After seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, North Carolina Central’s Joaquin Davis did not hear his name called. However, the explosive HBCU wide receiver was generating significant interest as an undrafted free agent and in the end, signed with the Denver Broncos.

North Carolina Central WR Joaquin Davis, who went undrafted, tells me that he is signing with the Broncos. The 6-4 Davis, who garnered significant interest after running a 4.4 40 at the HBCU Combine, is also a standout special teams player. pic.twitter.com/4cEzdhNxXl

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) April 26, 2025

Davis is a small school prospect but has set some significant goals for himself moving forward. He wants to follow in the footsteps of NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who also came from an HBCU college and went on to become the greatest of all time (GOAT) and win multiple Super Bowls.

“There hasn’t been a receiver to come out of an HBCU in a while and really stick in the league. That’s always something that’s in the back of my mind, too. I want to be known as one of the greatest. Jerry Rice came from an HBCU, and he’s one of the greatest receivers ever. Seeing him being able to do it, I know I can too.”

Now, he joins a Broncos wide receiver room that doesn’t currently have many, if any, roster spots available, but will still have a chance to impress coaches. He will likely be competing with wide receivers A.T. Perry, Courtney Jackson, Michael Bandy, Kyrese White, and others for a spot on the Broncos’ 16-man practice squad.

Player Profile
Joaquin Davis | Wide Receiver | Broncos

Height: 6-4

Weight: 195 pounds

Age: 22 years old

Experience: Rookie

40-Yard Dash: 4.36 seconds

10-Yard Split: 1.51 seconds

Vertical Jump: 42 inches

Bench Press: 10 reps

Broad Jump: 10’4”

Arm Length: 32.8 inches

Broncos WR Joaquin Davis’s 2025 Outlook

Realistically, he seems like a likely lock for a spot on the Broncos’ practice squad. He is 6’4″, runs in the 4.3s, has a 42-inch vertical, and just profiles as an athletic freak. It’ll be difficult to let someone with these traits leave the building. Of course, Davis has to do his part throughout the offseason practices, training camp, and the preseason to prove he belongs and earn his spot on the Broncos’ practice squad.

Despite these traits, he only had pedestrian stats while at North Carolina Central. His career high in catches is 36, while his career high in yards is just 490 yards. He had 12 total touchdowns throughout three seasons with North Carolina Central, but overall, he is lacking the numbers you would expect from someone with the traits he has. With that said, the quarterback play and just everything else likely weren’t great, so it’s hard to take too much from these numbers.

One area of his game that may help him earn a spot on the practice squad is his ability on special teams. You would think as a returner due to his traits, but he was a contributor as a gunner during college, and we all know how Payton values that skill set with his players.

North Carolina Central’s Head Coach Trei Oliver highlighted Davis’s strengths when he told reporters: “He practices hard and plays special teams, and he is physical. He doesn’t shy away from contact.”. If he can do that with the Broncos, he could have a bright future with the team.

Final Thoughts

It’s hard not to be intrigued by his size, speed, and athleticism. There are not many 6-4 wide receivers who can jump 42 inches and run in the 4.3s. You can’t teach those sorts of traits, and you want players like that in your building to see if you can develop them.

If you add in his special-teams ability, I think he has a pretty good shot at being on the Broncos’ practice squad. Again, he’ll have to do his part during training camp and the preseason, but I am intrigued to see what the Broncos have in Davis.