The Denver Broncos face a critical decision in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft: should they draft a running back or address another position?
While selecting a running back might be the flashier choice, a broader perspective suggests the smarter move could be to focus on supporting second-year quarterback Bo Nix. The ultimate goal is to bring in a player who will help Nix develop and thrive in the long run.
Opting for a running back could make headlines, but it may not provide the best protection for Nix’s long-term health. A more strategic choice might be to bolster the offensive line, a position group expected to have significant depth in the draft.
ESPN’s Matt Miller has advised the Broncos against selecting a running back in the first round, specifically cautioning against picking Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, a player many fans are eager to see in Denver.
Jeanty had a historic 2024 season, leading the nation with 2,601 rushing yards at 7.0 yards per carry and scoring 30 total touchdowns. As the Heisman Trophy runner-up, Jeanty also led Boise State to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
“I LOVE Ashton Jeanty, but you have to think about stacking your picks given the depth at RB this year,” Miller shared on his official X account on January 20. “Jeanty Rd1 + a Rd OT or DE vs. Rd1 OT or DE + (Quinshon) Judkins, (Kaleb) Johnson, (Omarion) Hampton Rd2. Team needs will obviously factor in, but if I’m a Cowboys or Broncos fan, I’m probably hoping we go RB in the 2nd and check a bigger box in Round 1.”
Broncos Could Follow Buccaneers’ Blueprint for OT
If Denver decides to draft and develop an offensive tackle, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers provide a perfect template with their All-Pro lineman Tristan Wirfs.
Wirfs, selected 13th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, started immediately at right tackle as a rookie. He played a pivotal role in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win that season and earned All-Pro honors at right tackle before transitioning to left tackle.
Now protecting Baker Mayfield’s blind side, Wirfs signed a record-breaking 5-year, $140.6 million contract before the 2024 season, making him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. His dominance solidifies him as one of the league’s premier players at his position.
The Broncos are well-positioned to replicate this success. Denver already has a strong offensive line foundation with veteran left tackle Garrett Bolles, who recently signed a 4-year, $82 million extension, and elite right tackle Mike McGlinchey, under contract for three more seasons as part of his 5-year, $87.5 million deal from March 2023.
The line also features one of the NFL’s best guards in All-Pro Quinn Meinerz, who signed a 4-year, $80 million extension in July 2024. Adding a highly talented rookie to this established unit could allow the player to grow alongside proven veterans and develop into a future star.
