Future Broncos: Kansas State running back DJ Giddens

Kansas State Wildcats running back DJ Giddens is a prospect the Denver Broncos should consider on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Denver Broncos will be drafting a running back in the 2025 NFL Draft.

That’s an absolute certainty confirmed by General Manager George Paton at the kickoff of the NFL Owners Meetings earlier this week. As I’ve said for months, it was never a question of if—only when that would happen in the Broncos’ draft endeavors. If they bypass selecting a back in the first round, they will still have plenty of other quality prospects available on Day 2 to choose.

A back they have done extensive work on [including a Top 30 visit to team headquarters] is Kansas State standout DJ Giddens. Despite a productive high school career, Giddens wasn’t a highly sought after player by top programs because he had only played football for a few years. He committed to Kansas State and redshirted as a preferred walk-on in 2021. As a redshirt freshman, he was the complimentary back to standout Deuce Vaughn, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

With Vaughn off to big leagues, Giddens earned the starting spot for Chris Klieman’s squad the following season and never looked back. One of the most productive backs in the Big 12, Giddens got better every season and put together his best season in 2024 with 1,343 yards on the ground and an impressive 6.6 yard per carry average.

By all accounts, he has had an impressive pre-draft circuit and is a prospect on the rise. In particular, he tested out as one of the most athletic backs at the NFL Combine and has scheduled visits with a lot of other teams. Let’s take a deeper look at Giddens, his strengths and weaknesses, and when the Broncos should consider selecting him in this year’s draft.

Player Profile: DJ Giddens — Running Back — Kansas State

Height: 6’0” | Weight: 212 pounds | Arm Length: 30-3/8” | Hand Size: 9-1/4”

40-yard dash: 4.43 seconds | 10-yard split: 1.53 seconds | Vertical: 39-1/2” | Broad: 10’-10”

Statistics at Kansas State: 39 games, 25 starts, 517 carries, 3,087 yards, 6.0 yard per carry average, 23 touchdowns. 58 receptions, 679 receiving yards, 11.7 yard per catch average, 4 receiving touchdowns.

Film Room & Highlights

Hart’s Scouting Report

Positives:

• Prototypical size for the position and sports long arms and a large catch radius
• One of this draft’s more balanced backs with hefty experience in both zone and gap concepts
• Top tester at this year’s NFL Combine with an impressive RAS
• Extremely productive the past two years with an increased workload
• Possesses quality vision and patience and 25 runs over 15 yards or longer in ‘24
• Improved with generating yards after contact this past season
• Elusive and shifty for his size with 69 missed tackles forced in ‘23 and 55 missed tackles in ‘24
• Secure ball carrier who rarely fumbles

Negatives:

• Like many of the bigger backs in this class Giddens runs upright with a high pad level
• Pass protection needs a lot of work
• Despite 4.43 40-yard dash, long and breakaway speed is not top-tier
• Decent production as a receiver but certainly has room for improvement and growth
• Given the aforementioned, he is likely a two-down back to start his NFL career

Hart’s Projection: Top 64 Selection | Mid-to-Late Second Round Value

Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Giddens

If the Broncos don’t select a running back in the first round of this year’s draft, it will become a Day 2 priority for them. Yes, it’s a deep class and quality players can be had even on Day 3, but the Broncos need a quality prospect capable of seeing major snaps as a rookie.

Giddens is durable, dependable, and had no issues with an increased workload over the past few seasons. I believe he is easily capable of earning 250 looks as a runner and receiver out of the backfield as a rookie. While Giddens does have room for improvement as a receiver, he was effective on flat area throws and wheel routes the past two seasons with the Wildcats. He also has long arms and good-sized hands giving him a catch radius some others in this class don’t possess.

The biggest thing holding him back from being a true three-down back is lack of experience in pass protection. Though that certainly can be improved in time with proper coaching. Nevertheless, his ascent from a preferred walk-on to one of this year’s best prospects at the position is noteworthy. Overall, Giddens is a self-made running back with the grit and skillset to succeed as a lead back at the next level.

Nobody knows how the board will fall, but I expect at least five backs to be off the board by the time the Broncos are picking in the second round. If that’s the case, Giddens could very well be the best prospect available at the position at pick 51. Your mileage may vary, but it doesn’t seem like he will be available in the third round, where mock draft simulators commonly have him going. In such a scenario, I certainly wouldn’t have an issue with the Broncos making him their first selection on Day 2.