Future Broncos: How should Denver approach the 2025 NFL Draft?

For the first time since 2021, the Denver Broncos are slated to pick in each of first four rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. With that in mind, how should they approach this year’s draft?

For the first time since 2021, the Denver Broncos are scheduled to have a pick in each of the draft’s first four rounds. That’s a most welcomed development for the team who could use an infusion of talent at several key positions.

In that particular draft, General Manager George Paton was able to come away with Patrick Surtain II and Quinn Meinerz in the first and third round respectively. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Pro guard in one draft class? You can’t do much better than that. No doubt Broncos Country is collectively hoping for similar success in the franchise’s draft endeavors this coming April.

With the NFL Combine and free agency right around the corner, the team is diligently preparing its plan of attack relative to the offseason. For this week’s installment of Future Broncos, I thought we could discuss the various paths the Broncos could take to approach the 2025 NFL Draft.

Everyone’s draft philosophy is different. That’s why I’m eager to hear your thoughts on how things should play out in April. Don’t forget to vote in the poll and sound off in the comments section to let me know you would attack the draft if you were calling the shots for the Broncos.

The Broncos should be aggressive trading up for the players they covet the most.

Broncos Country has a lot to look forward to with Bo Nix leading the way at quarterback for the foreseeable future. Even with a historic cap hit and a lot of unproven talent around him at skill positions, he was able to put together a great rookie campaign. All he needs is a few more friends to take his game and the Broncos’ offense to the next level.

Head Coach Sean Payton is on the prowl for a joker to take the Broncos’ offense to the next level. And guess what? This year’s draft is loaded with top shelf talent at both running back and tight end. However, premier players like Tyler Warren and Ashton Jeanty [popular selections amongst the fan base with true joker traits] might not be available at #20 when the team is originally slated to select.

That being said, there is still a long way to go before their player evaluations are finalized. Though if Payton and Co. have superior grades on either of them when April comes around, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them make a move up the board to acquire one of them. The same could be said for picks and players in subsequent rounds. Will they want to wait and see who falls or be aggressive in moving up for prospects they believe can make an immediate impact as rookies?

That remains to be seen. However, we have seen the Broncos be aggressive in move ups in prior years on Day 2 and Day 3—most notably for Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin at wide receiver.

If the board falls favorably, the Broncos should trade down and acquire more draft picks.

A scenario exists where the Broncos are on the clock at #20 overall and have a board that looks very favorable to them with a handful of top prospects they really like. In this scenario, they could trade down and acquire another Day 2 or Day 3 selection. Whilst still snagging themselves one of their top-ranked players.

In past installments of Future Broncos, I’ve talked about Denver moving back and drafting the highest rated running back available. Some were fans of that idea, but many were against it given the depth of this year’s class. But in this scenario, the position isn’t necessarily relevant. It’s just about finding the best football player to help the team next season.

Out of any potential avenue of pursuit, this would be the one I’d lean more favorable toward. Additional selections would allow the Broncos to fortify talent at other positions such as defensive line or safety, while still getting more darts at the board to add playmakers on the offensive side of the ball too. With this year’s class having quality depth at most positions Denver needs to address, this seems like a great route to take.

Don’t trade up or down—standing pat and take the best player available.

If a trade up or trade down doesn’t transpire, the obvious third choice is to stand pat and just take the best player available on Day 1 and Day 2. That doesn’t necessarily mean a tight end or a running back (arguably their biggest offensive needs)—just the player you believe would have the ability to make the most difference long-term for the team.

Of any of the options, I’d probably find this to be the least favorable. If they really like someone—go up and get them. If you have a few options you like, trade back. But perhaps the Broncos could get lucky and come away with a Top 15 player of theirs at #20 overall which doesn’t necessarily address the ‘joker’ need—but gives them a top-tier talent at a position that needs long-term resources allocated to it.