Everyone had a plan for Sean Payton. If you scrolled through any denver broncos mock draft 2025 back in March or April, you saw the same names on repeat. It was Ashton Jeanty or bust. Or maybe a massive tight end like Tyler Warren to give Bo Nix that security blanket he desperately needed.
Then reality hit.
The actual draft didn't follow the script. George Paton and Payton basically looked at the consensus boards, shrugged, and went "Best Player Available" in a way that left half of Mile High blinking in confusion. We’re sitting here in early 2026 now, looking back at that class, and honestly? The picks that felt like reaches at the time are the ones holding this roster together.
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The Jahdae Barron Curveball at 20
Draft night was weird. When the Broncos came up at No. 20, guys like Omarion Hampton were still sitting there. Instead, Denver took Jahdae Barron, the corner out of Texas.
I remember the collective "Huh?" from the fan base. We already had Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian. Why a corner? But Payton’s vision wasn't about finding a starter for Week 1; it was about versatility. Barron ended up playing 30% of the defensive snaps as a rookie, moving between the nickel and the boundary. He wasn't perfect. He got "grabby" at the top of routes sometimes, but he finished with five pass breakups and a pick.
Basically, the Broncos realized they couldn't count on health forever. With Talanoa Hufanga's injury history and the need for "big nickel" packages, Barron became the Swiss Army knife Vance Joseph needed.
Trading Back: The RJ Harvey Masterclass
If there's one thing George Paton loves, it's a draft-day trade. The Broncos entered with seven picks and finished with seven, but they executed five separate trades to get there. The most impactful move? Trading back twice in the second round before landing RJ Harvey from UCF at No. 60.
Harvey was the "easy button" for the offense.
- 12 total touchdowns: Led all NFL rookies in 2025.
- 540 rushing yards: Not a bell-cow number, but he split time in a crowded room.
- 47 receptions: This is where he earned his paycheck.
Before Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin was the spark plug, but his size (5-foot-7) made him a liability in pass protection. Harvey brought that blue-collar, compact frame that could actually pick up a blitzing linebacker without getting folded like a lawn chair. He struggled with vision early on—sorta dancing behind the line too much—but by December, he was the clear RB1.
Pat Bryant and the "No Block, No Rock" Mentality
You've gotta love a guy who comes in with a catchphrase. Pat Bryant, the third-rounder from Illinois, stepped into a wide receiver room that was mostly Courtland Sutton and a bunch of question marks.
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Payton has a type. He wants big-bodied "X" receivers who aren't afraid to crack a safety in the run game. Bryant fit that "Michael Thomas" mold perfectly. He only had 378 yards as a rookie, but his snap count climbed to nearly 50% by the end of the season. He’s the reason the Broncos felt comfortable letting some of their veteran depth walk this offseason.
The Late-Round Projects: Did They Work?
The rest of the denver broncos mock draft 2025 results were a mix of "pro-ready" and "total flyer."
- Sai'vion Jones (DL, LSU): Mostly a redshirt year. He was a gameday inactive for most of the season, but he’s expected to jump into the rotation in 2026 now that John Franklin-Myers is hitting free agency.
- Que Robinson (EDGE, Alabama): The special teams ace. He logged five pressures in just six games. He’s got that "tweener" body, but the burst is real.
- Jeremy Crawshaw (P, Florida): You don't usually cheer for a punter, but Crawshaw was a legit weapon. Averaging 47.6 yards per punt kept Denver in games when the offense stalled.
- Caleb Lohner (TE, Utah): The basketball-to-football convert. He spent the year on the practice squad. It’s the ultimate Sean Payton project—trying to find the next Jimmy Graham in a guy who spent four years at BYU and Baylor grabbing rebounds instead of touchdowns.
What Most People Got Wrong
The biggest misconception during the 2025 draft cycle was that Denver had to find a superstar to replace Courtland Sutton or a 1,500-yard rusher. People wanted flashy.
The front office wanted stability.
They looked at Bo Nix’s rookie stats—29 touchdowns and 12 picks—and realized they didn't need to reinvent the wheel. They needed a punter who didn't shank kicks. They needed a running back who could catch a check-down. They needed a corner who could play three different positions.
The 2025 class wasn't about winning the headlines. It was about filling the "boring" holes that keep a team from sliding back into a 5-win season.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
Now that the 2025 rookies have a full year under their belts, the path forward for Denver is pretty clear. If you're following the roster build, watch these three areas:
- Watch the "Year 2 Jump" for Pat Bryant: With Sutton’s contract situation always in the news, Bryant needs to prove he can be a volume target, not just a blocker.
- The DL Rotation: Sai'vion Jones is the x-factor. If he can't transition from an LSU edge to an NFL interior rusher, the Broncos will be forced to spend big in free agency.
- The Feature Back Transition: RJ Harvey has the talent to be a 250-touch guy. The team needs to decide if they trust his vision enough to let him carry the load solo in 2026.
The 2025 draft proved that "team needs" on paper rarely match the "vision" in the war room. It wasn't the draft we expected, but for a team that made the playoffs and secured the No. 1 seed, it's hard to argue with the results.