With Waddle in the fold, the Broncos face a tighter margin on Day 2 and beyond. The immediate question: how aggressively will they pursue the No. 62 overall pick in the second round? Patience and precision are the watchwords, as the front office contends with a smaller pool of immediate-impact options.
General Manager George Paton indicated there are six players he and the staff have circled for No. 62, suggesting Denver has a concrete short list rather than a shot in the dark. He did not name the targets, but his comment implies a disciplined, pre-draft evaluation process rather than a reactive approach.
A potential path for Denver could involve moving up from No. 62 if a preferred player slides or if a gap exists between two nearby prospects. Paton stressed that climbing into the first round is unlikely due to the cost, but there could be a Roadmap to move up in the second by pairing No. 111 with one of the Broncos’ late picks, possibly lifting them to roughly No. 55.
Even with the new acquisition, the Broncos’ post-Waddle evaluation remains practical: running back and tight end could still be on the radar, depending on how the board shakes out. The team has shown interest in players such as Eli Stowers and Jadarian Price, with Stowers drawing a top-30 visit, and also has been connected to an interior lineman like Emmanuel Pregnon. With left guard Ben Powers’ contract expiring, depth along the line remains a consideration as well.
Overall, Denver enters the second day of the draft with a sharpened focus on efficiency and value. The combination of Waddle’s addition and a leaner draft capital plan will shape Paton’s decisions at No. 62 and any potential second-round movements, as the Broncos look to optimize the remaining assets in their 2026 draft strategy.
