Future Broncos: Denver’s 2025 NFL Draft picks and early needs analysis

This collegiate football season is underway which means this year’s series of Future Broncos begins.

This year’s collegiate football season is underway—which means my annual series of Future Broncos is back as well. For all you Colorado locals, I’m sure you watched the Buffalos take down the North Dakota State Bison on Thursday night. That was a tough one for me being a Bison alumnus, but it was a fun game to watch. Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter sure looked pretty awesome, and I’ve got to say Hunter would be a great selection for the Broncos to bolster their offense.

For my initial Future Broncos entry, I’ll take a look at what the Broncos have for selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. Moreover, pontificate on some early potential needs now that the 53-man roster and practice squad has been set. Feel free to give your thoughts on what you feel are Denver’s top needs for next offseason in the comments section.

The Broncos’ 2025 Slate of Draft Selections

The franchise doesn’t have a full slate of selections for the 2025 NFL Draft, but the good news is that they have all their premium selections after several seasons without them. The Broncos are without their original fifth round pick which was sent to the Miami Dolphins in the Bradley Chubb trade. Additionally, they lack a pick in the seventh round due to the Albert Okwuegbunam trade to the Philadelphia Eagles but will receive their sixth-round selection from that trade. General Manager George Paton and Head Coach Sean Payton are known for making a lot of trades, so it’s very likely the franchise will have more picks than what is on deck here.

• 1st Round Selection
• 2nd Round Selection
• 3rd Round Selection
• 4th Round Selection
• 6th Round Selection
• 6th Round Selection (via Philadelphia)

What are the Broncos’ biggest future needs on the roster?

The Broncos scratched their biggest long-term need of their list when the drafted Bo Nix with the 12th selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. While Pro Football Focus and several outlets ranked the franchise’s roster as one of the worst in the National Football League, I don’t think that it’s as bad as it appears. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of work to be redone to make them a formidable contender worthy of hoisting another Lombardi Trophy. My top three choices for early round draft investment are definitely focused on upgrading their trenches on both sides of the ball.

Offensive Tackle

Mike McGlinchey will be in the fold for at least this season and the 2025 campaign based on his contract structure. Though I’d argue it’s almost a certainty the team cuts ties with him after 2026 to save a gargantuan amount of cap space (over $17 million) to help retool the roster. However, if his play drastically improves, his $23 million dollar deal might not look so bad a few years down the road when other players at his position eventually reset the market.

That being said, the biggest wildcard along the offensive line and perhaps the entire team is Garett Bolles’ future with the franchise. Bolles has been the team’s starting left tackle since he was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft but is in the final year of his extension. It’s entirely possible the team is able to come up with a multi-year extension to keep him in the fold and be Nix’s blindside protector, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team decides to move on and subsequently utilizes their top selection in 2025 on a franchise caliber left tackle.

LSU standout Will Campbell and Texas product Kelvin Banks Jr. are the top two names too watch, but the only shot Denver has at getting either of them is by picking in the Top 10 next April. Another player to scout this year is Arizona Wildcat Jonah Savaiinaea. He has played right guard and right tackle, but definitely has the tools and traits to be a fantastic left tackle in NFL.

Defensive Line

The Broncos added some beef to their offensive line by trading for John Franklin-Myers during last year’s draft and signing Malcolm Roach in free agency. Zach Allen is an ascending and underrated player, but D.J. Jones is in the final year of his deal and the Broncos desperately need top-tier talent for the long haul at the position.

Michigan’s Mason Graham and Kentucky’s Deone Walker are two high-profile players to watch that would certainly beef up Denver’s defensive line. Tyleik Williams of Ohio State and Graham’s teammate Kenneth Grant (Michigan) are also two players to watch that have preliminary first-round grades in my book.

Edge Rusher

The Broncos have a nice foursome of pass rushers in Jonathon Cooper, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, and rookie Jonah Elliss. But it’s important to keep in mind both Cooper and Browning are free agents at the end of this season. There is no such thing as having too many good pass rushers and team lacks an alpha in that room as is.

If the Broncos stumble in 2024, utilizing their top selection on a premier edge rusher would be a smart move. Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. is the top prospect at the group in 2025, but Georgia’s Mykel Williams might have something to say about that when it is all said and done. Don’t sleep on Nic Scourton of Texas A&M (previously with Purdue) and Abdul Carter of Penn State. They all have traits to become top-notch players at EDGE in the pros.

Honorable Mention — X-Factors on Offense — Wide Receiver

I’ll leave tight end out of the equation for first round consideration, but the Broncos certainly need help there. While I’m quite high on the potential of Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Devaughn Vele—getting a certified baller at wide receiver would help propel the Broncos’ offense to the next level. That’s why fans should not count out players Travis Hunter, Luther Burden III, Tetairo McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka.