Ryan Noonan called Denver to draft a running back first at +110 his favorite wager on the current board. Noonan referenced Sean Payton’s repeated offseason comments about needing a bell‑cow and pointed out that the Evan Engram signing effectively removed tight end from Round‑1 consideration. The roster is otherwise “sneaky good,” creating little urgency at wideout or along the defensive front. Noonan said league chatter has linked the Broncos to TreVeyon Henderson and Amarian Hampton at pick 20, and there is even buzz about trading up for Ashton Genti inside the top 10. Every reputable mock he’s tracked gives Denver a back, yet the market still offers plus money—something he views as an obvious mis‑price that could disappear once Payton’s intentions leak.

Mike Renner pivoted to Arizona star Tet McMillan for Denver at No. 20 after initially eyeing RB Amarian Hampton. Renner argued Sean Payton needs a ready‑made outside weapon; McMillan’s 6'5" frame, 81‑inch wingspan, and 2.87 yards per route scream Michael Thomas‑style usage. Renner dismissed concerns about McMillan’s 4.55 forty, pointing to his FBS‑leading 74% contested‑catch rate and Payton’s history of maximizing big‑bodied route technicians (Colston, Thomas, Burks at OSU). With Courtland Sutton entering the final year of his deal and Jerry Jeudy traded, Renner expects McMillan to command 20‑25% targets as a rookie. He recommends betting McMillan under 26.5 and exact‑team Broncos, and tagging him as a Round 8–9 best‑ball steal if this landing spot materializes.

Jonathan Jones said every league source he trusts believes Denver will not gamble on the depth of this running‑back class; instead they will secure Tar Heel bell‑cow Omarion Hampton, even if it means moving up from No. 20. Hampton crushed 2024 with 1,689 rushing yards and 52 broken tackles while adding 24 catches—a profile HC Sean Payton typically covets. The entire NFL knows Denver’s interest, so Jones warns a team in the teens could dangle the pick for a modest haul and snipe the Broncos. He puts the probability of a Denver trade into the 14‑17 range at "north of 60 %". Draft‑prop bettors still seeing Hampton First RB off the board at –140 should treat that as a value hold, per Jones.

Thor Nystrom said Denver will not hesitate to take Omarion Hampton if he lasts to pick 20 and urged listeners to sprinkle on any ‘Team to Draft Hampton – Broncos’ props still sitting north of 10‑to‑1. Nystrom called the North Carolina bruiser “scheme‑agnostic,” noting Hampton averaged 4.6 yards after contact in both gap and zone concepts while handling 22 touches per game. He squatted so much weight in high school that coaches literally stopped adding plates, and that lower‑body power showed up on tape with an FBS‑best 94 forced missed tackles last year. Despite the 226‑pound frame, Hampton hit 22.0 mph on the GPS and compiled 12.0 yards after catch on screens and swings—traits Nystrom compared to former Saints star Deuce McAllister, a back Sean Payton knows intimately. Pairing Hampton with Bo Nix would give Payton his preferred play‑action and dump‑off engine, letting the rookie quarterback stay on schedule. Thor still loves his earlier Under 19.5 position prop but said the juicier angle now is Denver‑specific exact‑order or first‑team markets before oddsmakers connect the dots.

Andy Holloway interpreted Sutton’s acknowledgement of "positive" extension discussions as a significant vote of confidence from Denver’s front office. With rookie‑deal QB J.J. McCarthy giving the team two cheap seasons under center, Holloway expects the Broncos to lock Sutton into a two‑year add‑on that preserves his red‑zone dominance (19 end‑zone targets over the past two seasons) and stabilizes his target share while younger receivers Franklin and Mims continue to develop. Holloway views the probable extension as a green light to count on Sutton as a weekly WR3/FLEX in 2025 redraft and a secure hold in dynasty formats.