Denver Broncos general manager John Elway is about to have a busy offseason. In addition to likely having nearly $80 million worth of salary cap space, Elway could have 12 picks in the 2020 NFL draft.
Denver currently has nine selections in the draft but the league could award them several more this offseason. Each year, the NFL awards compensatory picks to teams who essentially lost more than they gained during free agency the previous offseason.
Nick Korte of OverTheCap.com has predicted that Denver will receive a fifth-round selection for offensive lineman Billy Turner, a seventh-round pick for offensive lineman Max Garcia and a seventh-round selection for cornerback Tramaine Brock.
If the Broncos do receive three compensatory draft picks as Korte has projected, this is what the team’s 2020 draft order will look like:
Round 1: Own pick (15th overall)
Round 2: Own pick
Round 3: Own pick
Round 3: via Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 3: via San Francisco 49ers
Round 4: Own pick
Round 4: via San Franciso 49ers
Round 5: Compensatory pick
Round 6: via Washington Redskins
Round 7: via New England Patriots
Round 7: Compensatory pick
Round 7 Compensatory pick
With so much draft capital to work with, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Elway make several draft day trades.
Last year, Denver traded down in the first round to select tight end Noah Fant before selecting guard Dalton Risner in the second round and then trading up in the second round to also land quarterback Drew Lock. All three of those players were key contributors in 2019.
The 2020 NFL draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25.
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