New mock draft has Buffs’ stars going high, Broncos adding offensive weapons for Bo Nix

Mock draft season is in full swing as the 2025 NFL Draft is just over three weeks away. Field Yates, one of ESPN’s draft analysts, released his latest mock draft Wednesday morning with good news for both Buffs and Broncos fans alike. With Colorado’s NFL Showcase on the horizon for Friday in Boulder, the projections for the Buffaloes’ superstars could change one more time between now and draft night.

3. New York Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Yates has the Giants taking the CU all-time leader in career passing touchdowns with the third overall pick. Despite the Giants recently signing Jameis Winston and ex-Bronco Russell Wilson, drafting a young quarterback with lots of college experience could still be a good move for New York if the team thinks Sanders can be the guy for the future. Wilson and Winston are both on a steady decline as their careers wind down, but can provide very valuable mentorship towards Sanders as he gets his feet under him in the Big Apple.

Sanders has already shown his familiarity with the city and Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, and the Giants would be a solid fit for him. The pass protection isn’t great, just like it was for him at Colorado, but there are pieces in place for the team to be solid in a few years if the front office makes the right moves.

2024 stats: 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 74.0 completion percentage

4. New England Patriots – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner would be a perfect draft pick for New England. Quarterback Drake Maye would get a security blanket with glue hands on the offensive side of the ball, and the defense gets a talented corner on the outside to pair with fellow ex-Buff Christian Gonzalez. While the position he will play in the NFL is still up for debate, he has intangibles that are so rare to find in a young cornerback in the NFL, and primarily playing him on defense will giving him some run on offense would be the best course of action for the Patriots. He would fill two needs at once for a young team with a new head coach.

2024 stats: 96 receptions, 1,258 yards, 16 total touchdowns, 35 tackles, 11 passes defense, four interceptions

20. Denver Broncos – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

With shades of 2021, Yates has the Denver Broncos drafting a powerful running back from North Carolina (Denver selected Javonte Williams with the 35th pick in 2021). Earlier this week, general manager George Paton said that the Broncos would go after a back in the draft, and Yates has them doing that right away.

The Broncos’ run game was lackluster in 2024, but Hampton could provide a punch for Bo Nix and the rest of the offense on all three downs to help move the sticks for Sean Payton’s offense. He also clocked a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine showed that he can turn on the jets despite weighing 221 pounds, a good balance between an outside attack and a between-the-tackles attack.

Having Jaleel McLaughlin will still help the Broncos have a good screen game and switch up the pace as Hampton adjusts to the NFL, but this is a player who could take all the reps for himself by the end of the year.

2024 stats: 281 carries, 1,660 rushing yards, 38 receptions, 373 receiving yards, 17 total touchdowns

51. Denver Broncos – Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami

Arroyo is bigger than Evan Engram, who the Broncos recently signed, and had a breakout year in 2024. While Engram has been more when lined up standing up like a wide receiver, Arroyo was utilized more as an in-line weapon in 2024 with the Hurricanes. He dealt with injuries in years prior, but would be a good add for Payton’s offense as a guy to put on the field in jumbo situations or when Engram needs a breather.

On the Colorado side, seeing the two stars going back-to-back in the top five would be a great image for the university and good for both of their careers, as both teams would be good fits for them. On the Broncos side, these two picks have Denver filling needs on the offensive side of the ball, but are they better than the defensive options that will be available on the board at the same time?