There was a clear focus for the Denver Broncos heading into the offseason, and they’ve executed it perfectly. With a rookie quarterback, they were a surprise playoff team that shocked everyone last season. But the defense — led by Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II — did the heavy lifting.
As a result, Sean Payton prioritized the offense, and free agency has revolved around that. Adding Evan Engram gave Payton the possible Joker he was looking for. However, according to one analyst, the offense could take on an even more diverse look courtesy of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Denver Broncos Predicted To Alleviate Pressure Off Bo Nix
The Denver Broncos had a mediocre offense that ranked 16th on PFSN’s Offense+ metric. Some issues were due to growing pains with a rookie QB, but some were personnel-related. Fixing that issue led the team to target Evan Engram in free agency.
The tight end projects to be a do-it-all piece on offense and should give Payton a ton of creativity. But the ground game in Denver remains a question mark. No player tallied more than 513 rushing yards on one of the league’s worst teams.
The latest mock draft from PFSN aims to fix that by adding Omarion Hampton to the Broncos’ lineup with the 20th overall pick. Reese Decker explained the decision by raving about the North Carolina standout.
“The two-time first-team All-ACC selection and CSN ACC Running Back of the Year boasts elite change-of-direction skills, lightning-quick burst, breakaway speed, powerful leg drive, patience, and exceptional vision.”
In his final two years as a starter, Hampton exploded for back-to-back 1,500-plus yard seasons and 15 touchdowns each year. He also became a solid receiving threat, posting 222 and 373 receiving yards in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Along with his elite red zone production — 40 total touchdowns in college — he’d be a clear boost to Denver’s offense. “Pairing Omarion Hampton with an offensive skill group that includes Evan Engram and Courtland Sutton creates layers of complexity to an already difficult offense to scheme against.”
The league’s top-ranked defense, according to PFSN’s Defense+ metric, didn’t need much tweaking. But an elite offseason haul that included proven game-changers like Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw definitely gave them another level.
Now, all eyes are on the offense. To help Bo Nix take a leap in Year 2, easing his load with an elite running back might be the Broncos’ best move.