Denver Broncos draft picks 2021: Round-by-round selections
Here is a 2021 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Denver Broncos:
Round 1 (No. 9 overall) - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama: Surtain, also the son of an NFL star (a three-time Pro Bowl DB of the same name) is viewed as one of the safest bets in this draft given his technical acumen, 4.46 speed and intelligence. Surtain is also a willing tackler, which his new coach, Vic Fangio, will appreciate. Perhaps a bit of a surprise given new GM George Paton signed veteran CBs Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency. Draft tracker
Round 2 (35, from Falcons) - Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina: He averaged 7.3 yards per carry in 2020 and put the ball in the end zone 22 times. A physical runner who also blocks and catches (25 last year), his arrival means another timeshare as he replaces Phillip Lindsay as Melvin Gordon's partner in crime. Draft tracker
Round 3 (98, from Saints, compensatory) - Quinn Meinerz, OG, Wisconsin-Whitewater: The Division III legend brings his Paul Bunyan-esque exploits to the Rockies. Meinerz, who trained in the Canadian wilderness last year, was dominant at the Senior Bowl and might earn a shot to be Denver's center. Draft tracker
Round 3 (105, from Saints, compensatory) - Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State: Rangy player whose skill set should translate to Vic Fangio's defense, which needs off-ball linebackers to patrol far and wide while OLBs Von Miller and Bradley Chubb hunt QBs. Browning had five sacks in 2019, so he can be an effective blitzer, too. Draft tracker
Round 5 (152) - Caden Sterns, S, Texas
Round 5 (164, from Bears through Giants) - Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana
Round 6 (219, from Falcons, compensatory) - Seth Williams, WR, Auburn
Round 7 (237) - Kary Vincent, Jr., CB, LSU
Round 7 (239, from Giants) - Jonathon Cooper, DE, Ohio State
Round 7 (253, from Browns) - Marquiss Spencer, DE, Mississippi State
Denver Broncos' last five top draft picks:
2020 (No. 15 overall): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
2019 (No. 20 overall): Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
2018 (No. 5 overall): Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State
2017 (No. 20 overall): Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
2016 (No. 26 overall): Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
2021 NFL draft: Team-by-team picks
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Cowboys | Eagles | Giants | Washington
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Broncos picks in 2021 NFL draft: Round-by-round selections for Denver
