Despite a middle-of-the-pack ranking, key rookies like RJ Harvey and Jahdae Barron proved vital contributors to the Broncos' playoff push.
With a trip to the AFC championship game on the line on Saturday, the Denver Broncos have their sights set on that and that only. That doesn’t mean we can’t take a look at how the 2025 season went for them, however.
In a recent ranking from ESPN by Aaron Schatz, the Broncos came in at No. 17 in a list of 2025 NFL rookie classes by team. The front office had a solid draft in April of 2025, making seven selections, several of which made an impact on a one-seeded Denver roster.
Denver started their draft night with the selection of cornerback Jahdae Barron with the 20th pick. He played all 17 games for the Broncos, finishing with season totals of 35 tackles, five passes defended, and his first interception. Barron looks to be a contributor in the Broncos' secondary for years to come – they made a good pick here.
Their next pick, however, looks to be the best that they made during the draft. Selecting running back RJ Harvey with the 60th overall pick, the Broncos may have saved their season. In a season in which running back J.K. Dobbins missed a huge chunk of time, Harvey saved the day for the Broncos.
He led all rookie running backs in receiving value, finishing with 356 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns to go with his 540 rushing yards and seven ground touchdowns. During a season in which the Broncos' offense had its fair share of shaky moments, Harvey was rock solid in the backfield.
Denver also provided quarterback Bo Nix with an additional weapon on offense, selecting receiver Pat Bryant in the third round. In his first season at the professional level, Bryant hauled in nearly 400 yards and a touchdown in 31 catches.
Other rookies, such as edge rusher Que Robinson and punter Jeremy Crawshaw, were also selected by Denver in April and got their first taste of NFL action. Crawshaw had league-average stats as a rookie punter for Denver despite being taken in the sixth round. He’s likely to give the special teams more of a boost in the coming years.
Considering their performance in the draft and the importance of each snap during the 2025 season, the Broncos had themselves a solid rookie class. Harvey and Barron will be mainstays for years to come, and players like Bryant and Crawshaw are sure to be regular contributors in the future as well. For a team with limited opportunities given their commitment to winning, the Broncos' rookie did well with their chances. Now, Denver fans will be hoping they continue to contribute during the team’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.