The Denver Broncos have assembled a quality roster under the leadership of Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager George Paton.
After cutting ties with quarterback Russell Wilson, the Broncos quickly found their quarterback of the future in Bo Nix in last year’s draft. With a top-ranked defense that got better in free agency, Denver has a lot of flexibility entering the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s just a hunch, but I believe surrounding Nix with more weapons will be a primary endeavor for the Broncos this April.
When glossing over the roster, it’s quite obvious what position is prime to have a high pick utilized to upgrade it. With just Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson in the fold—I expect a significant addition or two to upgrade their group of running backs. It’s not a matter of if it happens in the draft—only when.
One of my favorite fits for the Broncos in this year’s draft is Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins. After two stellar years with the Ole Miss Rebels where he earned back-to-back First-Team All-SEC honors, Judkins transferred to Ohio State for larger exposure this past season. That proved to be a smart decision. Splitting time with TreVeyon Henderson, the duo played an integral role in the Buckeyes’ ascent to becoming National Champions in 2024.
Judkins brought the thunder and Henderson was the lightning. Both would be quality additions to the Broncos’ backfield. If you’re a fan of physical running backs who run with authority, Judkins should quickly become one of your favorite prospects if he isn’t already.
With the draft less than 40 days away, we are kicking off our annual draft profiles for a myriad of prospects. And with running back arguably the biggest need remaining for the team, I thought it was apt to start there. Let’s take a look at Judkins’ overall body of work, his positives and weaknesses, and why the Broncos should consider drafting him.
Player Profile: Quinshon Judkins — Running Back — Ohio State
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 221 pounds | Arm Length: 30-1/4” | Hand Size: 9-1/4”
40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds | 10-yard split: 1.51 seconds | Vertical: 38.5”
Statistics at Ohio State andOle Miss: 739 carries, 3,785 yards, 45 rushing touchdowns, 59 receptions, 442 yards, 5 touchdowns
Film Room & Highlights
Hart’s Scouting Report
Positives:
Violent and physical runner known for dishing out punishment upon contact
Possesses good contact balance and an authoritative stiff arm to jar off defenders
Incredibly productive averaging over 5 yards per carry and 16 touchdowns per season
No issue with loaded boxes—netting 5.3 yards per carry facing 8+ defenders
Protects the football and was credited with only four fumbles on nearly 800 touches during his collegiate career
Tough, willing, and physical in pass protection though there is always room for improvement
Demonstrates good vision and patience allowing blocks to develop in front of him
Savvy and athletic enough to get outside the tackles on stretch-zone concepts
In-game analytics have him ranked as one of the most explosive athletes in this class
Durable with no major time missed due to injury
Negatives:
Adequate receiving skills, but not nearly as dynamic as teammate TreVeyon Henderson
Despite impressive testing results, Judkins lacks an elite second-gear and breakaway speed
High-cut runner that isn’t as sudden or elusive in the open field as one would hope for
While patience and vision are good, I would like to see more decisiveness on inside runs
Hart’s Projection: Top 50 Selection | Early Round 2 Value
Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Judkins
Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton are noted as the top two backs in this year’s class and first-round selections. Based on comments here and on social media, they are the clear-cut favorites across Broncos Country. While Judkins isn’t quite at their level, I don’t see quite the significant drop-off in talent that some do. As noted above, I view him as an early second-round player and sure-fire Top 50 prospect.
A workhorse running back is one of the last remaining pieces of the puzzle the Broncos need to find to propel their offense to the next level. Just imagine how much more efficient Nix and the offense would be with a back of Judkins’ caliber. Overall, I feel Judkins is one of the top five running backs in this year’s class and poised to make an immediate impact as a rookie. He has been durable, dependable, and would be an instant starter for the Broncos.
With a multitude of other teams needing a running back as well, I have my doubts he would slide until the Broncos’ 51st overall pick in the second round. That may necessitate a move up the boards in round two, but I wouldn’t have a problem with that at all. If the Broncos identify him as one of their top guys at the position, I don’t believe they would wait around and hope he falls.
I’d love to see him as the team’s top back next season. How about you, Broncos Country?