Renell Wren

Denver used a second-round trade-up with Cincinnati to select Drew Lock. The quarterback swing was understandable, but Lock did not become the long-term answer. The cost was manageable enough to avoid a disastrous grade.

Denver traded veteran wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and a seventh-round pick to Houston for fourth- and seventh-round selections, ending a defining Broncos tenure. The move was emotionally significant even if the return was modest. Thomas was past his Denver peak, and the Broncos were transitioning away from the Super Bowl 50 core, so recovering mid-round value made practical sense. Houston received a respected veteran target, while Denver acknowledged that one of the franchise's great receiver eras had effectively closed.