Make the Case: The Broncos have to land at least one Day 1 starter in the 2023 NFL Draft

Do the Denver Broncos have to draft at least one Day 1 starter in the 2023 NFL Draft?

That is the question.

This is the debate.

The Situation

The Broncos don’t have a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Denver doesn’t have a second-round pick either. The first time George Paton and Sean Payton will be making a selection in the draft this year isn’t until the top of the third round.

Typically, Paton likes to have roughly 10 picks in any given draft. This year, he and the Broncos only have five.

Denver has two third-round picks (No. 67 & 68 overall), a fourth-round pick (108), a fifth (139) and a sixth (195). That’s it.

Because of the team’s limited draft capital, do the expectations change for this year’s draft? Are the expectations drastically diminished to the point where Denver doesn’t even need to land even a single starter this year?

The Cases

The Broncos HAVE to draft at least one Day 1 starter this year — Henry

First-round picks should be Day 1 starters. 

Second-round picks should start by the end of their rookie year. 

If a third-round pick is a rookie starter, you found a hell of a deal. 

The good news for the Broncos is that they have two of the first five picks in the third round, and they have needs at positions that can easily be filled in those spots. If the Broncos find a starter with one of those picks, he’ll probably play one of three positions. 

The Broncos overhauled their offensive line this offseason but have one more position they could improve: center. Lloyd Cushenberry is entering the fourth and final year of his contract. The Broncos could bring him back in the offseason or let him walk and replace him. Cushenberry hasn’t been notably productive when he’s been on the field, so why not draft some competition who can certainly take over next year, if not immediately? A couple of starting-caliber options should be available when the Broncos pick. 

A running back could also start on Day 1, since starting back Javonte Williams is unlikely to be healed from his torn ACL by Week 1. Given the options available, somebody who could steal the start from Samaje Perine should be on the board.

Caden Sterns is set to start next to Justin Simmons at safety, but he isn’t on strong footing. A rookie safety could steal that job. 

The Broncos don’t need to find starters at all those positions, but they should probably pick somebody who plays each of them. For this draft to be successful, one of them should be ready to join the starting lineup Week 1. 

The Broncos DON’T have to draft a single Day 1 starter this year — Zac

Like it or not, Sean Payton and Russell Wilson are the Broncos’ Day 1 starters from the 2023 NFL Draft. Over the past 13 months, the Broncos traded their own first-round pick—which turned out to be the No. 5 overall pick—and second-round pick to the Seahawks for Wilson. Denver then traded the 49ers’ first-round pick they acquired from the Dolphins in the Bradley Chubb trade to the Saints for Payton.

Since Denver is without a first or second-round pick, the expectations for this draft significantly diminish. And, if Payton is able to get Wilson playing to the level he was in Seattle, then the Broncos will have no regrets at all about not having a pick until the third round.

Additionally, there aren’t that many positions on the Broncos’ roster where a third-round pick could come in and become a starter by Week 1. If George Paton drafts a center, safety, running back or defensive lineman in the third round, that player will have a shot to compete for a starting job as a rookie. But the Broncos don’t have a gaping hole at any of those positions where a third-round pick will simply be given the job or even be expected to win the starting job in training camp.

Outside of those four positions, it will be even more difficult for a rookie to come in and be a Day 1 starter.

Would it be ideal for the Broncos to hit it out of the park and land Day 1 starters with their two third-round picks? Without a doubt. But not drafting until pick 67 just makes those expectations unrealistic.

Now, the Broncos should get at least two 2024 Day 1 starters from this draft. Both of Denver’s third-round picks should absolutely become starters in a year. But it’s just not realistic to expect those players to start this year given Denver doesn’t have a pick until the third round.