NFL Draft: Sean Payton reveals top position the Denver Broncos aim to strengthen

With just days to go before a new NFL Draft experience unfolds, most teams are looking to bolster their rosters with young talent out of college football. The Denver Broncos are no exception, and head coach Sean Payton sees this as a prime opportunity to further strengthen his squad ahead of the upcoming season.

With Bo Nix now locked in as the starting quarterback, all eyes are on how the Broncos will approach the upcoming draft. Addressing the situation, head coach Sean Payton made it clear — Denver’s focus will be on surrounding their young QB with the best offensive weapons available.

In recent comments to the media, the experimented HC shared his perspective on how to best support a young quarterback’s development: start with a strong defense, then add a solid running game.

“There will be focus on the running back position. It’s a pretty good draft for running backs,” Payton said, via the team’s official transcript. “There are two great allies that I think to help quarterback play. It’s really good defense and obviously a really good running game.”

Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos celebrates after beating the Kansas City Chiefs 38-0 at Empower Field At Mile High on January 05, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

Nowadays, Denver’s running back room features Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estimé, Tyler Badie, undrafted rookie Blake Watson from the 2024 class, and veteran fullback Michael Burton.

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Targeting an RB1 with the first pick

The Denver Broncos hold the 20th overall pick in the first round, which might put them slightly out of range for landing one of the draft’s top prospects. However, a potential trade-up scenario remains on the table — allowing them to move higher and target a top-tier running back if they choose to prioritize the position early.

“I think it’s all about your vision and your vision for the player,” Payton said when asked about drafting RBs in Round 1. “I think there is this feeling often times that there are certain positions that may be more available in the offseason than others. And yet, you have to look at the ability. I remember the selection of [former Saints RB] Reggie [Bush] and how that evolved very clearly, and [former Saints RB Mark] Ingram. Our plan was to take Mark at [No.] 22, and then [Saints DE] Cam Jordan fell to us. We kind of still didn’t want to lose track of the Ingram thing, and then we traded back in.

“So I think if you have a real clear vision for how you want to use them, I think it’s just the team’s feeling for how good that player is and what type of career we think he can have. Then sometimes it’s just the way the draft unfolds. Sometimes [when] you don’t take one, it’s not that you don’t want to take one, it’s just that maybe another position landed in your lap. So a lot of it is your team and then the players specifically.”

RB prospects the Broncos should keep an eye on

With the No. 20 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos may be just outside the range to land one of the top running backs in this year’s class — but that doesn’t mean they’re out of the conversation. Leading the group is Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State, a dynamic and explosive playmaker who’s widely expected to come off the board within the top 10 picks. Unless Denver moves up via trade, Jeanty might be out of reach — but there’s still plenty of talent left to consider.

Names like Omarion Hampton (North Carolina), TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins (both from Ohio State), and Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) are all strong candidates to make an impact at the next level and could realistically be available when the Broncos are on the clock. Each of them brings a different skill set to the table: Hampton with his power and vision, Henderson with breakaway speed, Judkins as a downhill bruiser, and Johnson offering a balanced, all-purpose profile. Any of them could be key pieces in helping Denver build an offense centered around new quarterback Bo Nix.