With their first-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos select … quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton!
Last year, as part of the deal to acquire Wilson, the Broncos traded their 2023 first-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks. After Denver finished the 2022 season with a 5-12 record, that first-round pick ended up being fifth overall.
With pick No. 5 on Thursday night, the Seahawks added Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon to an already-talented secondary.
After trading their original first-round pick for Wilson last year, Denver later re-gained a first-round selection when they traded pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins last fall (that pick originally belonged to the San Francisco 49ers).
This spring, the Broncos traded the pick they acquired from the Dolphins (No. 29 overall) to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for the rights to coach Sean Payton.
The Saints used pick No. 29 to select Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee on Thursday night.
Denver landed Wilson and Payton. Seattle landed Witherspoon (and more) while New Orleans landed Bresee. Time will tell if the Broncos made the right decisions.
The NFL draft will continue with Rounds 2-3 on Friday night. Denver is scheduled to make picks Nos. 67 and 68 in the third round.
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