Broncos hosted one of the drafts top running backs in the draft for a top-30 visit.

First, a reminder or refresher on what exactly a top 30 visit is. Each NFL team in the days and weeks before the start of the NFL Draft is allowed to invite up to 30 different prospects to come in for what amounts to a job interview. From there, they will work them out, show them the facility, meet with coaches, and essentially have a job interview. It is just another step in the long scouting process leading up to the NFL Draft.

Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins is one of the top backs in a loaded draft class and would upgrade the Denver Broncos running back room. He is a 6’0”, 221-pound running back who ran a 4.48 40-time at the Combine while having a 38.5-inch vertical jump and an impressive 11’0’ broad jump.

The Ole Miss transfer who ran for 1,567 yards his freshman year in 2022 is coming off another great year for the National Championship-winning Ohio State Buckeyes. He played in 16 games and had 194 carries for 1.060 yards, and 14 rushing touchdowns. He added 22 receptions for 149 yards and an additional 2 receiving touchdowns. Now, he enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the top-backs in the entire draft.

NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein calls a productive runner who has great size and great contact aggression.

Judkins is a productive runner possessing good size and great contact aggression. His running style is both urgent and a bit chaotic. He runs with good burst inside but is more collision-based than wiggle-oriented when maneuvering through the lane. He’s efficient on runs outside the tackle box, but he has a tough time outracing pursuit to create explosive runs. He is wired and built for a heavier carry count and short-yardage success, but the disparity in yards per carry between Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, despite running behind the same line, is telling. Judkins might need to be paired with a slasher, but he has the ingredients needed to become a three-down RB1.

Judkins is one of a handful of backs that could go off the board between the Broncos’ first and second-round picks. It is a loaded running back class and we could see 5+ backs go in the top 50 picks in the draft. The Broncos are expected to take a back early in the draft and could strongly consider taking him at some point in the first two rounds if he’s on the board when they pick.

At the Combine, Judkins tested very well and showcased his athletic ability to go along with his violent running style. He reminds me a bit of Derrick Henry where it takes a little bit for him to get going, but when he does, watch out because he’s going to run you over. The Broncos need a tone-setter and between-the-tackles threat like this to help out second-year quarterback Bo Nix.

I do agree that he should paired with a more explosive/receiving threat but that will likely be the plan if he is drafted by the Broncos. Head coach Sean Payton utilizes multiple backs and has paired change-of-pace guys with more physical backs like Judkins in the past and I believe that is the plan this offseason.

I think the 20th overall pick is a little early for Judkins but I also believe he’ll be off the board by the time they pick in the second round. So, they could either trade back and still grab him or go in another direction in round one before trading up to take Judkins in round two.

The Broncos will likely bring in a bunch of backs in for visits/workouts during this pre-draft process before likely selecting two during the 2025 NFL Draft. Who they get and when they select them remains to be seen.

What do you think Broncos Country? Should the Broncos draft Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins or go in another direction?