4 Targets Broncos' HC Sean Payton Could Trade Up For on Draft Day

The mantra of “running backs don’t matter” has gone from analytics to the general zeitgeist of draft and NFL fans. With running backs having a short shelf life, typically being their most impactful on their rookie contracts, and bountiful nearly every year in the draft, prioritizing the position has not been a smart move in the league over the last decade.

For Payton and his offenses, though, the running back matters, especially because they're a weapon in the passing game. From the years of Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara in New Orleans, complemented by more typical between-the-tackle running backs, Payton values a back that can function as a receiver in his offense. Perhaps no back in this class fits this mold more than Alabama’s Gibbs.

At 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds, Gibbs does not possess the frame to be an every-down back who can carry the rock 20-plus times per game. But he does project as a mismatch back who can function as a receiving option both out of the backfield and in the slot. 

A home run threat, Gibbs averaged 7.0 yards per touch for 130 yards and 10 total touchdowns last year. His versatility and home run threat in all aspects of an offense could completely change how the Broncos function offensively and give Payton arguably the best pass-game skill player in the 2023 draft.

Trading up for a running back is certainly risky, but for day-one impact, there likely is not a single player who could transform the Broncos' offense in 2023 than Gibbs.

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Given recent comments from 9NEWS' Mike Klis in regard to Payton’s desire for a more prototypical tight end that can line up on the line of scrimmage and block, while also being a threat in the passing game, it seems the dichotomized skill set of Denver's pass-catching Greg Dulcich and block-oriented Chris Manhertz don’t fully fit what the coach is looking for.

Fortunately for Denver, the 2023 draft class possesses one of the better tight end drafts in recent memory. While it is unlikely the Broncos sniff the range it would take to select Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer or Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, there are other options at tight end that make sense.

Musgrave is perhaps the best all-around tight end in this class with the size to develop into a plus-blocker and the athleticism to stretch the seam and press defenses vertically. Measuring an insane 20.05 MPH on his GPS at the Combine (better than all but four receivers at this year’s Senior Bowl), Musgrave oozes potential. 

Measuring in at just under 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, Musgrave might fall in the draft due to his limited sample size as a receiver having suffered an injury in 2022 that cost him a large portion of last season. He's still relatively raw to the finer aspects of playing the position, but his overall athletic profile and size help him project to be one of the better all-around tight end prospects in the upcoming draft class that would only fall to within Denver's range due to missing time last year with an injury and an overall loaded 2023 class.

Georgia’s Darnell Washington possesses the best upside as a blocker with a lot of untapped potential. The Broncos could also sit back and see if South Dakato State’s Tucker Kraft or Iowa’s Sam LaPorta fall to them in Round 3. However, when it comes to the combination of athleticism, explosiveness, fluidity, size, and upside, Musgrave might have the best all-round skill set of any tight end in this class.

The Broncos did a lot this offseason to address their offensive line. Signing Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers to massive contracts should give Denver a massive boost along their offensive front and should further help solidify an O-line that was arguably one of the worst run-blocking units in the entire NFL last season. One massive question mark still remains along the offensive starting unit, though.

Last season, center Lloyd Cushenberry III was placed on the injured reserve list, at which point Graham Glasgow replaced him in the starting lineup. Cushenberry was reportedly healthy enough to be activated toward the end of the season, but Denver chose instead to keep him inactive and continue to roll with Glasgow. Ouch.

Cushenberry is set to start at center for Denver for a third straight season. While he does an adequate job at staying in front of his assignments, he routinely gets pushed back by defensive tackles to muddy the pocket and struggles to get under defensive linemen and drive in the run game. 

Center could certainly be an option for Denver in a trade-up. While many project Wisconsin’s Joe Tippman and Minnesota’s John Michael-Schmitz to be options for Denver to trade up and two of the best centers in this class, not enough folks are mentioning TCU’s Steve Avila for Denver.

At 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, Avila brings rare girth to the center position and fits the mold Payton appears to want on his offensive line in Denver and dating back to his time in New Orleans. While most mention Avila as a guard, he has actually started more games at center than guard over his college career. 

Avila fits any scheme with his size and power and has the versatility to play across the entire interior of an offensive line. He would be the ideal finishing piece for the Broncos on their offensive line.

There is no such thing as having too much talent along a team’s defensive front. Teams that can dictate up front in the trenches more often than not win the football game. 

In order to keep a defensive front strong, a team must continuously spend resources at the position. Such as keeping a campfire going, and adding a log to the fire well before the fire starts to weaken is the only way to keep the flame going.

With questions at depth along the defensive interior entering 2023, the Broncos could look to trade up for Benton. At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds with just under 34-inch arm length, he was a menace to opposing Big Ten West interior offensive linemen over the last two seasons for the Badgers. He is stout at the point of attack, utilizes his hands to disengage from blockers, locates the ball, and pursues with good short-area quickness.

With the ability to line up over the A gap or B gap as a rusher, Benton is scheme-versatile with the upside to be a more disruptive pass rusher than Wisconsin asked of him as its nose. After a very good showing down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, Benton showcased the potential to be one of the best interior defensive linemen in the entire 2023 draft class.

The only known quantity the Broncos have entering 2023 that can play a large volume of snaps over the A and B gaps is D.J. Jones. With last year’s drafted tackles of Eyioma Uwazurike and Matt Henningsen being question marks and nose tackle Mike Purcell’s injury history and contract, perhaps the Broncos move up to add a versatile upside interior player to help further fortify the trenches. 

Getting bigger and more physical upfront doesn’t just have to apply to the offensive line of scrimmage on a Payton-coached team.