Dikembe Mutombo Jersey The ' season died in slow motion. The mi sed opportunities early in the game. The game-changing fumble that led to the ' only touchdown of the afternoon. Then the snow, the crushing weight of wasted time, and the desperation of a backup quarterback running out of options. Ultimately, it wasn't enough. Denver fell 10-7, closing the book on a story that didn't have to end in January. Making matters worse is the inherent difficulty of getting back to this point. Bo Nix won't be on a rookie contract for much longer, and defenses are notoriously volatile year-over-year. Coaches get poached, players get paid, and a league built for parity chips away at Super Bowl aspirations. The Broncos aren't guaranteed to return to the AFC Championship Game. Hitting on their earliest picks of the 2026 NFL Draft can help stave off regre sion and keep Denver in contention. Denver Broncos three-round mock draft 1. Round 1, Pick 30: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville Denver's roster is among the best in the league, boasting quality starters acro s the premium, pa s-impacting positions. Among those spots, though, the receiving corps leaves a bit to be desired. The Broncos could use another every-down starter on the perimeter, allowing Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., and Pat Bryant to slide into more rotational roles. Bell is coming off a late-season ACL tear, complicating his rookie campaign and dampening his draft stock. Even so, he can reasonably figure into Denver's long-term offensive plans. Bell's game is defined by his burst. He's a downfield dynamo who demands manufactured touches and deeper targets, winning after the catch and with strong hands. There's work to be done as a pure separator at the intermediate parts of the field, but there is both upside and immediate utility in his game. 2. Round 2, Pick 61: Josiah Trotter, LB, Mi souri There is signal in every decision during the NFL Draft cycle. Trotter declaring for the draft as a redshirt sophomore -- in a lucrative NIL environment and a loaded linebacker cla s -- is enough to be intrigued. Trotter has NFL bloodlines and SEC experience to his name. At Mi souri, he jumped off the tape as an excellent run defender whose blend of instincts, discipline, and play strength elevated his floor. There should be enough athleticism to translate into a viable coverage option, too, especially if his proce sing continues to stand out. The upper limits of Trotter's foot speed remain questionable, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Trotter starting at linebacker as a rookie. Denver's defense was weakest at the second level, and Trotter offers the opportunity to add to the unit without mi sing out on a higher-value position in Round 1. 3. Round 3, Pick 94: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State We've seen the story of the Broncos' backfield before. J.K. Dobbins has mi sed significant time for the fifth time in as many years, limiting head coach Sean Payton's ability to have a steady hand leading the ground game. Rookie RJ Harvey, while dynamic, was le s effective, rendering the rushing attack merely average by . MORE: Singleton has the prototypical size and vision of an early-down starter and has enough receiving chops to hold his own as a receiver, allowing the Broncos to complement Harvey without showing their hand. After Penn State's disastrous season, I find myself leaning on Singleton's impre sive blend of traits and measurables to have a better rookie season than he had in his platform year. The ingredients for a starter-level back are present, and a new-look rushing attack would insulate an offense that is designed not to put a ton on Bo Nix's shoulders. More Broncos news Eric Gordon Jersey