Best players still available for Broncos to draft in the second round

April 24, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Best players still available for Broncos to draft in the second round originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the Denver Broncos and fans within Broncos Country, sitting through the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft had to be difficult. However, for players whom the team was realistically targeting, it went pretty well.

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The Seattle Seahawks used the last pick of the first round to grab Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, the top realistic running back option for the team. However, hoping he'd fall down to No. 62 was always a bit of a stretch.

The Broncos should still be able to have a choice from several top prospects when their first choice comes up on Friday evening. It's nearly impossible to predict what George Paton and Sean Payton will do, particularly when you consider how they approached last year's draft, when they selected several players that hardly anyone had connected to them.

The team enters this draft looking to shore up positional needs and add depth for what many feel will be a deep championship run. With that in mind, here are the seven best available players remaining on the board for the team to consider in round two.

You'll see a pattern form that points in the direction that the team should go in.

Broncos' best available second-round options

CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

This is a huge long shot, as CJ Allen was considered a first-round pick by pretty much every draft analyst, but because of the way the board fell, he's still out there. Will he drop to No. 62? It's doubtful, but if he does, the Broncos need to take about 10 seconds to make that pick.

Anthony Hill, Jr., LB, Texas

Another inside linebacker with tremendous athleticism who can aid in coverage and become the defensive captain. He's been a popular pick in recent weeks for the Broncos in mock drafts.

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

If the Broncos want to improve the inside linebacker position in this draft, and they should, they are going to have the chance to do that in round two. There was some thought that Jacob Rodriguez would slide into round one, but he should be considered one of the best overall players still on the board.

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Perhaps the player most often connected to the Broncos in the second round of this draft, Eli Stowers has that big wide receiver build, which would allow him to become a versatile player who Sean Payton could line up in multiple spots. Current Broncos tight end Evan Engram came into the league with very similar characteristics.

Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

The Broncos' biggest loss this offseason was John Franklin-Myers joining the Tennessee Titans in free agency. If it's a priority for the team to find his replacement in this draft, Lee Hunter would be a good option.

Hunter is fantastic against the run and shows the ability to make some noise as a pass-rusher as well.

Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri

If Allen, Hill and Rodriguez are all off the board, the Broncos still have options at inside linebacker with the final two players on this list. Josiah Trotter is the son of former Pro-Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. He is a high-energy player who would add an aggressive element to the defense, but he isn't as adept in coverage as the three linebackers listed before him here.

Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Jake Golday is a big linebacker who plays like a big, strong linebacker and can be a bully to opponents. He plays strong at the line of scrimmage and would add to the team's defense of the run, but still needs work as a coverage linebacker.

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