Broncos ‘Expert’ Draft Forecaster Gives 1st Round Pick Prediction

The Denver Broncos have not been short on draft news over the past weeks, with news coming out that head coach, Sean Payton, is somehow both wanting to trade up and stick with their pick at #20.

And even going under the probably correct, but not foolproof assumption that Denver will use their first pick to select an offensive skill position piece, there are multiple avenues that the Broncos could explore. 

Woody Paige, who is on a very impressive run of Broncos first-pick draft predictions, calling the team's debut selection correctly in four of the past five years, has made his official pick for 2025.

"I’ve given you four of the last five Broncos first picks , including Bo Nix in January 2024." Paige posted on X, "I wrote a month ago that Broncos will draft Omarion Hampton at 20. All else is a smokescreen as it was last year. Glad others including the head coach’s daughter has agreed with me."

Paige believes Hampton will be the pick come Denver's turn on the clock at #20 overall. 

And it is certainly not a bad assertion; running back is by far the team's biggest remaining need post-free agency, and draft analyst, Mel Kiper, has Hampton as his 14th overall player on his final draft big board.

The only problem is: will the UNC grad be there? Hampton has been mocked as high as #10 to the Chicago Bears, with the Dallas Cowboys at #12 another possible destination.

The Cincinnati Bengals are also very much in need of reinforcement at the position at #17, leaving multiple teams as potential land mines to negate Paige's prediction and tarnish a hot streak.

But he could still make it there, and if he is there at #20, it would be surprising to see Sean Payton move in a different direction.