The NFL combine is upon us and the NFL draft is just two months away.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton said targeting a “joker” at running back or tight end this offseason is “a priority.” And there are certainly candidates in the draft who could fit the bill.
Here’s a look at who national draftniks are thinking will land in Denver.
Pro Football Focus | Dalton Wasserman | Updated Feb. 24
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
“Denver ranked 24th in explosive pass play rate this past season, so Burden could be an answer to that problem as both a deep threat and a dynamic receiver after the catch. The Broncos ran screen passes at the third-highest rate in the NFL in 2024, and Burden led all Power Four wide receivers with a 91.3 PFF receiving grade on such plays over the past two years.” See the full mock draft.
ESPN | Mel Kiper Jr. | Updated Feb. 22
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
“I’ve made it clear how I feel about taking a running back in the first round, but I’m not the one making the picks. And make no mistake, Jeanty is going to go in the first round. He’s a top-10 prospect with incredible elusiveness. Jeanty piled up 2,601 rushing yards and 29 rushing scores this season.
“The Broncos, meanwhile, couldn’t establish the run to help out rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Their running backs were in the bottom 10 in rushing yards (1,423), rushing TDs (8) and yards per carry (4.1) in 2024. Lead back Javonte Williams’ contract is expiring, and although Denver drafted Audric Estime in the fifth round last April, it could make a Day 1 splash at the position this year. And an added bonus: Jeanty is a great pass catcher out of the backfield, which would give Nix another outlet.” See the full mock draft.
NFL.com | Bucky Brooks | Updated Feb. 25
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
“In this scenario, I can’t imagine Sean Payton bypassing an RB1 with three-down ability and the potential to score from anywhere on the field. Jeanty is special, and his presence could ignite an offense primed to challenge Kansas City’s longstanding AFC West supremacy as soon as next season.” See the full mock draft.
Yahoo! Sports | Nate Tice and Charles McDonald | Updated Feb. 26
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
“The Broncos can block, but they lacked the RB room in 2024 to fully take advantage of the designs and lanes created. Enter Jeanty, who doesn’t really need a lane but more of a sliver to create explosive plays. Jeanty with Sean Payton and that Broncos offensive line is the heart eye emoji personified.” See the full mock draft.
CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso | Updated Feb. 26
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
“Sean Payton gets a talented receiving tight end to work the seam for Bo Nix.” See the full mock draft.
NFL.com | Gennaro Filice | Updated Feb. 20
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Trade:
- Broncos get: No. 13 pick.
- Dolphins get: No. 20 pick plus more.
“No stranger to trading up in Round 1, Sean Payton vaults up the board for a tight end, though maybe not the one you anticipated. The Broncos coach has been telling anyone who will listen that his offense needs a ‘joker,’ but what kind of joker does he desire? Tyler Warren, who has become the general mockosphere’s TE1, is a traditional ‘Y,’ combining bruising playmaking ability with stout blocking. Loveland, on the other hand, is more of the modern passing-game weapon at the position, running receiver routes in a tight end body. Payton could prefer the latter. Remember all those fantasy points converted hooper Jimmy Graham put up in New Orleans?” See the full mock draft.
NFL.com | Daniel Jeremiah | Updated Feb. 18
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
“The Broncos fill a huge need by selecting a tight end with great length, quickness and big-play ability. Sean Payton gets his ‘joker’ on offense.” See the full mock draft.
The Athletic | Staff | Updated Feb. 25
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
“Even in a Michigan offense that was woeful through the air, Loveland had more individual receiving yards in 2024 (582 yards in 10 games) than the four Broncos tight ends had combined (483 yards in 17 games) a year ago. And with this pick, Bo Nix smiles his very wide smile. Loveland joins an AFC West tight ends group that includes superstar Travis Kelce and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who broke multiple NFL rookie tight end records a year ago,” Chris Kamrani writes. See the full mock draft.
The Sporting News | Vinnie Iyer | Updated Feb. 10
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
“The Broncos also haven’t had a big-time receiving tight end in a while. Loveland is a complete player with his strength and athleticism. He would be a choice intermediate target and plus blocker for Bo Nix and the running game, serving as a potential new Jimmy Graham for Sean Payton and Joe Lombardi.” See the full mock draft.
USA Today | Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz | Updated Feb. 26
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
“Sean Payton has made no secret of his team’s offseason mission to boost the skill-position talent surrounding Bo Nix. No matter whether the coach sees Loveland as his coveted ‘joker’ who can exploit mismatches in the passing game, the tight end can help Nix continue to develop as a deep and intermediate passer after the team afforded the quarterback more and more responsibility throughout his promising rookie campaign.” See the full mock draft.
NFL.com | Dan Parr | Updated Feb. 13
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Trade:
- Broncos get: No. 15 pick.
- Falcons get: No. 20 pick and more.
“Let the tight end race begin! Sensing he could miss out on the top TEs in the class if he sits back and waits, Sean Payton sends the Falcons his first-, third- and fourth-round picks to move up five spots for Warren. NFL.com draft guru Lance Zierlein compared the former Nittany Lion to Jeremy Shockey, a player Payton coached during his time with the Giants and Saints.” See the full mock draft.