As of now, Broncos first-round pick would be Seattle selecting No. 7 overall
Oct 19, 2022, 10:59 AM
Normally when an NFL team is bad, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
At least a poor record means a high pick in the following spring’s NFL Draft.
That won’t be the case for the Broncos in 2023. Due to the blockbuster trade with Seattle that sent QB Russell Wilson to Denver in March, the Seahawks own the Broncos’ first two selections in next April’s NFL Draft. As of right now, the first-round pick would be Seattle picking No. 7 overall.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for Denver fans. Not only has the trade been a bust so far, but the hits are only going to keep coming. The Seahawks already used Denver’s first two selections in the 2022 NFL Draft, including picking starting offensive tackle Charles Cross No. 9 overall out of Mississippi State.
In last week’s “Where the Broncos stand,” we were talking about how a mediocre AFC could mean a playoff berth for Denver. This week, it’s all about just how low in the NFL standing the Broncos are through six games. Only the Texans, Lions, Raiders and Panthers have worse records than Denver’s. The Broncos are tied with seven other teams with 2-4 marks.
It emphasizes just how important the rest of the year is. There’s no tanking for a better draft pick. That selection is headed to Seattle, and may only get better for the Seahawks, depending on how bad Denver’s record ends up being.
Somehow, someway, the Broncos need to find a way to salvage this season. There will be no silver lining of better draft picks if the year continues to go awry. It starts on Sunday with the Jets traveling to Denver, followed by a trip to London to face the Jaguars.
If the Broncos can win those two games, they’ll be 4-4 entering their bye week. It’d hardly be ideal, but considering where things stand now, it’d at least provide a glimmer of hope. If they don’t figure out, the Wilson trade is going to look more and more like highway robbery by Seattle.
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