Connect with us

Denver, CO

Denver Broncos NFL Draft 2025 guide: Picks, predictions and key needs

Published

on

Denver Broncos NFL Draft 2025 guide: Picks, predictions and key needs


The Denver Broncos have the 20th pick in the NFL Draft when Round 1 begins April 24 in Green Bay. The Broncos own seven total picks in the seven-round draft.

Broncos’ draft picks

Round Pick Overall Notes

1

20

20

Advertisement

2

19

51

3

21

Advertisement

85

4

20

122

6

Advertisement

15

191

From Cardinals

6

21

Advertisement

197

6

32

208

From Eagles

Advertisement

Full draft order

Every pick in the seven-round NFL Draft.

NFL Draft details

• Round 1: April 24, 8 p.m. ET
• Rounds 2-3: April 25, 7 p.m. ET
• Rounds 4-7: April 26, noon ET

All rounds will be televised on ESPN/ABC and NFL Network and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

About the Broncos

• General manager: George Paton (fifth season with team)
• Head coach: Sean Payton (third season)
• Last year’s record: 10-7

The Broncos in 2024 defied gloomy preseason expectations by reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2015. They did it behind promising rookie Bo Nix, the sixth quarterback taken in last year’s draft, and a young defense that led the NFL in sacks and featured the defensive player of the year in cornerback Pat Surtain II. Denver added to that promising foundation during free agency with three key signings at positions of need — linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and tight end Evan Engram —  and believes it is ready to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs’ stranglehold on the AFC West.

Advertisement

Scouting the decision-makers

Sean Payton has the final say on personnel decisions, but he and general manager George Paton have found a collaborative rhythm in the draft. They were aligned in their pursuit of Nix last season and filled in a draft class behind him that significantly impacted Denver’s playoff season in 2024. Entering their third draft together, it’s the most continuity the Broncos have had between GM and coach since John Elway and John Fox worked together through four straight drafts (2011 to 2014).

• The Broncos’ 2024 NFL Draft class

Broncos’ key free-agent signings

• TE Evan Engram: Two-year, $23 million deal
• LB Dre Greenlaw: Three-year, $35 million deal
• S Talanoa Hufanga: Three-year, $45 million deal
• DT D.J. Jones: Three-year, $39 million deal
• OT Matt Peart: Two-year, $7 million deal

• Broncos’ 2025 free agency tracker

Broncos’ key positions of need

Running back: The Broncos let their leading rusher of the past two seasons, Javonte Williams, walk in free agency and didn’t sign a veteran replacement. None of Denver’s four remaining running backs has ever rushed for 500 yards in a season. The Broncos are clearly in search of an impact player at the position in the draft.

Advertisement

Tight end: Even after signing Engram to a two-year deal, the Broncos could use more pass-catching depth at tight end. They may not be in range to select the draft’s top two targets at the position, Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, but this is a deep class of receiving tight ends. Two to keep an eye on with connections to the Broncos: Gunnar Helm of Texas, who played his high school football outside of Denver; and Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson, who caught passes from Nix in college.

Defensive line: The Broncos have long-term decisions to make with Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers. Those two starting ends, plus defensive tackle Malcolm Roach, are all entering the final seasons of their respective contracts in 2025. The Broncos need more young talent up front.

Broncos’ draft analysis

Denver Broncos 2025 NFL Draft big board: Will Sean Payton find more targets for Bo Nix?

Numbers explain Sean Payton’s emphasis on receiving in Broncos’ RB search

Broncos mailbag: The next step for Bo Nix, NFL Draft targets, ‘Hard Knocks’ chances

Advertisement

Broncos roster reset: Is UNC’s Omarion Hampton the RB solution? Extensions on DL?

Broncos 2025 NFL Draft big board: 10 players who fit Sean Payton’s roster ‘musts’

2025 NFL Draft consensus Big Board: Abdul Carter holds at No. 1; Armand Membou rises

The Athletic’s latest mock drafts

March 24: Ben Standig’s mock draft
Another case for picking UNC’s Omarion Hampton

March 21: Beat writer mock draft 2.0
Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart would continue Denver’s defensive infusion

Advertisement

March 10: Nick Baumgardner rounds 1-3 mock draft
More weapons added for Bo Nix

March 7: Broncos mock draft 2.0
A trade back adds picks and help at defensive tackle

March 5: Dane Brugler mock draft
Hampton would offer another “Joker” option

(Photo of North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton: Grant Halverson / Getty Images)



Source link

Advertisement

Denver, CO

What drivers will face traveling into mountains near Denver on I-70 amid Floyd Hill bridge building

Published

on

What drivers will face traveling into mountains near Denver on I-70 amid Floyd Hill bridge building


Drivers heading west from metro Denver into the mountains on Interstate 70 on Monday and Tuesday face overnight closures, and 20-minute stops through Thursday at the base of Floyd Hill, the latest traffic disruptions for bridge building as part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s $800 million reconstruction of I-70 through Clear Creek Canyon.

The nighttime closures this week, scheduled from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., are planned around the I-70/U.S. 6 interchange at exit 244 and include on- and off-ramps.

Drivers also should expect to wait at 20-minute stops multiple times per day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on I-70 starting Monday, and continuing through Thursday, according to a CDOT notice.

But officials said there would be no planned traffic disruptions during the holidays from Dec. 20 to Jan. 5.

Advertisement

CDOT contractors will be blasting rock in the canyon above eastbound and westbound I-70 between the Veterans Memorial Tunnels and the Homestead Road interchange near Idaho Springs. And drivers may face intermittent traffic stops along the Central City Parkway, County Road 314, U.S. 6, and U.S. 40, CDOT officials said.

CDOT contractors are building a temporary framework to support their upcoming construction of a concrete bridge on I-70. When it’s done, the bridge will carry westbound drivers through a new route that CDOT officials say will be safer and improve traffic flows through the canyon, which long has loomed as a bottleneck.

The rebuilt highway, with an added westbound express toll lane, eventually will carry drivers through a widened canyon on viaducts 115 feet above Clear Creek. This safer route, designed to improve visibility for drivers, is expected to allow speeds of 55 miles per hour in areas now marked 45 mph.

Depending on the weather this week, disruptive construction work may shift to Wednesday and Thursday, CDOT officials said.

The I-70 Floyd Hill Project involves about eight miles of I-70 in the mountainous area between Evergreen and the eastern edge of Idaho Springs. CDOT officials have promised that, as part of the project, they’ll improve the Clear Creek Greenway trail and ensure safer routes for wildlife.

Advertisement

Construction began in July 2023. The project is expected to conclude in 2029.

Drivers learn more by calling CDOT at 720-994-2368 or by texting floydhill to 21000 and signing up for text alerts. CDOT officials also said information about weather, road conditions, and travel impacts is available at COtrip.org.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Where do Packers stand in NFC playoff picture after loss in Denver?

Published

on

Where do Packers stand in NFC playoff picture after loss in Denver?


The Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) dropped from first to second in the NFC North and from the second seed to the seventh seed in the NFC after losing to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Significant injuries suffered against the Broncos will mean lasting implications are felt past Sunday. The Packers are also now a long shot to catch the Los Angeles Rams for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and it’ll take a win next Saturday night in Chicago to retake control in the NFC North.

But the Packers are still in a good spot in terms of making the postseason field, especially after the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys all lost on Sunday.

NFC playoff picture after Week 15

  1. Los Angeles Rams (11-3, 6-3 vs. NFC)
  2. Chicago Bears (10-4, 6-3 vs. NFC)
  3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5, 7-3 vs. NFC)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, 5-5 vs. NFC)
  5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3, 6-3 vs. NFC)
  6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4, 8-2 vs. NFC)
  7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1, 7-2-1 vs. NFC)

Others: Lions (8-6), Panthers (7-7), Cowboys (6-7-1)

According to The Athletic’s NFL playoff simulator, the Packers have a 92 percent chance of making the postseason with three weeks to go. They become all but guaranteed of a playoff spot if they can beat the Bears in Chicago in Week 16. In fact, just one win over the final three weeks could be enough for the Packers to get in.

Advertisement

The NFC North winner looks like a coinflip. The Athletic’s model gives the Packers a 48 percent chance of winning the division right now, and it would go up to 82 percent with a win over the Bears on Saturday. Chicago took down the Cleveland Browns with ease in bitter cold temps at Soldier Field on Sunday.

The Athletic’s model also gives the Packers a 98 percent chance of being the No. 2 seed if Matt LaFleur’s team can win out. That will be much easier said than done without Micah Parsons (and potentially Christian Watson) down the stretch.

Two very possibilities for the Packers: Win the NFC North and host the Bears in the NFC Wild Card Round, or get in as the No. 7 seed and go to Chicago to play the Bears in the NFC Wild Card Round. A third round of the rivalry is increasingly possible in January.

Packers remaining games

Nothing easy here. The Bears, Ravens and Vikings all won Sunday. The Bears and Ravens won comfortably; the Vikings upset the Cowboys — who desperately needed to win — in Dallas. The Bears and Ravens are both playing to win division titles. The Vikings are a dangerously talented spoiler team, and winning at U.S. Bank Stadium is never easy. The Athletic’s model gives the Packers roughly a 40 percent chance of making the postseason even with an 0-3 finish. The Lions are the biggest threat to pass the Packers in the event they finish 0-3.

It appears the Packers can clinch a playoff spot next week with a win over the Bears and a Steelers win over the Lions.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Packers vs. Broncos Week 15 Game Discussion Thread

Published

on

Packers vs. Broncos Week 15 Game Discussion Thread


It’s time for the AFC’s #1 team to meet the NFC’s #2. Today the Denver Broncos host the Green Bay Packers in a key late-season inter-conference matchup that could have playoff seeding implications for both teams.

In Denver, the Broncos will be trying to hold on to the top spot in the AFC and keep their impressive win streak rolling. Denver has won ten straight games, some of them in fairly ridiculous fashion, but they sit at 11-2, sharing the top record in the NFL with the New England Patriots, who are just behind them in the playoff picture based on conference record.

The Packers, meanwhile, want to hold on to the lead in the NFC North before they have their rematch with the Chicago Bears next Saturday night. Green Bay sits behind only the Los Angeles Rams in the playoff race in the NFC, and they want to return to the Central time zone with that lead intact.

Join us here at Acme Packing Company to discuss today’s game, and Go Pack Go!

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending