The 2023 NFL draft is set to begin on Thursday evening, but the Denver Broncos won’t be participating in the fun (barring an unexpected trade).
The first round of the draft will be held on Thursday night, but the Broncos do not hold a first-round pick after trading it to the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 as part of the trade for quarterback Russell Wilson.
After acquiring Wilson last spring, Denver later re-gained a first-round pick when they traded pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins last fall. But the Broncos later gave that pick up as well when they traded it to the New Orleans Saints this spring for the rights to coach Sean Payton.
So after acquiring Wilson and Payton in consecutive offseasons, Denver is not scheduled to pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. The Broncos also don’t have a second-round pick — Denver is scheduled to go on the clock for the first time in the third round (with back-to-back picks).
While fans wait for the action to begin for the Broncos on Day 2, here’s a sampling of some of the best tweets while Denver sits out the first round.
After trading for Russell Wilson in 2022 and Sean Payton in 2023, the #Broncos do not have first- or second-round picks for this year's NFL draft: https://t.co/VMq0ZStcgW pic.twitter.com/VvdncZb6MR
— Jon Heath (@ByJonHeath) April 27, 2023
Watching the 1st round of the draft tomorrow knowing the Broncos should’ve had the 5th overall pick pic.twitter.com/uUuNOP8B1o
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) April 27, 2023
It’s Draft Day!!
Just not for the Broncos
Or
The 49ers
Or
The Dolphins
Or
The Rams
Or
The Browns— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) April 27, 2023
Ready to support our @Broncos at the #NFLDraft2023 #BroncosCountry @BroncosEspanol #BroncosInnerCircle pic.twitter.com/MSk6Zbyj0G
— “El coach” Talavera (@ivantalavera) April 27, 2023
Broncos fans watching Day 1 of the NFL draft pic.twitter.com/h7eWMMalel
— Xan (@XanB21) April 27, 2023
When @DLineCo asks me who the Broncos are gonna draft pic.twitter.com/SFEQAIZTKn
— RK (@RyanKoenigsberg) April 27, 2023
forgot the draft was tonight until a couple days ago hope the broncos draft a tackle in any round for the first time since 2017
— Blind Man (@BlindManBroncos) April 27, 2023
Six years ago today former #Utes OL @gbolles72 and his son Kingston were taken by the Denver #Broncos with the 20th pick in the first round of the #NFLDraft.
Another Ute will be going in the first round today!@kslsports l #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/R7jVFFkgRy— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) April 27, 2023
I know I’ve posted this one of Elway and myself before, but I found one more pic to go with it.
(1986) Greeley, CO
1/2#ThrowbackThursday #Broncos pic.twitter.com/9r3BzxPvgM— Kara (@Kara_LG7) April 27, 2023
Pete Carroll is always taunting me https://t.co/1pbgWJm9Ya
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) April 26, 2023
These next 48 hours might be the last hours that Sutton or Jeudy are still Denver Broncos 😕
— Broncos Avenue (@broncosave) April 27, 2023
The _______ ______ have traded their pick to the Denver Broncos. The Denver Broncos are now on the clock pic.twitter.com/7vwQiVTFZm
— Bryce 🎸 (@HamlerMileHigh) April 27, 2023
Spending Draft Day watching highlights of the #Broncos’ first-round pick. pic.twitter.com/gu4CqR9Q2Z
— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) April 27, 2023
There is a silver lining — the Broncos will return to having a more normal set of picks next year.
Just so we’re all on the same page, this what the 2024 draft will look like.
The Broncos aren’t facing a lack of picks past this offseason. pic.twitter.com/eb014oUqFl
— Joey Richards (@JRDrafts) April 19, 2023
The first round of the draft will begin at 6:00 p.m. MT on April 27. The draft will be televised on NFL Network, ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes, and football fans can stream the draft on fuboTV (try it free).
Denver is set to make its first picks on Friday night.