Broncos 2025 NFL Draft class: RJ Harvey leads rookies making waves late in the season

Not many expected the Denver Broncos to be the top seed in the AFC as the season winds down, yet here they are. An elite defense, smart complementary football, and the growing contributions of their rookie class have put them in this position. As the team enters the final stretch, it’s a chance to see how the rookies are making their mark and set the tone for the postseason.

2025 NFL Draft class: Broncos rookies making an impact

Round 1 Pick 20: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Denver made Jahdae Barron the first defensive back off the board, and the reasoning was simple. High football IQ. Real versatility. Barron lined up at corner, nickel, and safety at Texas, and the Broncos have leaned fully into that skill set. He has already been used all over the field this season, from free safety looks to edge alignments, functioning as a true chess piece in Vance Joseph’s defense.

Ball production was another major factor in the selection. Barron led the SEC with five interceptions in his final season at Texas and finished as PFF’s highest-graded cornerback in college football with a 90.9 grade. That part of his game is still coming along at the NFL level. He has one interception so far and has allowed a 63 percent completion rate when targeted. That said, he has been extremely effective matching up with tight ends, consistently limiting their impact in coverage.

As the Broncos move into the postseason, Barron’s snap count should continue to climb. His ability to neutralize athletic tight ends could be a real advantage against playoff opponents. Looking ahead to next season, expect Denver to expand his role even further. Barron is clearly being developed as a long-term flex defender, and his value will only increase as he becomes more comfortable at the pro level.

Round 2, Pick 60: RJ Harvey, RB, UCF

The most impactful rookie on Denver’s roster this season has been running back RJ Harvey, the Broncos’ second-round pick out of UCF. His role has steadily expanded, and it showed this past week when he posted his first 100-yard all-purpose performance of the season. Harvey carried the ball a career-high 17 times for 75 yards and added a personal-best six receptions for 25 yards. After the game, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi summed it up clearly: “I feel like he’s just going to continue to grow, and we’re really excited about where he’s going.”

I was skeptical of the pick at the time. I had a much lower grade on Harvey coming out of UCF and felt Denver reached when they took him in the second round. To his credit, he’s starting to validate the selection by flashing the same quickness that made him productive in college. On just 91 rushing attempts this season, he has already ripped off three runs of 15 yards or more, showing real burst once he gets into space.

Where Harvey has surprised the most is in the passing game. Over his final two college seasons, he totaled just 39 receptions. As a rookie, he already has 37 catches, hauling in 90 percent of the targets thrown his way. That reliability has made him a trusted outlet for Bo Nix and a consistent piece of the Broncos’ short passing game. His improvement in pass protection has been just as notable. After earning a 19.1 pass-blocking grade at UCF, Harvey has jumped to a 75.2 grade in Denver, turning a former weakness into a legitimate strength.

Round 3, Pick 74: Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois

Another rookie trending in the right direction is wide receiver Pat Bryant, who has started to emerge late in the regular season. After opening the year with just 10 receptions over Denver’s first 10 games, Bryant has picked up steam, hauling in 12 catches over his last three contests as his role in the offense has expanded.

Bryant will not be available this week against the Packers due to a hamstring injury, which is an unfortunate setback given his recent momentum. When he has been on the field, though, he has shown a knack for making difficult catches. According to PFF, he has secured 73 percent of the targets thrown his way in tight coverage. That ability to come through in critical moments mirrors what he showed at Illinois, where he was the only player in the country to record three game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes or overtime during the 2024 regular season.

Once Bryant returns from the hamstring injury, expect him to remain a factor in Denver’s passing game. His late-season surge suggests this is more than a short-term flash, and heading into next year he could take another step forward. A season in the range of 40 to 45 receptions is well within reach if his role continues to grow.

Round 3, Pick 101: Sai’vion Jones, DE, LSU

This is the one pick that is starting to look like a miss. Denver may have reached on LSU defensive end Sai’vion Jones, who is playing much closer to the sixth-round grade I had on him than the third-round investment the Broncos made. Through his rookie season, Jones has yet to record a tackle and has been active for just two games, failing to carve out any kind of role in the defensive rotation.

At this point, the margin for error is gone. Jones will need a significant offseason jump just to stay in the conversation, and even then nothing is guaranteed. If he does not show clear progress in camp next fall, he could be fighting for a roster spot or out of Denver entirely before the season begins.

Round 4, Pick 134: Que Robinson, OLB, Alabama

Like Sai’vion Jones, Que Robinson has not made much of an impact as a rookie. He has spent most of the season buried on the depth chart and has been active for only five games. From a surface-level view, the production just is not there yet.

That said, Robinson’s situation is different. When he has been on the field, he has flashed real upside. On just 65 pass-rush snaps, he has generated seven pressures and recorded 2.5 tackles for loss.That kind of production stands out, especially for a guy who was never expected to step in and produce right away.

The expectations for Robinson were always about patience. Denver drafted him for traits including impressive flexibility around the edge, not instant results. Look for him to play a much bigger role on Denver’s defense next season.

Round 6, Pick 216: Jeremy Crawshaw, P, Florida

Jeremy Crawshaw was the only punter selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Denver looks smart for being the team that pulled the trigger. The former Florida standout has been excellent as a rookie, consistently flipping the field and forcing opponents to start drives deep in their own territory. He has dropped 25 punts inside the 20-yard line this season, the second-best total in the NFL.

Crawshaw has been a quiet but significant factor in Denver’s defensive success. With opponents regularly backed up, the Broncos defense has benefited from longer fields and tougher situations, helping hold teams to just 18.1 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the league. For a sixth-round pick, Crawshaw has delivered immediate and great value.

Round 7, Pick 241: Caleb Lohner, TE, Utah

Caleb Lohner was Denver’s final pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and while he has not factored into the active roster, he is a name worth tracking on the practice squad. What makes Lohner intriguing is how little football he has actually played. He did not play the sport in high school and logged just 57 snaps in college, spending most of his athletic career focused on basketball.

The Broncos are clearly betting on traits. Lohner brings rare size and movement ability at the position, measuring 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds while running a 4.69 40-yard dash and posting a 37-inch vertical at the Big 12 Pro Day. That combination alone is enough to justify a long-term developmental spot.

If Lohner can translate those raw tools into functional football skills, he has a real chance to become something down the line. He is a true project, but in a year or two, it would not be surprising to see him carve out a role and start contributing.