Florida State defensive lineman Joshua Farmer is a prospect the Denver Broncos should consider drafting on Day 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Denver Broncos don’t have many glaring needs to fill in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, adding more talent to the defensive line figures to be a likely avenue of pursuit given the contract status of Zach Allen, Malcolm Roach, and John Franklin-Myers.
A prospect to watch for late on Day 2 of this year’s draft is Florida State defensive lineman Joshua Farmer. A two-year starter for the Seminoles, Farmer established himself as one of the best defensive linemen in the ACC over the past two seasons. Playing alongside Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in 2023, he notched 32 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and five sacks. That was good enough to earn him Second-Team All-ACC honors.
This past season, he took over in a leadership role for the Seminoles and was selected as a team captain. His production stayed consistent with 32 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. He earned Honorable Mention accolades in the conference and was undoubtedly the most reliable lineman for Florida State’s defense. By all accounts, Farmer had himself a quality pre-draft circuit and generated a lot of buzz amongst scouts and general managers across the National Football League.
Let’s take a deeper look at his strengths and weaknesses, and why and when the Broncos should consider adding him to their defensive line rotation in this year’s draft.
Player Profile: Joshua Farmer — Defensive Tackle — Florida State
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 305 pounds | Arm Length: 35” | Hand Size: 10-1/4”
40-yard dash: 5.11 seconds | 10-Yard Split: 1.77 seconds | Bench Press: 26 reps | Vertical: 29”
Statistics at Florida State: 42 games played, 80 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 1 forced fumble.
Film Room & Highlights
Hart’s Scouting Report
Positives:
- Possesses NFL ready size and physique with exceptional arm length
- Upper body strength and hand usage are his calling cards
- Sports a powerful bullrush that throttles back opposing offensive lineman
- Alignment versatile and lined up from the 0 to 5 techniques during his time with the Seminoles
- Intelligent defender with great snap anticipation and get off at the line of scrimmage
- Credited with over 25 pressures in his final season of play
- Team captain who is respected and lauded by teammates and coaches for his leadership traits
- Held his own against his peers at this year’s Senior Bowl
Negatives:
- Like many defensive tackles, he could improve his technique and play with a lower pad level
- Average RAS score and opted not to do any agility testing through the pre-draft process
- Occasionally struggles to get to the ball when moving laterally defending against zone runs
- Needs to add more moves to his pass rush arsenal
- Motor can wear down on the interior especially when routinely facing double teams
Hart’s Projection: Top 100 Selection | Late Third Round Value
Joshua Farmer (5) showing some good lateral & upfield burst as he rips through the RG and secures the RB
*bonus points for the subtle “get off me” to the RB on the ground as he gets up”
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) April 11, 2025
Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Farmer
Finding a player with starting potential along the defensive line should be a priority for the Broncos in this year’s draft. That doesn’t have to be a first or second round selection, but I feel it’s an area where a Top 100 pick being utilized makes a lot of sense.
In their pre-draft process conference last week, both Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton noted how deep this year’s class was for interior defensive lineman. In past interviews during the pre-draft circuit, each has mentioned having no issue with continuing to build upon team strengths for long-term success.
If the Broncos opt to utilize their first two selections on other positions, Farmer would be a prospect to consider in the third round. As mentioned above, his size and strength are his calling cards which should help him make a difference in a rotation as a rookie. While I don’t believe he is a starting caliber player in year one, he certainly has that potential by year two if his development and vision go according to plan.
While he may project best into an even front given his strengths, his supreme length and strength at the point of attack should merit consideration from 3-4 teams like the Broncos who looking for a base end that can kick inside in passing situations. Overall, Farmer is a tough and battle-tested defender with the football intelligence, character, and skillset to be a quality player in the league for many years.