Future Broncos: Prospects to Watch in the National Championship Game

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish square off on Monday night for the College Football National Championship. Here are some draft eligible players to watch.

The 2024 season for the Denver Broncos is in the books, but the fun is just getting started. Over the next few months, the team will switch their focus to improving the roster this offseason in free agency in the 2025 NFL Draft.

With that in mind, expect a lot more Future Broncos related content moving forward over the next few months. On Monday night, the College Football National Championship Game will be held at 7:30 PM (EST) when the Ohio State Buckeyes go head-to-head with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The game should be a lot of fun, so here is an overview of some of the best draft eligible prospects to watch for. I know that several of these players have been mentioned in prior segments, but it’s certainly fine to rehash prospects that can bolster the future foundations of the franchise.

Let’s dig into some of the top players to watch on Monday.

Xavier Watts, S — Notre Dame

Free agent safety Brandon Jones played very well for the Broncos in 2024. However, I believe that P.J. Locke was inconsistent and isn’t a surefire bet to start in ‘25. I feel there is a strong chance the team pursues an addition to the backend of their defense that can compete alongside him and shore up the position long-term.

I covered him back in November, but one of the best safeties in this year’s draft is Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts. The 2023 Bronko Nagurski Award Winner returned for his senior season and put together another top-tier year on the gridiron He racked up 46 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 9 passes defended enroute to a second consecutive All-American selection.

Well-coached and boasting a tremendous football I.Q., Watts’ premier ball-hawking skills will make him a highly sought after player on draft day. You don’t get much better than 13 interceptions in a two-year span. That type of production will catch the eye of any defensive back coach in the National Football League.

Ohio State has a lot of premier weapons on offense, so seeing how Watts performs in the biggest game of his career against some of the best players in the nation is certainly something to watch for. I honestly think there will be teams who value him as a first-round pick and wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he is a Top 32 player overall on Denver’s board.

Emeka Egbuka, WR — Ohio State

Back in October, I offered a preliminary mock draft for the Broncos. The vision then is sort of the same focus it is for me now. That is finding ways to upgrade and bolster the offense around quarterback Bo Nix. With their first-round selection, I had them selecting Ohio State standout Emeka Egbuka to bolster their receiving corps.

After posting 75 catches for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns through 15 games, Egbuka didn’t disappoint as a senior and really helped open up things for other playmakers in the Buckeyes’ offense. A bonafide threat over the middle of the field and capable of beating man coverage, he would offer the Broncos a complimentary option to their aerial attack they are currently lacking.

He may never be the primary target in the offense, but a player I believe would be a top-notch contributor and a high-volume #2 wide receiver. Sean Payton values toughness at the position as well as players who are willing to block. Egbuka certainly brings that to the table and plays hard every snap even if the ball isn’t coming his way.

Truly, I have a strong feeling he will be on the short list of players Denver will consider in the first round of this year’s draft—that is if he is even available when they are on the clock. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if he goes earlier than that.

Tyleik Williams, DL — Ohio State

The Broncos’ run defense was much better this year compared to their ‘23 campaign. However, the Buffalo Bills absolutely manhandled Denver’s defensive trenches during their Wild Card playoff matchup. With that considered along with nose tackle D.J. Jones being a free agent, there’s no doubt the Broncos are going to have to consider what to do to reinforce their defensive line.

I’ve mentioned Ohio State standout Tyleik Williams in passing over the past few months but never did a traditional segment featuring him. At 6’3 and 330 pounds, Williams is an absolute enforcer for Ohio State’s defense and does a lot of dirty work to allow his teammates to go and get after it. This year he notched 42 tackles and 2.5 sacks—a little less production than his junior year—but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a better player.

He is an absolute menace in the run game and one of college football’s best defenders in that respect. His size and physicality are hard to match. Without question, he is Day 1 pro-ready to take on the rigors of the big leagues. With a lot of college defensive lineman, you have to wait a few years until they get bigger and stronger at the point of attack. With him? Not a worry at all.

He is an immediate impact player who can get significant snap counts as a rookie. Williams is easily a first-round caliber player in my book, and I would have absolutely no issue if he was the team’s first-round selection in April. Building up the lines has been a focus of Sean Payton since taking over, so I definitely wouldn’t sleep on Williams being a possibility all things considered.

TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, RB — Ohio State

There is no doubt the Broncos will be upgrading their running back stable this offseason. With the ‘25 NFL Draft being loaded at the position; I have a strong feeling it’s going to happen in April. The Buckeyes have two quality backs that would be instant upgrades for Denver, and each are quite a bit different in what they excel at.

If you’re looking for an explosive playmaker that can also be a focal point in the team’s passing attack, TreVeyon Henderson [5’10”, 208 pounds] would be that guy. Splitting reps in the Buckeyes’ backfield, Henderson had 132 carries for 967 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns as a senior. If you’re keeping count, that’s over 7 yards per carry. Quite phenomenal. On top of that, he also added 27 receptions for 281 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown.

When watching his tape, it’s easy to see why Payton would like him. While it’s lofty praise and prognostication, there are some who believe he could be utilized like Alvin Kamara was in Payton’s time with the New Orleans Saints. I certainly see the vision there and believe he can be a three-down caliber back. He has great speed, an incredible second gear, and doesn’t have an issue attacking the ground on the perimeter. In an earlier installment of Future Broncos, durability is the only big question mark I have with him.

His teammate Quinshon Judkins [6’0”, 219 pounds], a transfer from Ole Miss, offers something a little bit different. On 183 carries, Judkins had 960 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. He also had 20 receptions for 140 yards and 1 receiving touchdown. He provides a much more physical running style than Henderson and is harder to bring down. In fact, I believe he has some of the best contact balance of any back in this year’s class.

While he has good lateral agility and athleticism, Judkins doesn’t have the track speed and second gear that Henderson does. I wouldn’t call him a viable home run threat or a back who is overly elusive in the open field. Nevertheless, boasts starting traits as a physical downhill runner that rarely fumbles.

Overall, I believe both of them are likely to be drafted on Day 2 of this year’s draft somewhere in the second round. However, the Broncos would likely have to move up slightly in the second round from where they are originally slated to ensure getting one of them. I have a feeling running backs will be flying off the board in the Top 50 and they certainly have that value for a Denver squad needing an instant impact player at the position.

Other Prospects of Note:

Jordan Clark, CB – Notre Dame
Jack Kiser, LB – Notre Dame
Riley Leonard, QB – Notre Dame
Mitchell Evans, TE – Notre Dame
Donovan Jackson, OL – Ohio State
Denzel Burke, CB – Ohio State
Jack Sawyer, DE – Ohio State
JT Tuimoloau, DE – Ohio State