Without an abundance of draft capital, the Denver Broncos‘ hands were tied for much of the 2024 NFL Draft cycle. And yet, they played it as best as they could. They shipped off cumbersome contracts, got a new quarterback, and added talent on both sides.
Now, entering his second year as the Broncos’ head coach after an 8-9 debut campaign, Sean Payton will start to feel the pressure at Mile High Stadium. The 2024 NFL Draft was the class that could come to define his tenure, with Bo Nix as the headliner.
But if Payton and Co. can take a step forward in the hotly-contested AFC West, then the 2025 NFL Draft is how they’ll truly make the leap back to contention.
Who Could the Denver Broncos Draft in 2025?
1.6) Denver Broncos: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
This is a move that serves a purpose both short-term and long-term. In 2025, the addition of Tetairoa McMillan makes Denver’s WR room strong four-deep with McMillan, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims Jr. And when Sutton leaves, McMillan can be WR1.
If Sean Payton is going to make things work with Bo Nix, he needs to invest in his QB. There’s no better way to do that than to pair him with a weapon like McMillan — a 6’5″, 210-pound monolith with a true three-level upside and hands of steel at the catch point.
As we’ve seen in the modern NFL, having a deep weapons core is always a major plus. The addition of McMillan would not only give Denver an elite potential WR1, but it would also shore up the team’s WR depth in both the short and long term.
2.38) Denver Broncos: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
A former off-ball linebacker who’s steadily converted to an EDGE, Jalon Walker has extremely impressive speed-to-power for his 6’2″, 245-pound frame, and his searing closing burst makes him a stellar fit for Vance Joseph’s wide-alignment scheme.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
The Broncos have repeatedly tried and struggled to add wide-alignment edge rushers who can hold up at the point of attack. Play strength is routinely an issue for the EDGE prospects Denver targets.
At the very least, Walker seems to suffer less from that affliction, and he offers the speed, finesse, and power Joseph craves from that kind of player.
3.70) Denver Broncos: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
With Luke Lachey, Sean Payton can once again attack the middle of the field on account of the 6’6″, 250-pound target’s athleticism and high-end coordination.
Greg Dulcich was drafted to be Denver’s new safety blanket at TE, but he’s struggled to catch on or stay consistently available. Payton has a long-standing affinity for athletic TEs who can threaten up the seam and in the red zone, and Lachey fits that profile well.
Rounds 4-7
4.103) Denver Broncos
DeMonte Capehart, DT, Clemson
6.167) Denver Broncos
Jacob Gideon, OL, Western Michigan
6.186) Denver Broncos
Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin
