It's one thing to draft a player in the seventh round. It's another to draft one who's still figuring out what position he actually plays. For the Denver Broncos, that player is Miles Scott -- a rookie defensive back taken with the 232nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft -- and head coach Sean Payton isn't hiding the fact that Scott's journey to the NFL has been anything but conventional.
In an exclusive interview with the team's media department, Payton opened up about the evaluation process behind selecting a player with limited reps at his projected NFL position. Scott, listed as a safety on the Broncos' current roster, spent much of his college career bouncing between cornerback and safety, and even saw time on special teams. That versatility caught the eye of Denver's front office, but it also presented a unique challenge: How do you project a player who hasn't yet settled into a single role?
"It's a little different when you're looking at a guy who's only played the position for a short time," Payton said. "You're not just evaluating what he's done. You're projecting what he can become. And with Miles, we saw traits that you can't teach -- instincts, range, ball skills. The rest is on us to develop."
The comments come as the Broncos wrap up their rookie minicamp and begin transitioning toward organized team activities. Scott, who measured in at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds during the pre-draft process, brings a blend of size and athleticism that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph covets on the back end. But with just two full seasons as a primary safety at the collegiate level, Scott is raw -- and the coaching staff knows it.
Payton didn't shy away from acknowledging the developmental curve. "You have to be patient," he said. "But you also have to be intentional. We're not just throwing him out there and hoping it sticks. There's a plan for him."
From Corner to Safety: The Scott Story
Scott's college tape tells the story of a player who was always talented but never quite locked into a single role. He arrived as a cornerback, moved to safety as a sophomore, and spent his junior and senior seasons splitting time between the two spots while also logging heavy special teams snaps. That kind of positional fluidity is often a double-edged sword in draft rooms: It shows athletic versatility, but it also raises questions about whether a player has mastered any one position.
For the Broncos, the answer was clear. They saw a safety, and they see a future contributor.
"He's got the range to play deep, but he's also physical enough to come down in the box," Payton said. "That's hard to find. A lot of guys can do one or the other. He's shown he can do both, even if it's still a work in progress."
The Broncos' current safety room features veterans Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones as the projected starters, with Devon Key, JL Skinner, and Tycen Anderson rounding out the depth chart. Scott enters as the sixth safety on the roster -- a long shot by any measure, but one with a clear path to a roster spot if he can prove his value on special teams.
That's where the early returns have been promising. Multiple team sources have noted Scott's willingness to embrace whatever role he's asked to play, a trait that Payton specifically highlighted.
"You see it in his approach," Payton said. "He's not coming in with an ego. He's asking questions, taking notes, staying after. That's how late-round picks make the team."
The Seventh-Round Reality
Let's be honest: Seventh-round picks don't come with guarantees. Of the 32 players selected in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, fewer than half appeared in an NFL game as rookies, and only a handful became regular contributors by Year 2. The hit rate is low -- but the Broncos have had success finding value in the final frame before.
Running back Jaleel McLaughlin, an undrafted free agent signed in 2023, turned into one of the league's most efficient change-of-pace backs. Defensive lineman Matt Henningsen, a sixth-round pick in 2022, has carved out a rotational role. And safety Devon Key, signed as an undrafted free agent the same year, has seen action in 31 games over three seasons.
The point is: The Broncos have shown they can develop lower-tier defensive backs. Scott fits that mold.
"You look at our track record, and there's a reason we felt good about taking him where we did," Payton said. "Our scouts did a great job identifying a player who might have been overlooked because of the position change. We think we got a guy who can grow into a role."
What Scott Brings to the Table
So what exactly does Scott offer that made the Broncos pull the trigger? Based on pre-draft evaluations and the coaching staff's comments, three traits stand out:
1. Tackling and physicality. Scott isn't afraid to stick his nose in the run game. For a player still learning coverage nuances, his willingness to hit gives him a baseline floor on special teams.
2. Ball production. Over his final two collegiate seasons, Scott intercepted five passes and broke up 11 more. His instincts in zone coverage -- especially reading the quarterback's eyes -- are advanced for a player with limited safety reps.
3. Versatility. Payton mentioned that the coaching staff has already experimented with Scott at multiple spots during rookie minicamp, including dime linebacker and deep safety. That flexibility is invaluable for a team that values sub-package defense.
"He's the kind of guy who can play in the box, play deep, cover tight ends, cover backs," Payton said. "We want to find out where he's most comfortable, but also where he can help us most. That might change as he gets more reps."
The Road Ahead
The Broncos open the 2026 regular season in September, and Scott's path to the 53-man roster runs directly through special teams. With the return of a full offseason program, the coaching staff will have ample opportunity to evaluate his progress.
Payton made it clear that the team isn't putting a ceiling on Scott's potential, but they're also not rushing him.
"We're excited about him, but we're also realistic," Payton said. "He's got a long way to go. The good news is, he knows that. He's putting in the work. We'll see where it leads."
For a seventh-round pick, that's all you can ask. For a Broncos team looking to build depth in the secondary, Miles Scott might just be the latest in a growing line of late-round success stories.
And if Payton's track record is any indication, he might end up being more than just a camp body.