Clearly the Denver Broncos’ brain trust believes they have all the starters in place now for the 2026 season. Trading for receiver Jaylen Waddle was the final piece to the puzzle, as far as head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton are concerned. So the upcoming NFL Draft, from the Broncos’ perspective, is all about depth and the future.
Broncos Country certainly hopes they’re right.
Without a first-round “plug-and-play” draft choice available, Denver isn’t scheduled to pick until selection number 62 near the end of Round #2. Tight end, linebacker, O-line, and even D-line are being talked about.
The bulk of Denver’s picks start in Round 4. From #108 and #111 through #256 and #257, they have six picks. There could most certainly be trading involved that could change that order drastically.
However, if the Broncos hold on to those mid-round selections, they should spend one of them on former Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson.
The Broncos clearly need more in their running back room. Assuming J.K. Dobbins stays healthy (a big assumption, btw) he’s the starter… and last year’s second round pick, RJ Harvey, will be the primary backup and spot starter if (when?) Dobbins misses time. However, after that, we’re left with overachievers Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie.
Johnson would be a significant upgrade over both of them.
The 5’10”, 200-pound Johnson doesn’t come with a lot of hype. He’s not Jeremiyah Love or even Jadarian Price, the Notre Dame tandem that the mock draft crowd loves. He’s not the raw, physical specimen that Arkansas’ Mike Washington is, either. Still, the former Huskers’ performance and production in the rugged Big Ten conference last season speaks volumes. He put up numbers both as a runner and a pass catcher that rival what Saquon Barkley did at Penn State. He was voted the Big Ten’s running back of the year and was a consensus first team All-America selection.
As Nebraska’s best offensive weapon last season, Johnson rushed for 1,450 yards and caught a team-high 46 passes. He was second in the NCAA with 1,821 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 touchdowns.
While he doesn’t profile as any sort of ‘workhorse’ running back, the fact that Johnson can be such a versatile and prolific receiver means he’s just the kind of specialty ‘third down’ back that Payton has always loved, and could be a great fit with the Broncos. And just as importantly, insiders say that Denver was impressed with his in-person interview at the Scouting Combine and like his football acumen.
Opinions vary as to whether or not Johnson will still be available when Denver’s fourth-round picks arrive. Mel Kiper has talked him up, and there are plenty of other teams that are interested. It would be a shock if the Broncos moved up to pick him, but if he’s there at #108…
The Broncos have other future needs at positions like O-line and linebacker that they need to focus on as well. Clearly, in today’s NFL, no one picks running backs with the future in mind. Johnson would be a pick for right now. Not as a starter, but as a player who could come in and make a solid contribution to an offense and a roster that believe they should be Super Bowl bound next season.
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