While most NFL draft analysts toss around buzzwords like “explosive,” “generational,” or “dynamic playmaker,” real football people know that winning teams are built in the margins—not just in the first 10 picks. What separates playoff teams from contenders isn’t always talent; it’s identity. It’s effort. It’s attitude. And above all, it’s culture.

Look around the league. The rosters that outperform expectations aren’t always the ones that spend the most in free agency or pick highest in the draft. They’re the ones with a clear vision. The ones who stack role players with purpose. Teams that understand the scheme they run, the personnel it requires, and the mindset that sustains a locker room through a seventeen-game grind.

That’s what Denver needs right now—not flashy additions or media darlings. We need positionless defenders who can disguise looks and execute in space. We need offensive players who understand leverage, tempo, and how to block without being asked. This year’s draft isn’t about chasing ceilings. It’s about raising the floor. We’re looking for foundational pieces—players who make others around them better by how they execute, communicate, and compete.

Guys like Nick Bonitto were overlooked, but earned his place through relentless motor and consistency. Jaleel McLaughlin ran angry in preseason and never let go of his shot. These weren’t “big-name guys”—they were studs who were bought into the system and made their presence known. That’s what we need more of.

We’re not looking to out-draft the media’s big board. We’re building a roster that fits Sean Payton’s system and reflects the type of football we want to play: fast, physical, and smart. This is about getting guys who make other players better just by how they work, prepare and talents*—players who just got the stuff, as my dad used to say.

Since 2017, Denver’s draft results have been a mixed bag—highlighted by moments of brilliance and haunted by a pattern of chasing potential over production. The highs? Patrick Surtain II—a lockdown corner who plays with veteran steez and carries himself like a ten-year vet. He’s everything you want from a first-round pick: polished, physical, and plug-and-play. 

The DraftDay lows? They’re more frequent than we’d like to admit.

Garett Bolles came in raw and penalty-prone. It took years of development and the arrival of Mike Munchak to steady the ship. That’s not a knock on Bolles—it’s a knock on expecting a guy to develop into something before he’s ready. Noah Fant? Bradley Chubb (Injuries played a part—but again, the projection outweighed the production. And don’t get me started on the previous Quarterback selections..

The common denominator in these misses isn’t bad luck—it’s a flawed philosophy. Drafting guys for what they could be instead of what they already are. Denver doesn’t need another project. If we’re going to build something sustainable, the approach has to shift. Rounds 2–4 should be where we dominate. That’s where depth is built. That’s where culture takes hold. That’s where you find the guys who may not have Tavon Austin caliber highlight reels, but make sure the film room never lies.

If the Broncos are going to pull off this rebuild and stumble into contender mode, it won’t be because of flashy one-position guys—it’ll be because we found hybrids, multipliers, and PURE ATHLETIC Football Minds. Guys who do the little things right and the big things loud. Versatile, smart, instinctive ballers who don’t need a perfect scheme to make an impact. They just need cleats and The Big Lights.

We’re talking about chess pieces. The types who erase matchup problems, change how offenses prepare, and force defenses to communicate better. Think of what Jabrill Peppers (Malaki Starks), or what Kyle Juszczyk, Elgton Jenkins (Josh Conerly Jr), and even Travis Kelce bring to the table now. They’re not stuck to one box on the depth chart. They expand it.

Sean Payton has always valued linemen who can play multiple spots, especially when injuries hit. Athletic freaks at TE/WR who could develop into Red Zone Packages or mismatches. This is about drafting guys who expand what you can do on Sundays—players who win in multiple ways, who allow your coordinators to mask weaknesses, and who allow for creativity to exploit a playcallers audibles and create depth in areas like explosiveness and pure ability.

To walk away from the 2025 Draft with this type of crew, we have to get even better in the trenches, smarter on defense, and add more pure athleticism/moldability across the board. 

So Jeanty & Hampton Hampton at 20? Right?

Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton are legit ball carriers—compact, explosive, and productive. Jeanty put up over 1,300 yards and 14 TDs last season. Hampton had 1,500+ yards and showed out in the run game and in the air. They’re both Sunday backs, no doubt.

But here’s the truth: that’s not the move at 20.

This team isn’t just trying to score more points on the ground—we’re trying to protect Bo Nix, develop mismatches, and control the line of scrimmage. The future in Denver lives or dies by how we protect the quarterback and dictate tempo in the trenches.

The point here is simple: a rookie running back, while important, is rarely the “secret sauce” that turns a good team into a Super Bowl contender. Even the few times it has happened—Isiah Pacheco with Mahomes and Reid, Joseph Addai with Peyton and Wayne, Jamal Lewis and one of the greatest defenses of all time—those backs were a piece of the puzzle, not the engine. These backs didn’t need to carry the load—they simply needed to do their job.

Jeanty and Hampton could absolutely be impact players. But impact isn’t enough—we need infrastructure. Running backs don’t build that. Tackles (Tristen Wirfs), Guards (Quinn Meinerz) and Athletes (T. Hill, Kelce, Edelman, do. Drafting for flash is how teams stay in rebuild mode. Drafting for function? That’s how contenders are built. 

Even draft analysts are seeing it the same way. Dane Brugler recently wrote, “Denver needs infrastructure before they need skill. A running back like Jeanty or Hampton could shine in that offense, but at pick 20, it’s a luxury—not a need.”

If we want Jeanty or Hampton, fine—let the board fall and take the value in Round 2 or 3. But at pick 20, the strategy is clear: protect Bo. Build smart. Win ugly if you have to. Don’t forget, Mims can have a Deebo Samuel style package and we’ll probably carry an extra TE to give E. Engram some favorable routes. 

So at 20 we need to find our version of Kingsley Suamataia.

That’s Kelvin Banks Jr. out of The University of Texas (Hook ‘em)

At 6’5″, 315 lbs, Banks offers the positional flexibility that aligns with the Broncos’ needs. His athleticism and ability to adapt to different positions on the line make him a suitable candidate if the Broncos choose to stay at pick #20.​

If Banks is off the board, I’d consider a trade-down scenario to select Grey Zabel in the late first or early second round could be a strategic move. This approach would allow the team to acquire additional assets to protect Bo, with a versatile lineman who fits their offensive scheme and guarantees heavy pound the rock packages, as we know Peyton will use. 

With that being said my Mock draft would be:

Pick #20 OT Kelvin Banks Jr. – Texas (or) Josh Conerly Jr. – Oregon

(Grey Zabel if we Trade back past #26)

Pick #51S/OLB Malaki Starks – Georgia 

• Alex Singleton/Isiah Simmons style MLB/Safety who hits, covers and brings the heat. 

Pick #85 EDGE/7-Tech Ashton Gillotte – Louisville

(If Trade-Back provides a 3/4th Rounder: Savion Williams, a wide receiver from TCU)

Pick #122 DT McKinnley Jackson – Texas A&M

Pick #197 DB/Safety CB Cam Hart – Notre Dame

Pick #208 IOL Christian Mahogany – Boston College

This draft isn’t about chasing hype—it’s about stacking dudes who really know ball. Players who play fast, think faster, and don’t need a highlight reel to prove they belong. We’re not trying to win the offseason—we’re trying to win on Sundays. Every one of these picks brings something real to the table: toughness, versatility, and that football IQ you can’t coach. These are glue guys, multipliers, tone-setters. 

And look—if we go with a guy like Jeanty or Hampton? Great. We know what that caliber of running style can bring. That Javonte Williams-type edge where every carry is violent, decisive, and capable of flipping the field. They can spark the moment you need it most.

But maybe we go another route. Maybe we lean into depth and versatility—guys who can do a little bit of everything, line up all over the place, and keep defenses guessing. That opens up personal creativity in the scheme. That’s how you build like the Chiefs. Like the Patriots of the 2000s. Positionless football. Smart football. Winning football.