Broncos Draft Ohio State Wide Receiver in Latest Mock Draft
After adding pieces to their already-stacked defense in Free Agency, the Denver Broncos have put themselves in a position to improve their offense in the 2025 NFL Draft. While the addition of veteran Evan Engram could take Denver out of the tight end market in Round One, they still have holes at running back and wide receiver. The latest mock draft from Kyle Stackpole of CBS Sports has Denver doing the latter, bypassing prospects like running back Omarion Hampton and tight end Colston Loveland for help at the wide receiver position. He has the Broncos selecting Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka at pick No. 20 in the First Round. Egbuka isn’t as athletic as other wide receiver prospects in this class, but he’s a great route-runner who is always open. During his college career, he was often overshadowed by fellow Buckeye wide receivers Jeremiah Smith, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but he consistently produced when given the opportunity. Egbuka finished his college career with 205 receptions, 2,868 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns in 49 career games. He had six receptions for 64 yards in Ohio State’s 34-23 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Notre Dame. Egbuka would be a welcome addition to Denver’s wide receiver group, which currently features Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin, and the recently signed Trent Sherfield.
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That group outplayed expectations in 2024, but Egbuka would give Denver and quarterback Bo Nix an above-average No. 2 wide receiver to grow with over the next few seasons.
New Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram sure found a way to make “NFL history in such a random way” as NBC 9 News sports reporter Scotty Gange put it.
Engram, who signed with the team on Thursday, was photographed with a No. 1 Broncos jersey that has his name on it, which Gange highlighted on Friday. As DNVR sports reporter Henry Chisholm pointed out, that hasn’t happened with a tight end “in at least 51 years” of NFL history.
“No tight end has worn No. 1 in the five years since the NFL changed its jersey number rules, which had stood (with a few tweaks) since 1973,” Chisholm wrote on X.com on Thursday. “That means Evan Engram is the first tight end to wear No. 1 in at least 51 years.”
Engram, who wore No. 17 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, needed a new number since Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele already took that number. Previously, Engram has worn No. 88 with the New York Giants, where he began his pro career in 2017 as a first-round draft pick out of Ole Miss.
While Engram’s jersey decision could have an impact on the fan base with jersey sales, his on-field play could make a difference for the Broncos this fall. Engram has a career average of 78 catches for 775 yards and four touchdowns per 17-game season.
“I think Evan’s going to be great on the Broncos this year, but regardless of how the dude plays, he’s already a legendary tight end,” Gange said.
