Wild but brilliant move Broncos must make in 2026 NFL Draft

After a 2025 season that saw Sean Payton and Bo Nix finally find their offensive rhythm, the expectations in Denver have shifted. This is a franchise that has rediscovered its swagger. However, having swagger and having the personnel to outlast the heavyweights of the AFC are two very different things. As we move deeper into the offseason, it is clear that the front office is being aggressive. There is one gaping hole, though, that could derail the entire project. The 2026 NFL Draft represents the final piece of the puzzle. Most most expect Denver to play it safe. That said, the time has come for George Paton to pull the trigger on a move extremely audacious it could actually be quite polarizing.

Calculated and aggressive

Denver’s approach to the 2026 NFL Free Agency period has been blockbuster. The headlines were dominated by the trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. That move immediately gives Nix a true vertical nightmare to target alongside Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. They also prioritized continuity on the offensive side of the ball, re-signing reliable contributors like JK Dobbins and Adam Trautman. It was a clear message that the offense is ready to explode.

However, the defensive side of the ledger tells a slightly more complicated story. Sure, the Broncos were busy loading up on offense. However, they saw several key defensive stalwarts walk out the door. The departures of John Franklin-Myers and PJ Locke III have left notable voids in the trenches and the secondary. The decision to move on from Dre Greenlaw also raised more than a few eyebrows across the league. Instead of chasing high-priced external replacements, Denver opted to bring back familiar faces like Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.

Now, there is a growing sentiment that the Broncos may have over-relied on “running it back” on defense. As things stand, Denver’s defense lacks the elite, sideline-to-sideline explosiveness required to neutralize hybrid tight ends and dual-threat quarterbacks.

Defensive identity shift

Despite the fireworks on offense, the biggest need heading into the 2026 NFL Draft is undeniably at the second level of the defense. The Broncos’ current linebacker situation is functional. That’s quite dangerous, though, when you have to face Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year. Denver needs a defensive catalyst who doesn’t just fill a gap but dictates the flow of the game.

They need a “green dot” leader who possesses the rare blend of size to stonewall the run and the track-star speed to erase passing lanes in the middle of the field. The draft is the only place left to find that game-changing presence.

Trading back for Arvell Reese

This is where Denver must lean fully into its newfound identity. The wild but brilliant move is clear: trade back into the first round to secure Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.

On the surface, this idea feels reckless. After all, the Broncos already sacrificed premium capital to land Waddle. Giving up more future assets might seem like doubling down on risk. Of course, context matters. Denver is no longer building from scratch but refining a contender. Contenders don’t wait for perfect circumstances. They create them.

Arvell Reese is the type of player who justifies that kind of aggression. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, he combines elite length with explosive range. That makes him one of the few defenders in this class capable of matching up with modern offensive weapons in space.

Trading into the late first round would likely require Denver to part with a 2027 second-round pick and additional mid-round capital. Still, the reward goes beyond immediate impact. Securing Reese in the first round provides the coveted fifth-year option. That gives the Broncos long-term cost control over a player who projects as a defensive cornerstone.

More importantly, Reese would fundamentally change the personality of the Broncos’ defense. His presence would allow Alex Singleton to shift into a more complementary role. Reese becomes the tone-setter, the enforcer, and the player offenses must account for on every snap.

Risky mortgage

Critics will argue that the Broncos are mortgaging their future. However, that perspective misses the bigger picture. The future is not built solely on draft picks but on foundational players. Reese has the potential to be exactly that. He is ready to be a defensive centerpiece around whom the next era of Broncos football can be constructed.

For the Broncos, standing still is not an option. Denver has already made its offensive statement. Now it must complete the equation. Trading back into the first round for Arvell Reese is the necessary move to do. Risky? Absolutely. Necessary? No question.

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