NFL Draft Day 3: Top 5 players for the Broncos to consider
The Broncos are on the search for late-round gems.
Day 2 of the NFL draft concluded Friday with Denver selecting Texas A&M defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim at No. 66 overall (third round).
Day 3 continues Saturday morning with the Broncos holding seven picks: fourth (108), fourth (111), fifth (170), sixth (182), seventh (246), seventh (256) and seventh (257).
“We like where we’re picking in Day 3,” Broncos general manager George Paton said Friday. “We’re looking for young developmental backups with some traits that we can develop and we can find those all across Day 3. … Tomorrow, we’re going to have a good day.”
Here is a breakdown of the top five draft prospects still available for the Broncos’ consideration:
Jager Burton, OL, Kentucky
There are few offensive linemen in this class who are proven more durable than Burton. The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Kentucky native started 47 consecutive games for the Wildcats. He’s versatile, too, with playing time split between guard and center. The Broncos need to develop future interior offensive linemen to eventually replace Ben Powers and Quinn Meinerz. Burton has the makeup to develop into a solid NFL starter in the right system.
Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
Boettcher was a two-sport athlete for the Ducks who turned down Major League Baseball for a chance to pursue his NFL dreams. Boettcher began as a football walk-on at Oregon, and he developed into one of the nation’s most productive linebackers. He ranked sixth in the FBS last season with 136 tackles. Boettcher might not have elite size or athleticism. But his fearless downhill approach projects well for an instant special teams impact — with room to grow.
Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
The numbers don’t lie. Koziol was ultraproductive over three seasons at Ball State and one season at Houston. He totaled 237 catches for 2,234 yards and 24 touchdowns over that span. The 6-foot-6, 247-pound tight end was a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season. The Broncos need a playmaking tight end to supplement the offense with quarterback Bo Nix. Koziol is an under-the-radar solution with intangibles to thrive at the next level.
VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
Payne is a former team captain at Kansas State who started 42 games over four seasons with the Wildcats. His length is truly elite at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds. It shows up on tape with lockdown coverage against some of the Big 12’s top passing targets. The Broncos need to bolster their safety depth after P.J. Locke left in free agency. Payne has the versatility to play in multiple defensive alignments and could make a strong impact on special teams.
Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
Singleton will go down as one of the most productive players in Penn State football history. He set the school record with 5,586 career all-purpose yards. Singleton also scored 55 total touchdowns. He’s got a rare blend of size at 6-foot, 219 pounds with added speed and explosion. The Broncos need to add quality depth to their running back room. Singleton would bring just that, plus a spark in the return game on special teams.




