Future Broncos: 3 Prospects to Watch in Week 2 of 2026 NCAA Football season

Week 1 of the NCAA Football season in the books. Last week, we took a look at a trio of potential first-round prospects that could be of interest to the Denver Broncos in the 2027 NFL Draft. This week we will cover three more players, with varying degrees of potential round placement, for the Week 2 slate of games.

Will Echoles — Defensive Tackle — Ole Miss

The defensive line is a key of the Denver Broncos . It's a position they have acquired quality free agents such as Zach Allen , Malcolm Roach , D.J. Jones . Additionally, the have utilized some early round draft picks (Sai'vion Jones, Tyler Onyedim) the couple of years to address long-term.

It's certainly not a primary need for the Broncos. However, Eyioma Uwazurike is in a contract season and D.J. Jones will be 32 next year and carries over a $14.5 million cap hit. With that in mind, taking a look at this year's class of defensive tackles is worth considering.

Fortifying the defensive line is always a smart move, which makes it potentially in play if the right player is on the clock when the Broncos are picking next April. One player I'm bullish on is Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles.

After a quiet freshman campaign, the former four-star recruit was a fifteen-game starter for the Rebels last season and notched 68 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks. For his efforts, he earned AP first-team All-SEC honors and topped all P4 conference players with 39 quarterback pressures and 35 defensive stops.

He just turned 20 years old and there is no doubt his best football is ahead of him. He is a force against the run and shows great upside as an interior pass rusher. While had a bit of a rough outing in the Rebels' close Week 1 victory over Louisville, Echoles should have a chance to dominate against Charlotte tonight. If he can put it all together this season, I would not be surprised if he wound up being a Top 15 pick next April.

The Broncos enter their 2026 season with Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga slated as their starting duo. It's an underrated group, and they also brought back Taylor Rapp who will eventually see time as a depth player for them this season. Though it's important to note Jones will be a free agent at the end of the season, with Hufanga following suit in 2027.

As far as the rest of the players at the position, their roster is rounded out by Tycen Anderson , Devon Key , and J.L. Skinner. That trio has largely been career contributors on special teams—with their potential as foundational starters in the future unlikely. The team also has '26 NFL Draft selection Miles Scott on their practice squad.

I'll admit that safety isn't a premium position to address in the draft. History shows you can find quality starters at the position on Day 2, even as well as Day 3. One layer I think who will wind up hearing his name called a lot earlier than you think is Oklahoma Sooners standout Peyton Bowen.

After spending his first two years in Norman as mostly a backup contributor and special teams' player, Bowen became a full-time starter in '25 and was a second-team All-SEC selection. He posted 47 tackles, 7 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions. His size (5'11 and 200 pounds) doesn't stand out, but his football play on the field does.

Bowen's football intelligence and positional versatility are huge positives. I feel he has true potential as a single-high player but is also someone who has the chops to man down the nickel position in the NFL. That duality will be highly coveted by scouts and general managers in the coming months looking to bolster their franchise's secondary.

He's just consistent with most everything he does, which is a reason I'll be keeping a close eye on him as the collegiate season continues. You can catch Bowen in action against the Michigan Wolverines in today's early slate of games.

Vicari Swain — Cornerback — South Carolina

Fans might not want me to talk about the potential of Denver opting to use an early round selection on a cornerback in the 2027 NFL Draft, but here we are. I do expect one of Ja'Quan McMillian or Riley Moss to get an extension with the team. However, it seems unlikely both will earn well-deserved extensions.

The good thing is they have 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron already as an in-house replacement option for one of them. He has been cross trained at both the slot and boundary spots. While some were down on his lack of impact as a rookie, I'm optimistic about his NFL potential.

The Broncos are facing a situation where their All-Pro return specialist Marvin Mims Jr. may depart in free agency after this season. Finding players with his dynamic return ability are rare. That's why I thought I'd bring up South Carolina cornerback Vicari Swain—who is an impressive cover corner who makes big plays on defense but is also one of the nation's elite punt return specialists.

During his first two seasons with the Gamecocks, Swain (6'0", 193 pounds) was primarily a backup player. Last season, he appeared in every game and had three starts. Even though he wasn't a full-time starter, his impact (especially at slot) was evident with 28 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, along with 2 interceptions and 5 pass breakups. He also had 19 punt returns for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

This season he is poised to make a greater impact for his team. As of now, most outlets have Swain as Day 2 selection. While he doesn't have a tough matchup this week, you can catch him this evening when South Carolina hosts Towson.