reporters he thought he made a good first impression on Denver’s brass during that workout. GM George Paton also scouted Oregon in person during the season.
Franklin said he didn’t mind waiting until Saturday morning to hear his name called and that he heard from the Broncos that they wanted to move up today and get him. Now he’s reunited with Nix and former Ducks offensive lineman Alex Forsyth.
“(Nix) makes the receivers’ job easier,” Franklin said. “That’s my guy right there.” — Parker Gabriel
10:31 a.m.: Credit to the Broncos for pouncing on an opportunity early on Day 3. Franklin was one of the top talents left on the board at the start of Saturday’s festivities, and Denver was aggressive adding him to a wide receiver mix that sorely needs another playmaker to emerge. It definitely doesn’t hurt that he and Bo Nix already have a connection. — Matt Schubert
10:16 a.m.: Considered a second-round pick ahead of the draft, Franklin was one of the most productive wideouts in college football in 2023. The former four-star recruit recorded 81 catches for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns as Broncos first-round pick Bo Nix’s favorite target. “I think all elements of my game are pretty sharp,” Franklin said after getting drafted. “I feel like I can do everything.” — Ryan McFadden
RD 4 | PK 102 – Broncos: Troy Franklin WR, Oregon
With the 102nd overall pick, the @Broncos add Bo Nix’s Oregon teammate and the highest rated player remaining on the board according to the NGS overall score (84).#NFLDraft | #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/Qqbl6zofsG
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 27, 2024
10:10 a.m. The Broncos struck fast on Day 3, trading up to the second selection of the day to take Oregon WR Troy Franklin, Bo Nix’s top target in college. Denver gave up Nos. 121, 136 and 207 for Nos. 102 and 235. — Parker Gabriel
10 a.m.: We are back in business, baby. Round 4 starts now, with 100 picks down and 157 to go. Who’s going to be the next Tariq Woolen? The next Brock Purdy? Denver will get six cracks at it, with the brain trust strongly hinting they might use some of that draft capital to move up if they see someone they really like. Denver has No. 121 in the fourth round and then three of the first 12 picks in the fifth round (Nos. 136, 145 and 147). Things should get interesting. — Matt Schubert
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.
