The Denver Broncos have been dominant on defense and special teams to start the year. Vance Joseph’s work on the defensive side of the ball has been nothing short of miraculous and one of the most impressive developments across the entire league.

The major issues they have had surround the offense which has been inconsistent to say the least. But that’s not a surprise given a rookie quarterback and a lot of other young players learning Head Coach Sean Payton’s complex system. Even with their issues, I do have a good feeling about where things will head on that side of the ball.

Nearing the halfway point in the season, it’s clear that surrounding quarterback Bo Nix with more talent should be a major priority for the team in the 2025 NFL Draft. For a little pre-Halloween fun, I thought I’d do a short mock draft with the Broncos’ top three picks to end the month.

Hart’s 2025 Denver Broncos Top Three Round Mock Draft

First Round Section, #21 — Emeka Egbuka, WR — Ohio State

The Broncos have three young receivers earning playing time with Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Devaughn Vele. I think all three can play focal roles in the team’s offense as their career progresses, but it’s certainly not a bad idea to add more talent to the position. Getting Nix a highly talented receiver should merit heavy consideration in the first round.

There are a few different prospects the Broncos could go at receiver, but I think Ohio State standout Emeka Egbuka has the ability to earn high-volume reps and be a primary target on Payton’s offense. I feel he would be a fantastic choice for the Broncos picking in the middle portion of the first round and provided immediate impact value.

At 6’1 and 205 pounds, he sports a surprisingly long wingspan and savvy hands that bode well for his endeavors as a receiver. On top of that, he has world class speed with reports of running a 4.3 40-yard dash. We all know speed can’t be taught and his athleticism would definitely bolster the Broncos’ corps potential in that regard. He’s also a precise route runner that excels after the catch and with routes over the middle of the field.

Egbuka broke out in his sophomore campaign with the Buckeyes by reeling in 1,151 yards on 74 catches with 10 touchdowns. He was in store for another impact season in 2023, but a severe ankle sprain suffered in Week 6 derailed his efforts and limited him to just 10 games. In just six games in his senior campaign, Egbuka has already surpassed last season’s totals and has been one of college football’s best performers at the position.

Keep in mind longtime veteran Courtland Sutton carries a $20 million salary cap charge next year. At that hefty price tag, I wouldn’t say it’s a certainty the franchise keeps him around in 2025. Some may prefer chasing a veteran in free agency, but I think rolling the dice in the draft to deepen the position makes the most sense. That’s why I went Egbuka here.

(P.S., I also had serious thoughts about Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty who I’ve wrote about several times. Taking a running back in round one is a luxury, but if there was a prospect certainly worth of it, Jeanty would be it.

Second Round Section, #52 — Gunnar Helm, Tight End — Texas

In earlier segments of Future Broncos, we had discussed several tight end prospects and the franchise’s need to upgrade the talent pool there. If there was any position on the offense that has disappointed the most in ‘24, Denver’s tight end unit would be it. Quite frankly, their production has been one of the worst in the National Football League.

It’s an area the Broncos must draft for the long-term and overall, I feel pretty good about the 2025 class of tight ends. One player who has been making his way up draft boards due to stellar performance recently is Texas Longhorns product Gunnar Helm.

At 6’5 and 250 pounds, Helm has great size for the tight end position. After spending the last three seasons as a reserve player who was primarily used as a blocker, he has become one of Quinn Ewers favorite targets and has reeled in 27 catches for 373 yards and two touchdowns this season. That’s more production than his first three seasons combined.

I’ve seen him line up all over and be effective in various situations. Inline, in the slot, flexed out wide—his utilization in the Longhorns’ offense has been impressive. I believe his plus ability as a blocker alongside emerging receiving skills should make him catapult up draft boards. In fact, I’m not even sure he will be here on the board come April if he keeps tearing it up.

With the selection of Helm and Egbuka, Nix will now have to more extremely talented prospects to get the ball to. That would really help out Denver’s future prospects on that side of the ball.

Third Round Section, #83 — Earnest Greene III, Offensive Tackle — Georgia

A big part of me wanted to add a running back here and give the Broncos a trifecta offensively at skill positions, but I’m going another route here. Let’s add a long-term building block on the offensive line. One guy I’m starting to focus on is Georgia Bulldog left tackle Earnest Green III.

He is only a redshirt sophomore, but being a top recruit playing at an SEC school obviously has him on the preliminary scouting lists for all teams. This is a school that has put out a lot of first round tackles over the past few years and I expect Greene to hear his name called as a Top 100 pick if he would declare this season.

At 6’4 and 320 pounds, he passes the physique test and has really good arm length and play strength. Additionally, his versatility to play both guard and tackle is a plus. However, he is a little rough around his edges due to his youth and needs a lot of work with technique and leverage. The good thing is the deficiencies can be coached up and the Broncos have a great young offensive line coach in Zach Strief.

Truth be told, I was impressed with Alex Palczewski’s reps in place of Mike McGlinchey. Moreover, I think Garett Bolles has played pretty well this year. But will the Broncos bust open the piggy bank to give him another lucrative extension? Only time will tell, but I certainly have no issues with Denver adding a really talented tackle into the mix. Keeping the offensive line a strength is an absolute must. That’s why I went Greene here.

What do you think, Broncos Country? Feel free to give your early mock in the comments sections and let me know how you feel about mine.