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[Denver Broncos]

South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori is a wild card option for the Broncos in the first round of the draft

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Safety Nick Emmanwori is reportedly a wild card option for the Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

One prospect who was recently called a wild card option for the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. He is a 6’3”, 220-pound safety who is viewed as the top safety in the draft and one of the top defensive players overall. 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 number one safety in the draft.

Emmanwori played a total of three seasons at South Carolina and was among the best players on the team during his time there. During his three seasons, he appeared in 37 games and started in 36 of those games, and totaled 244 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 17 pass deflections, and 6 interceptions. This past year, he started in all 13 games and totaled 88 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 6 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions.

Nick Emmanwori is not your ordinary safety pic.twitter.com/lvI42ZtQj5

— PFF (@PFF) April 3, 2025​

Player Profile​

Nick Emmanwori | Safety | South Carolina​

• Height: 6’3”
• Weight 220 pounds
• Hands: 9 1⁄4 inches
• Arm Length: 32 7/8 inches
• Wingspan: 78 5/8 inches
• Age: 21 years old
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.38 seconds
• 10-Yard Split: 1.53 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 38 inches
• Broad Jump: 11’6”
• Bench Press: 20 reps

Film Room​

Scouting Report​

• Elite size/speed/athleticism athlete
• Elite testing numbers at the combine
• Sideline to sideline player with great range
• Reliable wrap-up tackler who can handle one-on-one tackle attempts
• Physical player who isn’t afraid of contact
• Good run defender
• Thrives in zone coverage and showcases elite instincts and ball skills to come up with big plays
• Thrived near the LOS as well as in coverage in the secondary
• Fluid athlete who can mirror tight ends and running backs in coverage
• Playmaker with the ball in his hands (two pick 6’s in 2024 with another called back due to a penalty)
• Gives you versatility and a player who can play multiple positions
• Team Captain

Weaknesses​

• Over-aggressive at times with his pursuit angles
• Can get a bit too physical and handsy in coverage
• Has been flagged for unnecessary roughness penalties in the past
• May not have the fluidity and coverage ability to go one-on-one with wide receivers

Nick Emmanwori’s RAS​

Nick Emmanwori is a SS prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 10.00 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1 out of 1086 SS from 1987 to 2025.

Pro day pending for remaining tests, reposting due to a bug in the ranking.https://t.co/yHeVMADBkp pic.twitter.com/I5Py6egqgZ

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 12, 2025​

What other analysts are saying about South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori​

The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, on safety Nick Emmanwori​

A three-year starter at South Carolina, Emmanwori was listed as a free safety on the depth chart in defensive coordinator Clayton White’s flex-nickel scheme, but he lined up primarily in the box with some slot and deep snaps. Because of injuries on the Gamecocks’ roster, he was thrust into the starting lineup as a true freshman and became the program’s first defender since Jadeveon Clowney to earn freshman All-American honors. After leading the team in tackles in 2022, he did it again as a junior and was one of only three FBS players with multiple pick-sixes in 2024.

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.

NFL Network’s lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah on safety Nick Emmanwori​

Emmanwori is a massive safety prospect with ideal instincts and ball skills. He fits best as a strong safety, big nickel or sub linebacker. He can consistently undercut routes and take the ball away in those roles. He trusts his eyes and drives on the ball. He had multiple pick-sixes in the games I studied. He does have a little tightness that shows up in man coverage, but he has enough speed to recover. When he’s aligned in the deep half, he’s not as effective. He doesn’t see/react as well at that depth. Against the run, he is aggressive to fill, and he’s a strong tackler on the front side. He will have some run-by misses when chasing from the backside. Overall, Emmanwori will be a difference-maker provided the team that drafts him deploys him close to the action.

Final Thoughts​

The Broncos do not have an immediate need at safety with Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga signed, but the talent will be hard to pass up.

Emmanwori is an excellent size/speed/athleticism prospect who also is a pretty damn good football player. He has the ability to line up all over the field and can hold his own as a run defender. He is a safety who moves like a cornerback but plays like a linebacker. He has the potential to be a fun chess piece for whoever drafts him.

For the Broncos, he would have to be a hybrid safety/linebacker/big nickel with Jones and Hufanga as the safeties. He has the size, athleticism, and ability to do that, but it would be a risky way to use your first-round safety draft choice. Vance Joseph had Isaiah Simmons with the Cardinals, who was a similar type of prospect, and they tried to use him in that way, but it did not work out. In Vance’s defense, Simmons did not play well when he went elsewhere either, so you can’t put all the blame on him there.

If drafted by the Broncos, I would be intrigued by how they plan to use him. The Broncos' defense on paper already looks strong, and adding a chess piece like this could only make them even more dangerous on defense. The Broncos have to face Brock Bowers, Travis Kelce, and potentially an early-round tight end if the Chargers go that route six times a year. Having a player on defense who can consistently man-up with them and hopefully, limit them in the passing game would be ideal.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025...-profile-south-carolina-safety-nick-emmanwori

 

[Denver Broncos]

Future Broncos: South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders

Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

If the Denver Broncos want to add to their defensive trenches, South Carolina defensive lineman T.J. Sanders is a prospect they should consider on Day 2.

The Denver Broncos had a breakout year on defense in 2024. A large part of that was due to much improved play by their defensive line. The added talent via trade and free agency proved to be a formidable force for opposing offensive lines to combat on a weekly basis. On top of that, a well-deserved tip of the cap is in order to Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph and his position coaches who did a fantastic job with their adjustments last season.

The defensive line will continue to be a strength as the franchise heads toward their 2025 campaign. They are scheduled to bring back all of their core players on the unit from last season. However, Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, and Malcolm Roach are all scheduled to hit free agency at year’s end. It’s unlikely they will be able to keep all three of those players for the future. That’s why I believe it’s paramount they add to the group with one of their top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

South Carolina standout T.J. Sanders is a prospect that should definitely be on their radar. Sanders was a focus of mine late in the college football season for a Future Broncos segment. He had an incredible redshirt junior season for the Gamecocks and amassed 50 tackles, 7 of them for loss, and 4 sacks on the year. His ‘24 performance earned him First-Team All-SEC honors and recognition as the conference’s Interior Defender of the Year.

When you play high quality football in the nation’s best conference, general managers and scouts are going to have significant interest in your talent and abilities. I have no doubt that is the case with Sanders. Let’s take a deeper look at his strengths and weaknesses, and why and when the Broncos should consider adding him to their defensive line rotation in this year’s draft.

Player Profile: T.J. Sanders — Defensive Tackle — South Carolina​

Height: 6’4” | Weight: 304 pounds | Arm Length: 33-1/8” | Hand Size: 10-1/4”

40-yard dash: 4.95 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.7 seconds | Shuttle: 4.67 seconds | Vertical: 31.5”

Statistics at South Carolina: 39 games [two-year starter], 109 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks.

Film Room & Highlights​

Hart’s Scouting Report​

Positives:

• Boasts impressive size, long arms, and good athleticism
• Heavy-handed defender that packs a punch and sports great strength at the point of attack and
• Alignment versatile capable of playing inside and out in Vance Joseph’s defense
• Productive player who was extremely disruptive on twists and stunts
• Quality interior pressure generator that utilizes a handful of pass rush moves and was credited with 60 pressures over the last two seasons
• Had highlight performances against top-tier SEC programs [Oklahoma (‘24) Missouri (‘24), Georgia (‘23)] that produce a lot of offensive line talent
• Still only 21 years old with his best football ahead of him

Negatives:

• Inconsistent pad level and technique can cause issues with leverage at the point of attack and bring about some issues maintaining his ground in run defense
• Needs to keep moving his feet on initial contact which will help him be more consistent converting speed to power
• Can be overwhelmed by double teams
• Impact waned late in games and could be a byproduct of conditioning issues—though interestingly enough—he has added on fifteen pounds from his ‘24 playing weight through the NFL Combine to his Pro Day

Hart’s Projection: Top 50 Selection | Middle Second Round Value

T.J. Sanders is a DT prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.38 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 127 out of 2022 DT from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/YNvdlmkaeN pic.twitter.com/ZR6U1oXPj7

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 1, 2025

Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Sanders​

In order to succeed in the National Football League, generating pressure on defense is an absolute must. This year’s draft has a lot of depth and talent on the defensive line. That’s a good thing for the Broncos who would be wise to invest in the position long-term with a high-profile collegiate talent.

Sanders is one of the most disruptive interior rushers in this year's class. He has positional and alignment versatility and would be a good spell player for Franklin-Myers at the 4i technique. Not only that, but he can kick down further inside on pure passing downs and subpackages. It never hurts to add more pressure players to your defensive front. It’s a recipe for success that certainly helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl this past season.

The length-to-impact for rookie defensive lineman can vary greatly with most players hitting their stride a season or two into their careers after. Given some aforementioned concerns, that will likely be the case for the Gamecocks standout. However, his pass rush talent and overall skillset will give him the ability to make an impact as a role player in his rookie campaign—with the hope he can ascend to a starting level of snaps in his second season.

If the Broncos don’t address the defensive line in the first round, Sanders is certainly a prospect that would be near the top of my draft wish list in the second round. He has garnered a lot of interest on the pre-draft circuit and has met with nearly a third of teams for Top 30 visits. He isn’t yet the sum of all his parts, but I believe he will eventually become a force to be reckoned with after a few years in the NFL.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025...e-south-carolina-defensive-tackle-t-j-sanders

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos Reacts Survey: Would you prefer a trade up or trade back scenario for Denver?

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

If the Denver Broncos were to make a trade in the first round, which would you prefer? That is the focus of this weeks’ survey.

We’re just over a week away from the 2025 NFL Draft. It feels a week early this year, but all the better for me! For this weeks’ SB Nation Reacts survey, I’m on the ‘what if’ scenarios. If the Denver Broncos decide to trade in the first round — which do you prefer they do? Vote in our survey here and I’ll back Friday or Saturday with the results.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Denver Broncos fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025/4/15/24409129/trade-up-or-trade-back-scenario-denver-broncos

 

[Denver Broncos]

Report: Broncos had a top-30 pre-draft visit with Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Hairston is a potential first round pick and ran a blistering 4.28 40-time at the Combine.

According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos hosted potential first-round pick, Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston, for a top-30 pre-draft visit. He is viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft and could be a dark horse option for the Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Per source, #Broncos had exciting Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston in Monday on a 30 visit.
Had fastest 40 time at Combine (4.28).
5 INTs with 2 pick sixes in 2023; another pick six last year. #9sports

— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) April 15, 2025​

First, a reminder or refresher on what exactly a top 30 visit is. Each NFL team, in the days and weeks before the start of the NFL Draft, is allowed to invite up to 30 different prospects to come in for a job interview. From there, they will work them out, show them the facility, meet with coaches, and essentially have a job interview. It is just another step in the long scouting process leading up to the NFL Draft.

Hairston is a 6’0, 183-pound cornerback out of Kentucky who grades out as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. At the Combine, Hairston ran a 4.28 40-time, had a 39 1⁄2 inch vertical jump, and a 10’9” broad jump. He played a total of three seasons at Kentucky and was an impact shutdown cornerback for them. During his three seasons, he totaled 89 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 6 interceptions, and 16 pass deflections.

The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, has Hairston graded as his 35th overall player in the 2025 NFL Draft and ranks him as the 4th best cornerback in the draft.

A two-year starter at Kentucky, Hairston was the field cornerback in defensive coordinator Brad White’s scheme with a balanced mix of man and zone. He put himself on the NFL radar with an SEC-best five interceptions in 2023 and tied the school record with three career pick-sixes. A fluid mover with A-plus speed, Hairston moves fairly effortlessly in all areas of the field. He plays to his help in man-to-man coverage while also showing conviction and awareness in Cover 3. He is a natural at making plays at the catch point, but he’s also more scrappy than strong, which will show against physical NFL receivers and in run support.

Overall, Hairston is a competitive, lanky athlete who feels routes developing around him and plays with the reactionary movements and ball skills to fit a variety of coverages. If he makes the necessary improvements as a tackler, he has the talent to become a capable NFL starter early in his career.

This is an interesting one since cornerback has not been viewed as a big need for the Broncos. They have Pat Surtain II as the Defensive Player of the Year, and corners Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian all played solidly last year. So, showing some interest in a highly ranked cornerback is interesting. Now, a top-30 visit doesn’t automatically mean they’re in love with the prospect, but it is still interesting nonetheless.

We did see Riley Moss struggle at the end of last season, especially in the game vs. the Bengals. It was his first game back after injury, and Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins picked on him all game. Before this, he played well, but those struggles could have the Broncos looking at other options in the draft. The AFC is loaded with explosive offenses with some of the best quarterbacks and playmakers in the league. You cannot have enough good corners on your roster to help slow them down.

Hairston is a potential first-round pick or, at the latest, a very early day two selection, and someone the Broncos could target as early as their 20th overall selection. I personally, would be surprised if the Broncos went cornerback early in the draft, but we’ll see if this pre-draft visit means something or not.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025...sit-with-kentucky-cornerback-maxwell-hairston

 

[Denver Broncos]

Report: Broncos are hosting Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson for a pre-draft top-30 visit

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

The Broncos are having a pre-draft visit with one of the more explosive backs in the draft.

According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos are hosting Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson for a top-30 pre-draft visit. Today is the last day teams can host players before the draft, and they’re meeting with a player who has been widely connected to them recently.

Broncos are visiting with Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson today. Many mocksters believe he’s ideal fit for Payton’s system as he’s both a rush/receiver threat. Two 1,000+yd rush/27 catch seasons at Ohio State. Henderson visited Steelers yesterday, pick one slot after Broncos.

— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) April 16, 2025​

First, a reminder or refresher on what exactly a top 30 visit is. Each NFL team in the days and weeks before the start of the NFL Draft is allowed to invite up to 30 different prospects to come in for what amounts to a job interview. From there, they will work them out, show them the facility, meet with coaches, and essentially have a job interview. It is just another step in the long scouting process leading up to the NFL Draft.

Henderson played four seasons at Ohio State and was very productive during his time with the Buckeyes. During his four seasons, he totaled 590 carries for 3,761 yards, 42 rushing touchdowns, and averaged 6.4 yards per carry while also having 77 career receptions for 853 yards and an additional 6 receiving touchdowns. This past year, Henderson had 144 carries for 1,016 yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, and 7.1 yards per carry, while catching 27 balls for 284 yards and 1 touchdown.

The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, has Henderson graded out as his 46th overall player in the 2025 NFL Draft and ranks him as his 4th-best running back in the draft.

A four-year starter at Ohio State, Henderson shared running back duties in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s diverse run game (gap/zone, pin-pulls, counters, etc.). After setting Ohio State records as a freshman, he battled injuries the next two seasons, then willingly split carries as a senior. That shift hurt his overall stats but kept him fresh (7.1 yards per carry in 2024). Nonetheless, he still finished top five in school history in rushing yards and No. 3 in total touchdowns (48).

Although his inside vision can get a little messy at times, and he isn’t the most graceful working through tight spaces, Henderson can bounce laterally and smash the accelerator to sprint through voids or convert his speed to power as a finisher. As a blocker, he delivers thunderbolts into his target. As a pass catcher, he secures grabs away from his frame and has dynamic ability on option routes. Overall, Henderson isn’t a proven bellcow between the tackles, but his bursts of speed make him a home-run threat and coaches can trust him to execute without the football. His versatile skill set will be an immediate upgrade to an NFL backfield.

Henderson is viewed as a potential ‘Joker’ in Sean Payton’s offense. He is an explosive back with pass-catching upside and has the ability to hit a home run whenever he has the ball in his hands. Payton’s offenses have always been at their best when they have a player who can do this for him.

Another trait that Henderson has that will stand out to Payton and the Broncos is his pass blocking. He is arguably the best pass-blocking back in the draft, and it is rare to see a back come out of college this polished at it. Typically, this is a skill coaches must teach players who they think can do it. Henderson is a plug-and-play third-down pass blocker, an area Payton values. We saw Javonte Williams, despite his ineffective play, consistently come in on third downs as a pass-blocker. If Henderson can be an impactful playmaker AND a reliable pass blocker, that would be huge for the Broncos' offense.

While it may seem like a “reach” if you look at the media draft boards, Henderson seems like a legit candidate for the Broncos with their 20th overall pick. Ideally, they may want to trade down and still get him, but if he’s their guy, take him at 20. He’s an excellent fit for Payton’s offense and would give the Broncos an explosive element to their running game that they have been lacking for a long time.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025...eveyon-henderson-for-a-pre-draft-top-30-visit

 

[Denver Broncos]

Analytics for interior offensive linemen?

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

In the absence of performance stats, can you use athleticism and RAS (and tape) to evaluate IOL guys?

Similar to my last article which focused on offensive tackles, this one will look at IOL players. There were 352 guys for whom I was able to find an athleticism score and an All-time RAS. All them ran with the centers or the guards at the combine. Also similar to OTs, many of the top guys did not get RAS values recently because they decided to skip parts of the combine. Athleticism is on a 50-100 scale; RAS is 0-10.

As with any stat there are guys near the bottom left (bad zone) in the graph above who had good NFL careers and there are guys in the top right who were busts. Rodney Hudson was a three time Pro Bowl selection after being taken in the second round by the Chiefs. He made second team All-Pro in 2019 with the Raiders.

Maurkice Pouncey will be in the Hall of Fame soon. He was 9x Pro Bowl and 2x All-Pro. He made the Pro-Bowl in every season he played more than one game. Travis Frederick was a 5x Pro-Bowler and 1x All-Pro in his short career. However these are the exceptions most of the guys in the zoomed in view were bad or below average.

Focusing on the upper right quadrant (the elite IOL athletes by both metrics) you find some well known names from the Pro Bowl and All-Pro lists for IOL.

There are two Bronco draftees on this zoomed in view (both in red) - Connor McGovern and Quinn Meinerz. Zion Johnson is called out in green since he played at my alma mater, Davidson College before he transferred to BC. There are even some very good guys on this view who I failed to call out, both of whom were drafted by Sean Payton, Carl Nicks and Erik McCoy (both near the Y axis). Mitch Morse, Joel Bitonio and Elgton Jenkins has also had very nice careers each making the Pro Bowl at least once, with Bitonio making multiple first team All-Pro teams. Will Montgomery played briefly with the Broncos.

It’s crazy to think that the Chiefs for both Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith (upper left in the chart above) in the same draft.

Current Bronco Luke Wattenberg had a really high RAS, but a middling athleticism score of 73. His Athleticism score is the second lowest of any of the IOL guys with a RAS above 9.49. Only Drew Dalman got a lower score (68). Dalman has been the starting center for the Falcons for the last three seasons.

There are plenty of other names up there that were long-term starters with many making the Pro Bowl including: Brandon Scherff, Ryan Kalil, Richie Incognito, (the other) Connor McGovern, Garett Bradbury, and more. It’s almost easier to pick out the guys who weren’t NFL long-term starters or rookies last season. Ben Cleveland has only started 7 games for the Ravens in four seasons after the massive (360 lb) human was taken in the 3rd round in 2021. Ricky Stromberg was a 3rd round pick in 2023 and has never started a game (so far). Jarvis Harrison never appeared in an NFL game after being a 5th round pick of the Jets in 2015. Ben Sobieski appeared in one NFL game. Braeden Daniels was a 4th round pick of the Commanders in 2023. He has yet to make an NFL roster. The rest of the guys on the list below were either rookies in 2024 or became multi-year starters in the NFL. There are 50 on the list (IOL guys with all-time RAS of 9.50 or better).

Player	Athleticism	All-Time RAS
Graham Barton	99.00	10.00
Evan Mathis	99.00	9.99
Creed Humphrey	82.00	9.97
Mason McCormick	91.00	9.96
David Baas	95.00	9.95
Eric Steinbach	96.00	9.94
Cole Strange	93.00	9.94
Chris Chester	91.00	9.94
Quinn Meinerz	92.00	9.92
Will Montgomery	91.00	9.92
Jarrett Kingston	95.00	9.92
Ali Marpet	94.00	9.91
Garrett Bradbury	89.00	9.90
Trey Smith	81.00	9.90
Drew Dalman	68.00	9.89
Scott Young	93.00	9.89
Frank Ragnow	89.00	9.87
Joe Thuney	89.00	9.87
C.J. Hanson	75.00	9.84
Kyle Long	92.00	9.82
Beaux Limmer	79.00	9.79
Chris Lindstrom	84.00	9.79
Tanor Bortolini	98.00	9.77
Dylan McMahon	83.00	9.76
Anthony Bradford	82.00	9.76
Connor McGovern	84.00	9.74
Connor McGovern	81.00	9.74
Brandon Scherff	89.00	9.74
Alijah Vera-Tucker	80.00	9.73
Zion Johnson	87.00	9.71
Sidy Sow	85.00	9.69
Jacob Monk	86.00	9.68
Dawson Deaton	84.00	9.66
J.R. Sweezy	87.00	9.66
Christian Mahogany	89.00	9.64
Quenton Nelson	81.00	9.63
Joel Bitonio	83.00	9.61
Luke Wattenberg	73.00	9.60
Tyler Smith	85.00	9.60
Ben Cleveland	80.00	9.59
Ryan Kelly	86.00	9.57
Hugh Thornton	87.00	9.57
Ricky Stromberg	76.00	9.55
J.C. Tretter	83.00	9.55
Louis Vasquez	77.00	9.54
Mitch Morse	81.00	9.52
Jarvis Harrison	84.00	9.52
Ben Sobieski	87.00	9.52
Braeden Daniels	86.00	9.51
Connor Williams	77.00	9.50

Zooming way in on the elite of the elite (below) we find the Belly along with some other guys whose names are familiar to me, but might not be be to you. Evan Matthis was briefly a Bronco (and helped the Broncos win SB 50). Ali Marpet and Kyle Long were both high draft picks, who had short but good NFL careers. Kyle is the son of HoFer, Howie. He made the Pro Bowl three times. Marpet only made the Pro Bowl in his seventh and final NFL season. Graham Barton, Mason McCormick, Tanor Bartolini and Jarrett Kingston were all rookies last season. Barton and McCormick were full-time starters.

Scott Young is really the only guy who never made it in the NFL as a starter. He never started a single game in the NFL. Montgomery was a 7th round pick who worked himself into a starting center, finishing his career with 75 starts.

So the odds of getting a starter in this region are really good, but 15 out of 337 means that there are very few IOL guys who are this athletic (both both metrics).

The Future of the Broncos IOL​

The Denver Broncos have Ben Powers with large cap hit for next season and for 2026 (17.4 and 18.4MM) and Meinerz with a large cap hit in 2026 (20.2MM). QM has a relatively low cap number for 2025. LW is in the final year of his rookie deal and Alex Forsyth is in under contract through 2026. Both are really cheap since they were both day three picks. Does it make sense for the Broncos to draft IOL in this draft? The Broncos have Frank Crum (who could move to guard), Nick Gargiulo (who played some guard in college) and Will Sherman (who is probably better suiter to play guard than tackle) as backups for the IOL along with journeyman Calvin Throckmorton.

All three of the IOL from UGA are highly athletic and in this draft. The only other obscenely athletic IOL guy in this draft (according to DRAFTIQ) is Caleb Rogers, a guard, from Texas Tech. RAS shows that there are more uber athletic guys in this draft. See below

With seven guys in the upper right, there could be one who will be available on day three. Connor Colby has a draft grade of 46 according to ESPN. Jackson Slater has a draft grade of 69. Tate Ratledge has a draft grade of 70. Jared Wilson and Drew Kendall are the first and third ranked centers, Eli Cox is the 7th (or 8) ranked centers. He could be a steal on day three if he has any clue how to play center or guard. Cox made second team All-SEC in 2023 and 3rd team All-SEC in 2024. He started 47 games at both center and guard while at Kentucky and faced some of the best defensive lineman in college football while there. Lance Zeirlein has this to say about him:

Overview

Sixth-year senior and two-time team captain with average size but positional flexibility. Cox plays with measured steps to track his block in space and does a nice job of running his feet through contact as a helper. He strains through the block but has trouble keeping a heads-up nose tackle from playing past him or shedding him off his base. Cox’s shorter arms and inconsistent instincts against rush games will make it difficult for him to keep his A-gaps protected and will be concerning for offensive line coaches.

Strengths

• Flexibility to play guard or center.
• Gets into his action with inside hands and strong grip.
• Runs feet through contact to stay connected with his block.
• Gathers into second-level blocks, unlocking hips into strikes.
• Throws punch with good posture and weight distribution.
• Hand placement and anchor are adequate to face bull rush.

Weaknesses

• Leans into blocks, allowing workaround opportunities for the defense.
• Inconsistent readiness and timing with his hands.
• Has trouble keeping stronger challengers in front of him.
• Wide base limits slide quickness to mirror edge attacks.
• Lacks length to forcibly redirect rushers off their track.

Cox sounds like good day three draft and develop guy who could benefit from working with Zach Streif. Cox’ 4.58 short shuttle is good but not all-time great. Jason Kelce’s 4.14 was the best ever for IOL, with Evan Mathis 4.16 a close second. Current 49er, Jake Brendal’s 4.27 was also elite. Tanor Batrolini’s 4.28 last year was the best of the 2024 IOL guys. Other IOL guys who showed elite change of direction and quickness were Ryan Kalil, Nick Mangold, Robert Gallery, Will Montgomery and Joseph Noteboom.

Adding the 3C and SS times and looking at the lowest ever, you find that future Hall of Famer, Kelce’s 11.36 is the best ever with Bartolini’s 11.44 a close second and Mathis’ 11.53 in third place. Many of the elite IOL guys skipped the agility drills, but the best of those that did this at the 2025 combine was Caleb Rogers’ 11.92. Followed by Drew Kendall’s 12.07 and Eli Cox’ 12.21.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025/4/17/24409690/nfl-draft-analytics-interior-offensive-line

 

[Denver Broncos]

Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston is a competitive and athletic corner who could be a surprise first round pick for the Broncos

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

The talented and speedy cornerback could be a dark horse pick for the Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft

One prospect the Denver Broncos are showing interest in and hosted for a top-30 pre-draft visit with is Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston. He is a 6’0”. 183-pound cornerback who is viewed as one of the top secondary players in the draft. The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, has Hairston graded as his 35th overall player in the 2025 NFL Draft and ranked him as the 4th best corner in this draft class.

He played a total of three seasons at Kentucky and was an impact shutdown cornerback for them. During his three seasons, he totaled 89 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 6 interceptions, and 16 pass deflections. This past year, he played in a total of 7 games and totaled 19 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 5 pass deflections, and 1 interception.

Maxwell Hairston might be the most natural mover among CBs. He can be too aggressive at times, but the hip fluidity is special pic.twitter.com/ASZpYHTipJ

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 10, 2025​

Player Profile​

Maxwell Hairston | Cornerback | Kentucky​

• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 183 pounds
• Hands: 8 3⁄4 inches
• Arm Length: 31 1⁄2 inches
• Wingspan: 76 5/8 inches
• Age: 21 years old
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.28 seconds
• 10-Yard Split: 1.53 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 39 1⁄2 inches
• Broad Jump: 10’9”

Film Room​

Scouting Report​

Strengths​

• Fluid athlete with elite athleticism and speed (4.28 40-time at the Combine)
• Good size and length for a cornerback
• Competitive player who will speak is mind is a bit of an asshole out there
• top-notch ball-skills
• Has a nose for the ball and made impact plays throughout his career
• Changes direction easily and has quick, nimble feet
• Despite being a smaller corner, he is physical at the LOS
• Played a lot of zone in college, but has the ability to play man as well
• Good read and react skills
• Ballhawking corner, who is dangerous with the ball in his hands
• A willing run defender despite his size

Weaknesses​

• Lighter corner with a slender frame
• He’s a physical corner but may struggle against bigger and stronger WR’s in the NFL
• While a willing run defender, his size could limit his effectiveness
• Can be overaggressive at times
• Needs to be a better wrap-up tackler
• Missed time last season due to a shoulder injury
• Never really played in the slot

Maxwell Hairston’s RAS​

Maxwell Hairston is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.63 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 104 out of 2752 CB from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/CIMadkdT5Y pic.twitter.com/vUkhJuyAPA

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 3, 2025​

What other analysts are saying about Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston ​

The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, on CB Maxwell Hairston​

A two-year starter at Kentucky, Hairston was the field cornerback in defensive coordinator Brad White’s scheme with a balanced mix of man and zone. He put himself on the NFL radar with an SEC-best five interceptions in 2023 and tied the school record with three career pick-sixes. A fluid mover with A-plus speed, Hairston moves fairly effortlessly in all areas of the field. He plays to his help in man-to-man coverage while also showing conviction and awareness in Cover 3. He is a natural at making plays at the catch point, but he’s also more scrappy than strong, which will show against physical NFL receivers and in run support.

Overall, Hairston is a competitive, lanky athlete who feels routes developing around him and plays with the reactionary movements and ball skills to fit a variety of coverages. If he makes the necessary improvements as a tackler, he has the talent to become a capable NFL starter early in his career.

NFL Network’s lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah on CB Maxwell Hairston​

Hairston is a lean, athletic cornerback with ideal play speed and fluidity. In press coverage, he incorporates a one-hand jam before turning and carrying vertical routes. He has plenty of burst/speed. In off coverage, he likes to settle and catch receivers at the break point. He’ll need to play cleaner with his hands down the field at the next level. In Kentucky’s defense, he rolled back to play in the middle of the field versus certain formations/motions, but he was late to diagnose and react from that alignment. He’s willing in run support and is a dynamic blitzer. He was limited to seven games this past season due to a shoulder injury, which impacted his tackling. He had a very productive 2023 season (five interceptions) but wasn’t targeted much in the games I studied from this past year. Overall, Hairston offers an enticing blend of movement skills and production.

Final Thoughts​

I like Hairston as a prospect, but I don’t really view cornerback as a big need for the Broncos.

Obviously, reigning Defensive Player of the Year CB Pat Surtain II leads this group, but both Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian played well last season. Moss did struggle coming off his injury, but overall, he played well last season. Meanwhile, McMillian is an affordable slot corner who has held his own the past few seasons. Then you have 2024 Kris Abrams-Draine, who really impressed while playing for the injured Riley Moss late in the year. So, the Broncos have a solid group of young corners already.

With that said, the AFC is loaded with explosive offenses and some of the best quarterbacks and playmakers in the league. You need all the talented defensive players you can get to try to slow down these offenses.

I expect the Broncos to add a late-round corner or maybe a priority undrafted free agent, but spending a first or second-round pick on one would be a surprise. Hairston projects as a late 1st round to early second-round pick, so we’ll have to see how much the Broncos like him.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025...-profile-kentucky-cornerback-maxwell-hairston

 

[Denver Broncos]

Report: RB’s Henderson, Sampson, Etienne, Allen, and Skattebo are on the Broncos radar

Photo by CFP/Getty Images

A report indicates that a total of five backs, including TreVeyon Henderson and Cam Skattebo are on the Broncos radar.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, five running back prospects are on the Broncos' radar. Those backs are Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, Georgia’s Trevor Etienne, Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen, and Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo.

ESPN's @Jeff_Legwold says RBs TreVeyon Henderson, Dylan Sampson, Trevor Etienne, LeQuint Allen and Cam Skattebo are on the #Broncos radar pic.twitter.com/NmMx09Ut4V

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) April 18, 2025​

Legwold states that the Broncos had staff members spend additional time on the field at the Combine with Sampson and Etienne. He also says that Skattebo has named the Broncos as one of the teams he has spent time with in recent weeks.

The Broncos have spent time with a number of top backs throughout the draft process, so it remains to be seen if they are indeed targeting just these five backs. With that said, all five backs do make a lot of sense for the Broncos.

Henderson, who appears to be a legitimate candidate for the Broncos in the first round, is one of the best pass blockers in the draft and would give them an explosive and dynamic player in their backfield. He checks a lot of boxes for Payton, and I would not be surprised if they end up drafting him in the first round.

Sampson is another electric back who would fit into Payton’s offense. He’s a smaller back, but he is a physical back who’s elusive and has the speed to break off long runs consistently while also bringing upside in the passing game. He is a day two option for the Broncos and is another back I could see them drafting.

Georgia’s Trevor Etienne is the brother of Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. and is a mid-to-late-round option for the Broncos. He’s another smaller running back, but he makes sense for them due to his pass-catching skills. We all know Payton loves using his backs in the passing game, and that is where he figures to thrive in the NFL.

As I stated in his profile, Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen is one of my favorite late-round backs for the Broncos. He is an excellent pass-blocker and arguably the best receiving back in this draft. He isn’t an electric athlete, but is sure-handed and runs routes like a receiver. If drafted by the Broncos, I believe he has the potential to have 50+ catches for them in his rookie season.

The last back Legwold named is Arizona State’s physical runner, Cam Skattebo. I have questions about whether or not his play style will translate in the NFL, but he feels like a Sean Payton-type of player. Payton is an old-school coach who probably loves the way he plays, his makeup, and what he can bring to the team. On top of that, he is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, making him a fit for the Broncos. If he were drafted to pair with TreVeyon Henderson, I definitely could get behind those two leading the Broncos' backfield moving forward.

Again, it remains to be seen if more backs are on the Broncos' radar than the ones listed here, but these five all make sense for them in the draft. Payton and Paton told reporters yesterday at their pre-draft press conference that running back will be the focus of the draft, so I would not be surprised if they came away with two talented backs from this draft. Could it be two of the five Legwold named?

It’s possible.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025...e-allen-and-skattebo-are-on-the-broncos-radar

 

[Denver Broncos]

Can you guess this Broncos tight end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Broncos player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Broncos fans! We’re back for another day of the Mile High Report in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Mile High Report in-5 game​

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games​

Friday, April 18, 2025
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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Behind the Mile High Report in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Broncos player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/2025/4/19/24411847/sb-nation-broncos-daily-trivia-in-5