Report: Safety Nick Emmanwori named a wildcard option for the Broncos at pick 20

The talented safety was named a “wildcard option to keep an eye on” at the Denver Broncos 20th overall pick.

Compared to last year, rumors surrounding the Broncos’ first-round pick have been few and far between. However, we finally have a report/rumor on what direction the Broncos could be going in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

While the Broncos have been connected to running back and wide receivers in the first round of the draft, could they be eyeing one of the top defensive players in the draft instead?

ESPN’s NFL insider Jordan Reid is reporting that they could wait until day 2 of the draft to address their running back need by grabbing running back TreVeyon Henderson or Kaleb Johnson. Instead, league sources have told them that the Broncos might use their first-round pick on a defensive player, and he names South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori as a “wild card option to keep an eye on there”.

The Broncos have been linked to the running backs in Round 1, but the depth of this RB class makes it more likely that they’ll wait until Day 2 to grab a player like TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State) or Kaleb Johnson (Iowa). Instead, league sources have told us that Denver might use its first-round pick to add to what is already one of the NFL’s best defenses. Safety Nick Emmanwori is a wild card to keep an eye on there.

Emmanwori is a talented prospect who has good size, elite athleticism, and is viewed as one of the top defensive players in the draft. However, the Broncos have already made a major addition to the safety position this offseason. They signed former 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga to a big-money deal in free agency, and he is expected to start opposite Brandon Jones. Meanwhile, 2024 starter P.J. Locke is expected to shift to a reserve role and serve as the main backup to both starters. So, that doesn’t leave a lot of room for Emmanwori despite him being a highly ranked and talented prospect.

The only way it could make sense is if the Broncos plan on using him in a hybrid safety/linebacker role. He is listed at 6’3”, 220 pounds with 4.38 speed, so he has the size, build, and elite athleticism to fill that type of role. Come in as a sub-package linebacker opposite of Dre Greenlaw and cover running backs and tight ends, which was a weakness for them last season.

The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, has Emmanwori graded as his 17th overall player in the draft and has him ranked as his top safety in the draft. He says Emmanwori has the size, speed, and mindset to play a variety of roles and projects best near the line of scrimmage.

Emmanwori does a nice job reading route concepts in underneath coverages, and he will make plays on the ball with his reaction quickness. Some of his reads and angles are inconsistent from depth, but he keys quickly from the box and plays with physicality (Derwin James is his idol). Overall, Emmanwori has the size, speed and mindset to play a variety of roles, although he projects best near the line of scrimmage, where he can blitz, be an eraser against the run and man up with tight ends and backs in coverage. He has the floor of an adequate starter and special-teamer, but his ceiling is exciting and will put him high on NFL teams’ safety stack.

It is possible the Broncos view Emmanwori as a chess piece for them on the defensive side of the ball. He could provide some insurance if Hufanga’s injury woes continue, play some linebacker, an explosive blitzer, or even a big slot who mans up against talented tight ends.

This is all speculation, of course, but it could make sense as this was an area of weakness for them last season. The Broncos’ defense is talented on paper, but the AFC is loaded with explosive offenses, so making that strength even stronger is probably a good idea.

What do you think, Broncos Country? Would you be down adding Emmanwori at 20th overall, or would you like to see the Broncos go in another direction with their first-round pick?