2025 NFL Draft: Broncos winners and losers from the draft

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books after a wild three days that saw the Broncos add a number of new rookies to their roster. They started off the first round with a surprise by selecting Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. Then, on day two, they added two playmakers, RJ Harvey and Pat Bryant, while also adding developmental defensive end Sai’vion Jones. On day three, they added developmental edge rusher Que Robinson, punter Jeremy Crawshaw, and then developmental tight end Caleb Lohmer.

It is not the draft many expected, but it was a classic Sean Payton draft. With these new rookies added to the roster, it’s time to see which Broncos players came out as winners and losers from the draft weekend.

WINNER: RB RJ Harvey

Second-round pick RJ Harvey is a winner because he lands in a backfield where he will have immediate playing time and play for an offensive mastermind in Sean Payton. Clearly, Payton has a vision for him (named-dropped Darren Sproles), and Harvey lands in an offense with a promising young quarterback, a talented offensive line, and a creative head coach.

This had to be the best case scenario for RJ Harvey.

His current competition is Audric Estime, a running back who was a healthy scratch in the playoffs, an undersized Jaleel McLaughlin, and then practice-squad players in Tyler Badie and Blake Watson. Harvey will see immediate playing time and have no real competition for his job (as of now).

RJ Harvey’s stock is going up, and hopefully, we see him produce like he did for UCF last season.

WINNER: Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph

This has been a hell of an offseason for the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator. They signed linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga in free agency to improve the two weaknesses they had on defense. After those additions, the Broncos' defense looked like one of the top units in the league on paper, but they didn’t stop there. They went out and shocked everyone and added cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round of the draft to improve their already talented secondary.

Barron is a talented, physical, and instinctive corner who can play all over the secondary but will likely play primarily the slot position. He’s a talented player who should upgrade a secondary that struggled a bit late in the season.

The Broncos did not stop there. They would select defensive end Sai’vion Jones and edge rusher Que Robinson in the third and fourth rounds. Both players are developmental players who have athletic traits and untapped potential. If they can reach their ceiling, the Broncos added two damn good players here.

An already talented Broncos defense that led the NFL in sacks last season and has the Defensive Player of the Year on its roster somehow got a lot better this weekend.

LOSER: CB Ja’Quan McMillian

With Jahdae Barron being added to the secondary, someone, unfortunately, will be losing their job. In this case, it appears that Ja’Quan McMillian will be the one losing his starting job to Barron.

McMillian, a former undrafted free agent, has started the past season and a half in the slot for the Broncos, but we saw him struggle at times last season. Despite that, I assumed he played well enough to keep his job, but maybe get challenged by Kris Abrams-Draine during the summer.

That all goes out the window now with Barron added.

McMillian is now the CB4 on the Broncos roster despite being good enough to be a starter in this league. I would not be surprised if we see McMillian traded at some point between now and the start of the season.

WINNER: RB Audric Estime (for now)

Things looked bleak for Estime heading into the offseason. He struggled when given a chance to start late in the season and then was a healthy scratch in the wildcard loss to the Buffalo Bills. I anticipated the Broncos adding two backs in the draft to completely revamp their room, but that did not happen.

Sure, they added RJ Harvey, but he is not a threat to the role Estime can play in this offense. He is a big and powerful between-the-tackles runner who specializes in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson are not pushing him for that role.

Currently, Estime looks set to share the backfield with RJ Harvey and have a significant role on offense. That can change if the Broncos go out and sign a JK Dobbins, Nick Chubb, or swing a trade for another back. For now, though, Estime is leaving the draft a winner.

LOSER: P Matt Haack

Matt Haack’s roster spot is in grave danger.

Not only did the Broncos add punting competition during the weekend, which was expected, but they spent a sixth-round pick on a punter who they believed was the “best punter in the draft”.

Uh oh.

When you’re a journeyman punter and the team goes out and drafts a punter to be your competition, it’s pretty much game over for you. Barring Cranshaw being a total bust, Haack, who hasn’t been a full-time punter since 2022, has little to no shot of winning that competition and may not be long for this roster.

WINNER: Alex Singleton and Drew Sanders

If the Broncos drafted a linebacker anywhere in the first four or so rounds of the draft, one or both of these players would have been on the losers' list. Singleton is a 31-year-old linebacker coming off an ACL injury, and Drew Sanders has been an unproductive former third-round selection who has yet to prove himself in the NFL.

After seven rounds and an ongoing undrafted free agency period, the Broncos have only added one undrafted free agent linebacker to the mix. This is good news for both players as the Broncos seem content moving forward with this current group of linebackers.

Other Notable Winners and Losers

WINNER - Center Luke Wattenberg: He is in the final year of his rookie deal and could be viewed as the weak link of the offensive line, but the draft came and went without any offensive line additions. It appears he will be the unquestioned starter at the center position as we enter the offseason workout portion of the offseason.

TBD - Every WR besides Sutton and Mims: Sutton is your WR1, and Mims will have his touches, but outside of that, everything else is a bit up in the air. You have Vele and Franklin looking to have second-year jumps, but now, you have third-round pick Pat Bryant added to the mix and getting Michael Thomas comparisons. How the wide receiver room shakes out will be one of the more interesting storylines of the offseason.

LOSER - IDL Eyioma Uwazurike: He was suspended for the entirety of the 2023 season and only played in 4 games last season. Now, the Broncos traded up to add Sai’vion Jones, another defensive lineman with great size, length, and upside to the room. Unless he has a breakout summer, he is likely on the outside looking in when it comes to his spot on the roster.

Potential Loser - RB Jaleel McLaughlin: How does Jaleel McLaughlin fit into the running back mix after the RJ Harvey selection? His role in the starting offense as the speedy ‘Joker’ back has been replaced by RJ Harvey. Estime remains as the powerful short-yardage back, and the undersized McLaughlin will not challenge for that role. On top of that, he doesn’t add much as a pass blocker or receiver, and due to his size, doesn’t offer much on special teams outside of returning either. So, where does he fit in? That’s something I’ll be watching throughout the offseason and into training camp. Things get murky for him if the Broncos do indeed sign a veteran back.