The NFL draft draws closer by the hour, and for the first time since the 2018 NFL Draft Bronco Nation will have a keen eye on day one of the NFL Draft. Barring one of the all-time draft slides, Ashton Jeanty will be the first Bronco taken in the first round since Leighton Vander Esch went 19th overall in 2018. Along with Jeanty, Ahmed Hassanein will expect to hear his name called sometime late Friday night or early Saturday, and a few other Broncos will be looking for UDFA contracts or camp invites. For Jeanty and Hassanein, here are some of my favorite fits for them to land, as well as a few other options that seem likely. For some of the Broncos who don’t expect to be drafted, I keyed into their most likely options post-draft.
Favorite Ashton Jeanty fits
Not only will Jeanty likely be Boise State’s first day one draft pick since 2018, he has a chance to be the highest drafted Bronco ever. That record currently lies with Ryan Clady, who went #12 overall to the Denver Broncos and ended up being a three-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion.
I think Jeanty is nearly a lock to break that record. I think his floor is to the Cowboys at #12, and there are multiple teams before then who seem primed to take the Heisman runner-up. Sportsbooks tend to agree, you can find odds for Ashton Jeanty to go top-10 at -1200, which implies a 92% chance he goes top-10. Here are my three favorite fits for Jeanty.
#3: Denver Broncos (20th overall pick)
I know your initial reaction to seeing the Broncos here.
There’s no chance Jeanty is there at 20! You just said his floor is 12!
I did. And I still believe its true. The Denver Broncos currently have the 20th pick in the NFL Draft, but there has been plenty of smoke in the media that the Broncos are enamored with Ashton Jeanty. So much so, that they would be willing to make a move up into the top-10 to acquire his services.
Let’s assume the Broncos do trade up and grab Jeanty, I think it’s a phenomenal fit. Denver has a solid offensive line which should help him be productive right away. Sean Payton has had plenty of success with versatile running backs in the past, and would find a way to get Jeanty the ball in creative ways in the ground game and as a receiver. With those two factors in mind, I think Jeanty would look like a top-5 running back day one in Denver
#2: Las Vegas Raiders (6th overall pick)
Oddsmakers say that Las Vegas is the likeliest landing spot for Jeanty, and it makes sense. The Raiders hired soon-to-be 74 year old Pete Carroll at head coach, and traded for Geno Smith this offseason, who will be 35 in October. Vegas is in win-now mode and has made no secret of their interest in adding a running back through the draft. Will Pete Carroll see Jeanty, and be reminded of his former All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch?
If he were to go sixth overall, Jeanty would be the highest running back taken since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018. That alone makes me love the landing spot, but I think it makes football sense too. The Raiders have a capable offensive line and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly (as well as Pete Carroll) has a history of wanting to be a power run offense. Jeanty would establish the run game for a team that is desperate for a game changing running back.
#1: Chicago Bears (10th overall pick)
The last running back who got taken top-12? Jahmyr Gibbs to the Detroit Lions in the 2023 draft. Gibbs has rewarded that draft slot with 31 touchdowns and over 3,100 yards in two seasons. The Lions offensive coordinator the past two seasons? Ben Johnson. The man the Chicago Bears hired to be head coach this offseason? Also, Ben Johnson.
The Bears offense has all the pieces to take a leap this season. Johnson is an upgrade at playcaller, Caleb Williams will be going into his second year with a re-tooled offensive line and explosive group of weapons. The one glaring need? A running back. RB1 in Chicago right now is Deandre Swift, a man who played for Johnson’s Lions and was traded away in favor of Gibbs. I think this is the ideal spot for Jeanty. He still gets to go top-10, but he lands in an offense with a history of successful running backs on a roster that is a running back away from potentially being elite. If Jeanty goes to Chicago, I believe he could put up 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns as a rookie. This is a match made in heaven, and if I were Chicago Bears’ GM Ryan Poles, I would be trading up to ensure it happens.
Other possible landing spots: New England Patriots (4th overall pick), Jacksonville Jaguars (5th overall pick), Dallas Cowboys (12th overall pick)
Favorite Ahmed Hassanein landing spots
While Ashton Jeanty is fraternizing with his new head coach and teammates, wherever that may be, Ahmed Hassanenin will be eagerly awaiting to hear where his new home will be. Hassanein’s range of landing spots is much wider, since all 32 teams will have the chance to draft him. My favorite landing spots for Hassanein are less about how high he could go, and more about the scheme fit.
As a prospect, Hassanein seems primed to go on day three. The college production speaks for itself, and the athletic profile is solid. His testing grades almost all sit somewhere between the 50th and 70th percentile for defensive ends. At 267 pounds, he has NFL size to play in the trenches and his 27 bench reps are in the 88th percentile for defensive ends. I think Hassanein works best in a 4-3 system where he can keep his hand in the dirt and use that strength to his advantage. I see a lot of similarities in his game to Dawuane Smoot. Smoot was taken 68th overall (3rd round) in 2017 and has put together a solid 8-year career so far with 25 career sacks and over $20,000,000 in contract earnings. Physically, the testing looks almost identical (see RAS comparison below) and schematically, they both offer the ability to play 5-tech end (lined up over the offensive tackle) or as a wide rusher in passing situations.
Now that you know the player, here are some teams that I think best fit Hassanein’s skillset:
#3 Buffalo Bills (3rd-5th round picks include: 109, 132, 169, 170, and 173)
This is the logical answer with the Smoot comparison. Smoot played for the Bills last season as a rotational pass rusher, and I think Hassanein could fill that same role as a backup defensive end right away. I think there’s long term potential for him to grow into a starting role as well, as Joey Bosa and AJ Epenesa are both on expiring contracts. Between the scheme fit and opportunity to grow into a starting role, I think the Bills would be an ideal landing spot for Hassanein. He would also get to reunite with his former Boise State teammate, Kahlil Shakir.
#2: Indianapolis Colts (3rd-5th round picks include: 80, 117, and 151)
Indianapolis is another team that plays a four-man front with a need along the edge. The Colts took Laiatu Latu in the first-round last season and Hassanein is an ideal fit alongside the talented pass rusher. Hassanein would likely play behind Latu, Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam in year one, but Paye and Ebukam are on expiring contracts and Hassanein could win the starting job in year two. I also think defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo does an excellent jobs with maximizing edge rushers, including Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who has a very similar size profile to Hassanein. The Colts are sparse on midround picks this year, but they are a squad that need to find long-term answers at defensive end.
#1: San Francisco 49ers (3rd-5th round picks include: 75, 100, 113, 147 and 160)
This one pains me as a Seahawks fan, but the Niners almost make too much sense for Hassanein. He gets to return to California, play in a scheme that fits his playstyle, gets to learn under one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, Robert Saleh, and gets to play for a contender. Not to mention, there is room for playing time. After Bosa, the Niners are playing Yetur Gross-Matos and Drake Jackson on the edge, neither of which has been good enough to be in San Francisco’s long-term plans. I think Hassanein could start day one for the 49ers and make an impact for a team on the verge of a Super Bowl in recent seasons. San Francisco has five picks between the 3rd and 5th rounds, so there is ample opportunity for them to land Hassanein, if they like him.
Other Broncos looking for a home
Outside of Jeanty and Hassanein, I wouldn’t expect a Boise State player to get drafted. The one with the best chance, in my opinion, is Seyi Oladipo. I think Oladipo’s film screams ability to be a full-time special teamer in the NFL, and he’s a prospect that truly loves football. Even if he goes undrafted, I think there’s an NFL staff that will fall in love with his character and give him a priority UDFA deal (which usually contains multiple years and guaranteed money)
I’ve been told Alexander Teubner and Ben Dooley could be in-line for UDFA deals as well and could get a shot at making a practice squad this year. Expect Sheldon Newton and Herbert Gums to get minicamp invites as well. At minicamp, they can earn their way to a UDFA contract to make training camp.
