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Broncos have three obvious moves with first-round pick following Kenyon Sadiq's combine showing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Denver Broncos watched along with the rest of the NFL as Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, projected as a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, took the scouting combine by storm.
The Broncos could use a new tight end ahead of the 2026 season and Sadiq is by far the best option in this year's draft class. Though there have been some mock drafts that have him sliding to the Broncos at No. 30, that might be incredibly unlikely now.
Kenyon Sadiq had one of the best days ever by a TE at the Combine:
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026
40-Yard Dash: 4.39 (best ever by a TE)
Vertical Jump: 43.5’’ (second-best ever by a TE)
Broad Jump: 11’1’’ (third-best ever by a TE)@Accenture | @oregonfootballpic.twitter.com/fxvABmsGrd
That performance may have put Sadiq out of the Broncos' reach, or it might have shown the front office that it needs to make a bold move in order to get him in a Broncos jersey next season. That said, the Broncos have three obvious directions to go with their first-round pick in this April's draft.
Broncos' 2026 first-round pick options
Staying at No. 30 and drafting CJ Allen
The Broncos will have the benefit of having free agency take place before the draft when it comes to the inside linebacker position. The team needs to make a big decision on Dre Greenlaw to get that process started.
Last season, Greenlaw missed eight games and injuries are starting to become the big knock on him. However, it was easy to see that he brought a necessary edge to the defensive unit. The team can save $8.1 million against the salary cap if he is cut after June 1st.
In addition, Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are both set to test free agency. If the Broncos don't have at least two of these three players back next season, taking a linebacker at No. 30 needs to be seriously considered.
Georgia linebacker CJ Allen fits the bill perfectly.
Draft Kenyon Sadiq, even if it requires moving up
Kenyon Sadiq could be the league's next breakout star at the tight end position, and teams that have one of those tend to have much more dynamic offenses overall.
Having this kind of player was what the Broncos thought they were getting last year when they signed Evan Engram in free agency. He had a down year for the team, catching only 50 passes, but the Broncos shouldn't completely write him off this coming season.
However, landing a prospect such as Sadiq could be a game-changer for the Broncos, and what he did in Indianapolis at the scouting combine is just a small taste of what he may be able to do on the field. If he starts to get past No. 20 in the first round, the Broncos need to have him firmly on their radar and be willing to move up via trade if necessary.
Trade the No. 30 pick for a wide receiver
Looking at wide receivers who could be available in a trade, there are two players the Broncos should have directly in their sights. One of those is Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins. The Broncos were reportedly interested in acquiring Waddle last season ahead of the trade deadline, but deemed the Dolphins' asking price to be too high.
The Dolphins are a team in full rebuild mode and could be looking to get an extra first-round pick in exchange for the 27-year-old Waddle.
A.J. Brown would also be a fantastic acquisition for the Broncos if the Eagles are interested in moving him, something that many expect to see happen. He would give the Broncos one of the biggest pieces they are missing... a big-time playmaker in the passing game.
MORE:Ranking Broncos' biggest offseason needs heading into free agency
But should either of these players requirea lot more than a first-round pick in a deal, then the Broncos need to shy away.
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