As the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, nears, draft analysts are wrapping up their mock drafts, and the rumour mill begins to intensify.
For the Denver Broncos, the first-round strategy seems simple: add another weapon to this offence that takes it over the top, surrounding Bo Nix with talent to help the Broncos build on a promising 2024 season that saw them make a first playoff appearance since their Super Bowl 50 victory in 2016.
That offensive weapon could come in multiple ways, in the form of a running back, a wide receiver or even a tight end – despite the addition of Evan Engram in free agency – to help Sean Payton scheme up his ideal offence.
All three respective positions provide a range of skill sets, from power backs to vertical speed threats and everything in between. Let’s take a look at the top options for Denver.
Running backs
Omarion Hampton – North Carolina
Omarion Hampton comes with added baggage for Broncos fans as a bigger-sized (5’11”, 221 lbs) running back from North Carolina. The Javonte Williams comparison does, admittedly, stop at the archaic, size, school, and position take, but they’re different players. Hampton is a power rusher and can contribute out of the backfield in the passing game; the 22-year-old does lack some fluidity and dynamism once he breaks into the second level, but he would level up this Broncos backfield.
Hampton was the consensus pick at 20 in most mock drafts in the last month or so, but as noise grows about Ashton Jeanty going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at fifth overall, running back-needy teams could get tetchy, and we could see these backs go off the board earlier than expected.
TreVeyon Henderson – Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson has a lower grade, from most, than Hampton, largely due to his lack of college-level production and lack of size (5’10”, 202lbs). That lack of production came because of two injury-plagued seasons and a year splitting carries with Quinshon Judkins in his final year, as Ohio State won a National Championship.
Henderson is more elusive than Hampton and more dynamic, but there are workload questions due to his injury history and questions surrounding his capabilities as a three-down back. His size matches up to Jahmyr Gibbs, and if an NFL offence trusts him to increase his production, Henderson could have that potential. If Payton is comfortable giving Audric Estime more early down touches as a bigger back, then Henderson could add another ‘joker’ piece to this offence.
Alternatives
If the Broncos don’t go running back in the first round, there is depth and talent in this class to be had on day two.
Henderson’s backfield pal Quinshon Judkins, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Dylan Sampson from Tennessee and Arizona State back Cam Skattebo are just some of the names that could be called when the Broncos are on the clock in the later rounds.
Wide Receivers
Tetairoa McMillan – Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan has been a polarising player throughout the draft process, and up until a week ago, it seemed nonsensical to think the 6’4”, 213 lbs big-bodied pass-catcher would even be in conversations regarding the Broncos’ pick at 20, but his stock has slipped as we approach draft night for whatever reason.
McMillan matches up almost identically to Courtland Sutton in size, and for Nix, the more targets the Broncos can give him, the better, regardless of size. Analysts have voiced concerns on McMillan’s effort levels, and a particular area of concern for a Payton-offence would be the suggestion that he plays with low effort in the run blocking game; in the pass game, though, throw this guy a jump-ball and he’ll come down with it 99 times out of 100.
Matthew Golden – Texas
Matthew Golden has drawn comparisons to Stefon Diggs, and his acceleration is eye-catching, but there are clear questions around his production at college. Golden became a main piece of Texas’ offence in the second half of the 2024 season following his transfer from Houston; if he finds himself in the right offence, that progression can keep going.
Golden is a pick based purely on projection, combining speed and a quick release with competitiveness at the catch point, but lacking the fine-tuning and desirable size (5’11’, 191) of a day one starter at current. Across three years at college, he amassed a cumulative 1,975 receiving yards, almost half of what McMillan racked up over the same period.
Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State
The Broncos need a WR2, and who better than the perennial bridesmaid of Ohio State’s star-studded receiver rooms over the last four years than Emeka Egbuka? Across his four years in Columbus, Ohio, Egbuka has played with Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Jeremiah Smith. That’s some dinner party.
Egbuka (6’1”, 201 lbs) is ready to play on day one and has a high floor, especially in an offence where he doesn’t need to be the number one target. He’s a QB-friendly target that would lift the quality of this receiver room and give Nix an extra passing game weapon alongside Sutton, Engram and Marvin Mims. He’s not an elusive yards-after-catch receiver, but he has a burst of speed and would likely be a slot option in this offence (81% of snaps came in the slot in 2024).
Luther Burden III – Missouri
Luther Burden, like McMillan, has seen his stock slip away as we’ve approached the draft, largely because of the entire Missouri offence taking a back step, instead of Burden personally regressing. When Burden (6’0″, 206 lbs) looks good, he looks really good, with exceptional run-after-catch ability, seeing action in the slot and in the backfield, which is something the Broncos’ offence is lacking. Mims is a speed option but lacks the ability to rip off a 20-yard run after the catch, which Burden could add to this offence. If Payton feels they need more dynamism after the catch, Burden is a no-brainer at 20.
However, Burden has been flagged for low effort on particular plays and a lack of polish in his run-blocking, both flaws that will likely be the centre of conversations in the Broncos’ draft room. Burden would likely be available in the later 20s or even the early second round if they opted to trade back.
One thing is for sure, though: don’t let Burden go to the Chiefs with his YAC ability.
Alternatives
It feels like the Broncos will always come out of a draft with a couple of receivers with their day three picks, and this year is no different. If they want to go for a pass catcher on day two or three, keep an eye on Iowa State’s duo Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, or in the later rounds, it’s hard to look past Nix’s family ties with Tez Johnson.
Tight Ends
Colston Loveland – Michigan
Colston Loveland might not even be available at 20, and perhaps the noise around the Broncos trading up in this draft is linked to a move up for the former Michigan tight end.
Loveland was a three-year starter in Ann Arbor, and the 21-year-old has electrifying upside as a receiver, but isn’t a traditional big-bodied (6’6”, 248 lbs) inline tight end. The Broncos already have Engram on the roster, but they could see Loveland as a successor or even an extra complementary piece in the passing game if Engram is used more as a big slot receiver.
Mason Taylor – LSU
Mason Taylor, like Loveland, is a fluid big target and a likely safety valve and redzone target for Nix if he were to come to the Broncos in round one. Taylor measures up almost identically to Loveland (6’5”, 246 lbs), and has a similar issue with sustaining blocks in the pass and run game.
Payton will likely see his ability as a QB-friendly pass catcher and believe he can develop the blocking game of a raw and athletic 21-year-old. Loveland is more explosive as a receiver, but Taylor has the potential to be a good and reliable tight end at the NFL level.
Alternatives
There is potential later in the draft at tight end, namely the electrifying prospect of Miami’s Elijah Arroyo, or the Oregon safety net of Terrance Ferguson. This tight end class has depth, and Denver could find their guy on day two if they opt to be patient.
Trade Up?
When carrying out mock drafts, my inclination is generally to trade back, accumulate capital and pick up one of the backs of receivers on the board in the late first round.
However, the national media, namely Adam Schefter and Ian Rappaport, have suggested the Broncos are one of only a few teams that have inquired about potentially trading up in the first round of the draft.
I could see a trade-up in two scenarios. Firstly, Jeanty goes at fifth overall to the Jaguars and the Chicago Bears or another running back needy team takes one of Hampton or Henderson in the early teens. In that scenario, it would be feasible that the Broncos really love the running back that is left, and they look to move up to take him off the board.
The second scenario would be that they really like either Loveland or one of the receivers, and they feel the 15-19 range as a hotspot for them to go, so the Broncos are preemptive on that, and they trade ahead of that to get their pass catcher.
Trade down?
The option to trade down has been less prevalent in the national media, with The Athletic’s Diana Russini the only reporter to have suggested it is a possibility in the last couple of days.
Payton’s history suggests he’s more likely to be aggressive and move up for a target than be passive and move back, but if the right offer came from the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints or another QB-needy team looking to move up for Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart then it wouldn’t be out of the question, especially if one of Egbuka, Henderson or Burden could be available in the later first round or early second round.