We are just one day away from the start of the 2025 NFL Draft, and things are starting to heat up. Today, we see multiple insiders, including ESPN’s Peter Schrager, publish their final mocks, or in Schrager’s case, his only mock before the draft. He is well-connected and, historically, has been one of the more accurate mock drafters in the industry.
Who does he have the Denver Broncos selecting in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft?
While many are expecting a running back, Schrager has the Broncos adding another playmaker. In his final mock draft, he has the Denver Broncos selecting Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Bar none, Egbuka is the most universally well-liked prospect in this draft. He is smart, reliable and sure-handed. He could be a 10-year captain somewhere and is most often compared to fellow Buckeyes legend Terry McLaurin.
Coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton hit a home run with Bo Nix a year ago. This could be another no-brainer.
Egbuka is a talented wide receiver who profiles as a crafty and reliable slot receiver in the NFL with good hands, a great route runner, and with plus athleticism. Another trait that he has that will stand out to the Broncos and Sean Payton is his run-blocking. He helped the Ohio State running backs break off multiple long runs due to his second and third-level blocking. We all know how Payton values run blocking from his receivers, and Egbuka is among the best in the draft at this.
Throughout the offseason, Payton has mentioned how he would like to improve the “triangle” on offense with running back, tight end, and slot receiver. They added tight end Evan Engram to be the ‘Joker’, in this scenario, would add Egbuka to be the slot, and will likely add the running back on day two in the draft. This should help make life easier for second-year quarterback Bo Nix.
The Broncos also need a wide receiver. Veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton is in the final year of his deal and nearing 30 years old. Marvin Mims Jr. flashed his playmaking ability last season but needs to develop his route tree a bit more. After that, you have speedster Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele looking to have big second-year jumps. Adding a player like Egbuka, who is a plug-and-play starter in the slot, makes this unit immediately better, deeper, and more prepared for the future than they were before the draft.
We’ll see what the Broncos do tomorrow night but if Schrager’s scenario plays out, I would not be upset with it.