The Broncos' draft took an interesting turn after the first three rounds

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Smokescreen was the name of the game for John Elway and the Denver Broncos through the first 98 picks of the draft.

None of the team’s first three picks had any idea Denver was targeting them.

“It was a surprise,” No. 5 overall pick Bradley Chubb said.

“I also did not know I was on the Broncos radar,” second-round pick Courtland Sutton said while thrilled. “I had no idea that I would be a Bronco.”

Finally, Royce Freeman, Denver’s third pick in the draft, No. 71 overall, had a similar sentiment as his new teammates: “I had no idea it would be the Broncos.”

Friday night, Elway admitted this was part of the team’s game plan; not necessarily to make it a tremendous surprise for the players themselves, but to make sure other teams wouldn’t be on to Denver’s trail.

“I have to hide everything from [the media],” Elway joked, flashing a wink to the media contingent. “I have to play hide-and-go-seek with you guys all the time when it comes down to who we’re going to pick. I’ve got to try and keep it quiet.”

That all turned on its head just before the turn of the century mark in the draft.

With the No. 99 pick in the draft, Denver selected a man they spent nearly a week with back in January, cornerback Isaac Yiadom. Their next pick, linebacker Josey Jewell, they brought in for an official visit.

It didn’t stop there, though. The next two picks, No. 113 and No. 156 overall, they drafted two more players they coached at the Senior Bowl along with Yiadom, wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton and tight end Troy Fumagalli.

In the sixth, Denver selected a player that’s been working out in their backyard all offseason in Sam Jones.

The Broncos weren’t hiding anything with these four picks, and for good reason, too.

“It was a great day,” Jewell said, describing his visit to the Broncos facility. “I came in a little nervous not knowing what was going to happen. Talking to the coaches, that was my best visit I had. Talking to the coaches, I really liked them… It was a great atmosphere there. I loved that family atmosphere. It just felt like they wanted to get to work. It felt like how it was for me in that aspect. I am really blessed to have an opportunity to go there.”

Jewell had an opportunity to attend the Senior Bowl, but after becoming sick at the end of the season, he decided to focus on training for the combine instead. Hamilton and Yiadom, however, maximized their time with Denver’s staff down in Mobile, Ala.

“When they were coaching me, I took every single tip they gave me and ran off with it. I am more than thankful and more than happy to be playing with a coaching staff I am familiar with,” Yiadom said, ultimately confirming the mutual interest. “I was so grateful to be able to be coached by coach ‘M-Rob’ (Broncos Defensive Backs Coach Marcus Robertson) and coach Joseph on the defensive side of the ball. I got better every single day.”

Along with coach Robertson, new wide receiver coach Zach Azzanni received high praise from his time with his newest receiver.

“I got along with Coach Azzanni really well. I got to work with him and really I just felt a connection with him from there,” Hamilton said, giving his stamp of approval to Denver picking him. “I really learned a lot from him and obviously introduced to the Broncos’ scheme from working with that staff. I’m really excited.”

After fooling the rest of the league with their first three picks, Denver didn’t care about tipping their hand anymore. Once pick No. 99 arrived, Denver blew the smoke away after months of building smokescreens.