The Broncos didn’t pick in the first or second round of the 2026 NFL draft, but they’re finally on the board early in the third.
With the 66th overall pick, the Broncos selected Tyler Onyedim, defensive tackle from Texas A&M.
Denver traded its first-round pick to acquire Jaylen Waddle from Miami, then traded down in the second round. The pick the Broncos finally used had originally belonged to the Titans, then was traded to the Bills, who traded it to the Broncos.
Onyedim spent four years at Iowa State before transferring to Texas A&M last year. He’s an athletic defensive lineman who should be able to step in and contribute to the Broncos’ defensive line rotation as a rookie.
The Broncos have linebacker Dondrea Tillman back in the fold.
Mike Klis of KUSA reports that Tillman has signed his exclusive rights free agent tender. The deal sets Tillman up to make $1.075 million during the 2026 season.
Tillman signed with the Broncos in 2024 after playing three seasons for the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL and UFL. He’s been a fixture on special teams in Denver and has also played 659 defensive snaps in 29 regular season appearances.
Tillman has 64 tackles, nine sacks and two interceptions in that action. He has also been credited with 16 tackles in three postseason contests.
Three weeks ago, more than 63,000 fans showed up at Mile High Stadium for the debut of the Denver Summit of the NWSL. On Saturday, the local MLS team pushed that bar even higher.
A total of 75,824 attended the match between the Colorado Rapids and Inter Miami at the home of the Denver Broncos. It’s the second-biggest crowd in MLS history, and the third time in the last two months that attendance for an MLS game topped 70,000.
The record was set three years ago at the Rose Bowl, when 82,110 watched a match between the L.A. Galaxy and LAFC.
Mile High Stadium has a capacity of 76,125 for Broncos games.
Four of the ten most attended games in MLS history featured Inter Miami as the visitor, since Lionel Messi joined the team.
And it underscores the power of soccer in the U.S. With the NFL trying its damnedest to globalize, the most popular sport in the world continues to make more and more progress on pro football’s home turf.
The Broncos are without a first-round draft pick. They traded the 30th overall choice and their third-rounder in a deal with the Dolphins for veteran wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
The Broncos made the deal believing Waddle will help them more than two rookies selected in the top 94 would have.
The team’s first pick next week will come at No. 62 overall, and whoever the choice is, the Broncos don’t expect him to contribute much in 2026.
“We like to draft high-trait players and maybe they lack a little polish, and it’s going to take some development,’’ Broncos General Manager George Paton said Thursday, via Mike Klis of 9News. “Sure, we’d like someone to come in and start right away, but that’s not always realistic for first-, second-[round picks], no matter where they’re picked. It’s just hard, and with the way our team is built now it’s going to be hard to come in and start Day 1.”
Cornerback Jahdae Barron, the team’s first-round pick in 2025, played only 30 percent of the defensive snaps in 17 games last season. He spent most of his rookie season watching Ja’Quan McMillian.
The Broncos have done their homework on prospects they expect to be drafted between No. 45 and 75 overall. They then narrowed the list again.
“There’s six players we’re kind of focused on that could be there at 62,’’ Paton said. “We feel good about those players. We’re going to keep working through them.”
Paton said the Broncos could move up in the second round, but they are “unlikely” to trade back into the first round.
The NFL has announced the names of the current and former players that will take part in next week’s draft by announcing second-round picks.
The list includes players associated with all 32 teams, including Cardinals running back James Conner. Conner has strong ties to the Pittsburgh area after playing for the Steelers and attending Pitt, which likely made him an easy choice as the Cardinals’ representative.
Former Bears tackle Jimbo Covert, former Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett, former Chiefs defensive lineman Bill Maas, current Vikings tackle Brian O’Neill, former Jets running back Curtis Martin, and former 49ers punter Andy Lee are other Pitt alums who are set to take part.
The hometown team will be represented by four players. Former Steelers Jerome Bettis and John Stallworth will be joined by Joey Porter Sr. and Jr. next Friday.
The other players taking part and their team affiliations appear below:
Falcons: Michael Turner
Ravens: Mark Ingram
Bills: Shane Conlan
Panthers: Jake Delhomme
Bengals: Ken Anderson
Browns: Phil Dawson
Cowboys: Drew Pearson
Broncos: T.J. Ward
Lions: Calvin Johnson
Packers: John Kuhn
Texans: Billy Miller
Colts: Pat McAfee
Jaguars: Paul Posluszny
Raiders: Matt Millen
Chargers: Shawne Merriman
Rams: Tavon Austin
Dolphins: Dwight Stephenson
Patriots: Deion Branch
Saints: Marques Colston
Giants: Osi Umenyiora
Eagles: Brian Westbrook
Seahawks: Cliff Avril
Buccaneers: Ronde Barber
Titans: Jeffery Simmons
Commanders: Mark Rypien
