The Denver Broncos took the Bill Belichick approach to the NFL Draft and elected to trade down in the first round.
The Broncos sent the No. 10 pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who then took Michigan linebacker Devin Bush. In exchange for the 10th pick, the Broncos received the 20th and 52nd pick as well as a 2020 third rounder. With the No. 20 pick, Denver then selected Iowa tight end Noah Fant.
Over the last three seasons, Fant recorded 78 receptions for 1,083 yards and 19 touchdowns. Viewed as one of the better receiving tight end prospects in the Draft, Fant ran the 40-yard-dash in 4.5 seconds and had a recorded vertical of 39.5 inches at the NFL Combine.
Fant’s teammate and fellow Iowa tight end, T.J. Hockenson was also selected in the first round by the Detroit Lions (No.8) – marking the first time in NFL history that two tight ends from the same team were both taken in the opening round of the NFL Draft.
The second and third rounds will continue in Nashville, Tennessee, Friday night. The final four rounds will take place on Saturday.
As it currently stands, these are Denver’s remaining draft picks:
Round 2: 41st-overall pick, 52nd-overall pick (from Pittsburgh)
Round 3: 71st-overall pick
Round 4: 125th-overall pick (from Houston)
Round 5: 148th-overall pick, 156th-overall pick (from Minnesota)
Round 6: 182nd-overall pick
Round 7: 237th-overall pick (from Houston)
