The Broncos drafted seven players in the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Their selections were headlined by first-round pick Jahdae Barron and second-round pick RJ Harvey, who will likely see a lot of playing time in their rookie years.
However, the Broncos' fourth-round pick was Alabama's edge rusher Que Robinson. Although Robinson likely won't see too much playing time on the edge in his first year, there could be another place he makes a big impact.
Broncos General Manager George Paton said the rookie has all the traits you look for in a good edge rusher and "he can be a hardcore special teamer."
Robinson showed plenty of flashes of what he brings to the table as an edge rusher with Alabama, but he also had nearly 700 career special-teams snaps with the Crimson Tide.
The rookie was a core piece of Nick Saban's special-teams units at Alabama, and that could be what earns Robinson playing time in his rookie year.
"I like to win. If that means running down on kickoffs 5,000 times and being on punt 4,000 times, I want to do it," Robinson said. "I like to win. That's my driving force in terms of being a football player."
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton during rookie minicamp at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton during rookie minicamp at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Broncos have depth at the edge rusher position, and Robinson would likely add to that depth and develop in his first season.
Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, and Dondrea Tillman all contributed at least five sacks in 2024, and combined for 34 sacks as a group.
Robinson would likely only see important playing time at the position due to injuries ahead of him in 2025, but a role on special teams could give him quality time on the field.
"We've been seeing flashes of him the last four years at Alabama, really the last two on defense. But you look throughout his career, just the special teams plays. I think he had 16, especially in tackles, in the last two years," Paton said. "You see the athletic traits, the athletic ability, the length, the speed, the way he plays, the motor he plays with.
"He's played behind some really good outside backers like Will Anderson, Dallas Turner, guys like that ... he has all the traits you look for at that position and yet, in the meantime, he can be a hardcore special teamer so that's what attracted us."
Oftentimes, you see rookies find their way to the field through special teams. That could be the case for Robinson in 2025, but the Broncos may have found a hidden gem for the future.