The Denver Broncos didn’t make any major trades during the 2025 NFL Draft, but the picks they made garnered a lot of intrigue around the NFL. In particular, the Broncos’ selections in the second and third rounds drew a strong reaction from the Jacksonville Jaguars front office.
In an article from Michael Silver of The Athletic, the Jaguars’ front office had a strong reaction to the Broncos’ second-round pick of running back RJ Harvey.
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New Jaguars head coach Liam Coen wanted Harvey a lot and wanted to trade up to get him. Instead, the Broncos took the UCF running back with the 60th pick after a trade-down in the second round.
In the Jaguars’ draft room, NFL Hall of Famer Tony Boselli, now the Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Jaguars, asked who took Harvey. When he was told it was the Broncos, Boselli commented “(expletive).”
Boselli said it with a smile, according to Silver, but the feeling from the front office and head coach of the Jaguars was one of frustration. Harvey was highly ranked on their draft board, and the collective front office was frustrated that they missed out on him.
UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Utah Utes at FBC Mortgage Stadium.Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Transparency of this level from a front office, especially a new one, is rare in professional sports. Rarely does a front office share their desire for a player they didn’t get, but the Jaguars front office shared their interest in Harvey clearly.
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Another draft pick from Denver also sparked debate in the Jaguars’ draft room, as the Broncos’ third-round pick, Pat Bryant, was on the Jaguars’ draft board. Though new general manager James Gladstone would’ve taken him later, the Jacksonville native was someone the Jaguars were also strongly considering.
Sean Payton and the Broncos brought Harvey in to be their new lead back, and complement Audric Estime and the other backs on the roster. Their pick drew a lot of praise around the NFL, and even jealousy from another front office.
Harvey was highly coveted around the NFL. Denver landed one of the best running backs in the class, causing the Jaguars’ front office to react strongly to one of their top players coming off the board.
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