Denver Broncos 5-round mock draft: Bo Nix replaces Russell Wilson while Junior Colson headlines an influx of defensive talent

• Russell Wilson replacement: The Denver Broncos will have their chance to take a quarterback in Round 1.

• Improving the defense: Offense gets the headlines, but this could be a big defensive draft for Denver.

• Draft and trade for yourself — Try PFF's mock draft simulator. Trade picks and players and mock for your favorite NFL team.

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The Denver Broncos are in quite a predicament. We believe they’ll move on from Russell Wilson at some point this offseason – but how and when? They could also have a new-look receiving room after free agency. Throw in some pretty big defensive needs and you’ve got a lot to work on.

To do that, here’s a five-round Denver Broncos mock draft for the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Round 1, Pick 12: QB Bo Nix, Oregon

I’m sure this pick won’t be polarizing or anything. Nonetheless, we have to operate as if Wilson will no longer be the Broncos quarterback. His dead money will still be hanging around, so I can’t imagine they move on from Wilson just to then sign some journeyman backup quarterback to be their starter.

I expect the Broncos to get aggressive for one of the top quarterbacks, but I think Nix will (and should) also be high on their list. Nix is a different player from his Auburn days. He earned a 92.7 PFF passing grade this past season with a 91.2 PFF passing grade under pressure. Throw in the traits of NFL-caliber arm strength and some added mobility with his legs, and you’ve got a quarterback worth taking in Round 1.

Round 3, Pick 76: LB Junior Colson, Michigan

The Michigan linebacker had a great season on the Wolverines’ national championship run. At 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, he is a good blend of both strength and speed. He recorded an 83.4 PFF coverage grade this season and made it two years in a row where his PFF run-defense grade was right around 80.0. He is a well-rounded player who could be a plug-and-play starter if Josey Jewell does not return via free agency.

Round 4, Pick 113: WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia

There was talk of both Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton being on the trade block around trade deadline time this past season. Both are still on the Broncos, so apparently the team didn’t need to get rid of them that bad. That could signal one or both returning for 2024, but the Broncos will be looking to add to that room regardless. Rosemy-Jacksaint suffered an awful ankle injury his freshman season that affected his entire college career. Finally healthy and confident again in 2023, he was able to showcase his best season yet. He lacks difference-making NFL long speed, but he is a determined, intelligent player who can round out a receiver room with special teams experience to boot.

Round 4, Pick 121: DT Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia

The Broncos need to bring the beef in 2024, and that can be done in the draft if they prioritize Stackhouse, who is a strong nose tackle type of player that can work well in the Broncos’ odd front. He’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up even bigger at the combine. He isn’t as imposing as, say, Jordan Davis was before him, but he can be a nice rotational player and a centerpiece when defending the run. He earned 86.1 and 74.8 PFF run-defense grades in each of the last two seasons.

Round 5, Pick 149: CB Kamal Hadden, Tennessee

Hadden is an interesting player. He was a zero-star cornerback recruit out of high school and was initially set to attend Central Michigan for football, but his grades did not allow him to qualify. So he went to Independence CC (JUCO from Last Chance U), where played one season there before transferring to Auburn as a three-star JUCO recruit. However, he only spent the spring with Auburn before transferring to Tennessee during the 2021 summer. The 6-foot-1 and 200-pound corner struggled during his time in Knoxville until this past season, where he recorded an elite PFF coverage grade and allowed just 33.3% of the passes thrown his way to be caught before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. In just seven games, he recorded three interceptions and nine forced incompletions.