First things first, I’ll be the first to admit that this is way too early to be doing draft grades. Honestly, the earliest we should be grading any of these guys is three years down the line, and even then we should probably take them with a grain of salt.

On the other hand, we just spent three days watching players get picked by NFL franchises like they were out on an elementary school playground. This, before all else, is a game. And that means we’re supposed to have fun with it.

So when people get huffy about grading players, teams or draft classes, just remember, we do it because it’s fun; that’s the only reason we devote so much of our lives to these sports, anyway.

Here goes:

Round 1, Pick No. 26: QB Paxton Lynch (A)

If you want a franchise quarterback, you’re going to have to overpay and take chances, simple as that.

And if the Broncos really did have Lynch graded out as their second-best quarterback, comparable to No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, then you give Seattle that third round pick and you say, “Thank you very much.”

The Broncos may be in win-now mode, but they’re also in win-always mode. If you have to sacrifice one-year (and I honestly don’t believe they are) of championship contention for 10 years of championship contention, you do it — 100 out of 100 times.

Round 2, Pick No. 63: DE Adam Gotsis (C-)

This is not an indictment on Gotsis’ skill or his long-term future; it’s all about value, and the Broncos did not get good value here.

Gotsis was projected by nearly everyone to be a Day 3 pick, and the Broncos took him in the second round. Whether or not there was another team planning to take him before the Broncos came back on the clock doesn’t matter; there were other, more-valuable assets available at pick 63.

If it works out and Gotsis becomes a Pro Bowler, this will obviously be remembered as a great pick, but it won’t make it any more efficient, especially if Denver could have grabbed him a round or two later.

Round 3, Pick No. 98: S Justin Simmons (A+)

This is a perfect example of when need meets best player available.

With the loss of David Bruton in free agency, the Denver Broncos needed a third safety who could cover tight ends and running backs in passing situations; Simmons, a former cornerback, is just that.

Not to mention, he can lay the boom, too.

Round 4, Pick No. 136: Devontae Booker (A-)

I’d really love to give this one an A+ — it deserves it — but I can’t, not when John Elway just re-signed Ronnie Hillman.

I didn’t think it made sense at the time, and it makes even less sense now. Booker is a fantastic selection. He’s a second-round talent — the Broncos were even looking at him in the first — that they got in the fourth, and he should play an immediate role on this Denver offense.

Honestly, he should take Hillman’s job the moment he walks into the UCHealth Training Center. The combo of him and C.J. Anderson could give the Broncos the best one-two punch they’ve had in awhile.

Round 5, Pick No. 144: G Connor McGovern (B)

McGovern was a solid pick. Maybe the Broncos would have been better off drafting Christian Westerman, who was seen by most as the third-best guard in this year’s class, but McGovern is no slouch. In fact, he’s probably the strongest guard, if not lineman, in the draft.

If he can translate that to the NFL, he could be a beast inside.

Round 6, Pick No. 176: FB Andy Janovich (C+)

I get the move. I get that the Broncos want to get back to a smash-mouth, Kubiak offense, and they need a fullback to do so. That’s all fine and well. I’m just not so sure they couldn’t have found a comparable player after the draft.

We talk about the devaluation of certain positions in this new pass-heavy NFL, but no position has been devalued as much as the fullback. In my opinion, you have to be pretty freaking outstanding to warrant a draft pick. We’ll see if Janovich can deliver.

Round 6, Pick No. 219: S Will Parks (B-)

Again, Parks fills a need, but I feel that that Broncos missed out on filling a bigger need with a better player.

The guy I, and I think a lot of Broncos fans, wanted was Scooby Wright, Parks’ teammate at Arizona. He may be small, and he may have some off-the-field questions, but that guy can play.

If both players reached their fullest potential, Wright would have been a much more impactful contributor next year.

Round 7, Pick No. 228: P Riley Dixon (C+)

The Broncos must see a lot in Riley Dixon, because otherwise there’s no reason to spend a draft pick, even a seventh-rounder, on a punter.

If they wanted to find someone to compete with Britton Colquitt and possibly allow the organization to part with his $3+ million contract, they could have found a guy in free agency. To spend a pick on Dixon shows that John Elway didn’t want to risk Dixon signing with another team.

I’d be shocked if he isn’t Denver’s Week 1 punter.