The Denver Broncos will be without a first and second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They won’t be on the clock until the third round comes around, but what path might Sean Payton and George Paton take?

Denver Broncos Third Round Thursday

With only five picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos will have limited draft capital as they formulate their 90-man roster this season. While the team addressed some major needs in NFL Free Agency, depth is still a concern at several positions.

Utilizing Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator, the Broncos added depth at offensive tackle and at running back with picks 67 and 68.

Pick 67 – Blake Freeland – Offensive Tackle – BYU
While the Broncos added Mike McGlinchey to their starting lineup at right tackle to pair opposite left tackle Garett Bolles, Denver added another offensive tackle who could start down the road, but provide the team with much-needed depth.

As it currently stands, the Broncos have Will Sherman, Hunter Thedford, Isaiah Prince, and Christian DiLauro as tackle depth, but the experience between those players is drastically different.

Prince is the only player who possesses previous experience as a starter, which helped influence the decision to select Freeland.

Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings describes Freeland as a tackle who has ‘eye-catching’ athleticism. For somebody who is 6’7 and 302 lbs, the BYU product contains a versatile skillset that could allow him to thrive in the right system at the NFL level.

“A former state champion in both the shot put and javelin, it comes as no surprise that Freeland has exceptional raw strength,” Cummings said of Freeland. “The functionality of that strength on the field can improve at times, but Freeland’s high-end length allows him to outreach most rushers and latch onto the pads with biting hands. Moreover, he has the core strength to maintain extensions and stymie power rushes when in phase and keep rushers inside his shadow after torquing with his hips. For his size, Freeland’s athleticism is eye-catching, and so too is his hip fluidity. He doesn’t quite have elite flexibility, but he has shown he can quickly unhinge and rotate outside against stunts.”

He’d be a solid pickup for the Broncos in round three of the draft.

Pick 68 – Israel Abanikanda – Running Back – Pittsburgh
When it comes to spending two consecutive draft picks on the offensive side of the ball, this may not be a popular path in the eyes of Broncos Country.

However, considering the recovery status of Javonte Williams still without a timeline — adding another running back is important at this juncture of the offseason.

Israel Abanikanda is an explosive back who fits the bill for what the Broncos hope to achieve with Sean Payton as their head coach. Physical, smash-mouth style of football.

Abanikanda is an all-purpose back who runs through tackles and possesses the ability to run to daylight after contact.

During his three-year career at Pittsburgh (2020-2022) he accounted for 2177 rushing yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry throughout his career. In 2022, he exploded for 1431 yards on the ground, 20 rushing touchdowns, 12 catches for 146 yards, and one receiving touchdown.

“So much of playing the running back position is about proper execution, but RBs with elite physical skill sets can set themselves apart,” Cummings said of Abanikanda in his scouting report. “Abanikanda has that to start. At 5’11”, 215 pounds, the Pitt RB has a dense, compact frame with great overall mass and good natural leverage in contact situations. Going further, Abanikanda is an instant accelerator with elite explosive capacity. He can surge into open space and immediately create distance. He also brings dangerous burst in congestion, and can immediately escape and find daylight after shredding through tackles.”

This would be a fantastic pickup for the Broncos if they do not in fact bring Latavius Murray back as a late free-agency move.

With Williams’ recovery timeline up in the air, having a back like Abanikanda would be a great addition alongside Samaje Perine, and an even better complement to Javonte whenever he returns in a by-committee approach.