Future Broncos: Pursuing offensive firepower

In a prior Future Broncos installment, I discussed how offense should be the priority for the Denver Broncos in this year's draft. The main idea was getting a game-breaking receiver in the first round that could bolster the franchise's passing attack.

Tetairo McMillian, Travis Hunter, and Luther Burden III would be amongst the best available, but the first two will likely go far higher than the Broncos could be picking come Spring. It's okay to have dreams though! After four games sporting a 2-2 record, the Broncos would have the 18th selection in the 2025 NFL Draft .

My attitude still hasn't changed. Offense should be their priority, though it's important to be flexible depending on how the board falls. There are some well-respected draft gurus who have heard this year's class doesn't have a lot of top end talent.

For this week's edition, I'd like to go over three prospects at three different positions that would give some firepower to Denver's offensive unit and help surround Bo Nix with the talent he needs to succeed that are likely in play on Day 2 of this year's draft.

Bryson Nesbit, Tight End — North Carolina Tar Heels

At the time of this , the Broncos' tight end room has eight catches on the season for 57 yards. That's not going to cut it. A few weeks ago, I highlighted Penn State's Tyler Warren. Another prospect deserves a look is North Carolina tight end Bryson Nesbit.

I watched a lot of Drake Maye last year since it was clear the Broncos were in the market for a quarterback in the draft. One player I kept coming back to while evaluating him was Nesbit. I felt the two had quite the connection and that Nesbit was a safety valve Maye could rely on in key situations.

Nesbit has improved every season and reeled in a career best 41 catches for 585 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior in 2023. At 6'5" and 235 pounds, he has the size to be a mismatch in the passing game. Nesbit is good with yards after the catch and deceptively fast on the field. While he definitely needs to add strength and get better as a blocker, his tape and overall talent suggest could become the 'Joker' player that Payton wants at the position.

In his senior season to date, Nesbit 7 receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown. Earlier in the season he became the Tar Hell's record leader for most touchdowns by a tight end in team history. There is still a lot of seasons left, but I think he will be one of this cycle's biggest surprises once the draft circuit hits.

Ollie Gordon II, Running Back — Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Broncos' rushing attack hasn't been consistent this season, but the talent is there. Javonte Williams is in the last year of his contract, but the Broncos do have Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime and Blake Watson as youthful options under contract for the foreseeable future.

It's too early to know if any of them will become a true #1 option, so it's worth considering other options at the position in this year's draft. One of the first prospects I talked about this college football season was Boise State sensation Ashton Jeanty. He is playing the best ball out of any back in the nation and on his way to be a first-round selection. However, there is another high-profile back Broncos Country should be keeping tabs on as the season continues.

Though this prospect's 2024 campaign is going in a much different direction than Jeanty's—that's Oklahoma State prospect Ollie Gordon II.

Gordon entered this year with some of the biggest expectations of any player in college football. Last year as a sophomore Gordon ripped off 1,732 yards on 285 carries and scored 21 rushing touchdowns. He added 330 yards on 39 receptions and a touchdown as a receiver. The 2,062 all-purpose yards earned him a lot of Heisman Trophy consideration and he finished seventh in the awards voting.

But his junior campaign hasn't started off well. He has only 334 yards and is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry through five games. A lot of Oklahoma State fans are stunned by him not being utilized as effectively and the team has dropped two straight heading into today's game against West Virginia.

At 6'2 and 225 pounds and sub 4.5 speed, Gordon's size and ability as a runner have earned him comparisons to Derrick Henry. He showcases excellent patience with good vision and the capability of racking up a lot of yards after contact. Though he doesn't have elite speed, Gordon is a long strider that is able to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

This year's running back class is stacked, and I wouldn't be surprised to see eight to ten guys taken off the board in the Top 100 selections. Gordon's physical traits aren't teachable and as we witnessed last year, he can be an absolute game-wrecker and a nightmare for opposing defenses to go up against. I think he earns a home in the Top 64 selections and is certainly a player the Broncos scouts should be paying attention to.

Barion Brown, Wide Receiver — University of Kentucky Wildcats

It's too early to tell how the career arcs of young receivers Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims Jr. will play out. All three have a lot of potential, but there hasn't been much to write home about with them this season. Some receivers take longer to hit their stride than others. We can't dismiss any of them yet, but that doesn't mean the Broncos should avoid adding one in the '25 Draft.

Keep swinging until you hit. With that in mind, speed and juice are always welcomed assets to any wide receiver corps. That's why Kentucky Wildcats prospect Barion Brown earns a spot in this week's draft discourse. In fact, he might be the fastest player eligible for this year's draft with an estimated 40-yard dash time under 4.3 seconds.

Last year for the Wildcats as a sophomore, he had 43 catches for 539 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 12 times for 147 yards and a touchdown. But Brown is more than an offensive weapon, he is one of the most dangerous return men in college football that averaged 36 yards a return and had 3 touchdowns in 2023.

Though undersized and unseasoned in his route running, Brown has sky high potential. You simply can't teach world-class athleticism. Every team in the league will want a playmaker like him on the roster. A guy who can score as a receiver, rusher, and returner? That will be highly coveted and it's something the Broncos should feel comfortable betting on.

Denver's offense has struggled through their first four games and it's clear they need someone who can be a spark in their offense. He is rough around the edges, but Brown has the ability to be a dynamic playmaker in the pros. Brown is only a junior but if he continues to impress, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him declare early. You can catch him in action next weekend when they go up against Vanderbilt.

Feel free to give your thoughts on any other offensive prospects the Broncos should be taking a look at. Who are some under the radar prospects you like? Let me know in the comments section.