The Denver Broncos’ 2025 rookie class delivered a mixed bag in Year 1 - some clear hits, a few question marks, and plenty of room for growth. According to Pro Football Focus’ rookie grades for all 32 teams, Denver found real value in several mid-round selections, even if their top pick didn’t quite hit the ground running.
Let’s start with the good news. Running back RJ Harvey came out of the gates with purpose, earning the highest PFF grade among Broncos rookies.
While he wasn’t drafted to be a full-time bell cow, Harvey made his presence felt in key moments - particularly in the red zone and when given space to operate. His burst and vision turned limited touches into meaningful production, and it’s clear he’s carved out a role in this offense moving forward.
Pat Bryant, meanwhile, led the rookie group in WAR (Wins Above Replacement), a metric that aims to quantify a player’s total impact. For a first-year receiver, that’s no small feat. Bryant showed flashes of being a reliable target, and with more time in the system, there’s reason to believe he could become a steady contributor - especially as the Broncos continue to retool their passing attack.
Que Robinson and Sai’vion Jones didn’t see the field as much, but when they did, they made it count. Robinson, in particular, showed some promise in his limited reps, giving the coaching staff something to build on heading into Year 2.
But not everything clicked perfectly. First-round pick Jahdae Barron struggled to find his footing in his debut season, finishing with the lowest PFF grade and WAR among Denver’s rookies.
That doesn’t mean the sky is falling - it’s far too early to slap a “bust” label on a rookie after one season - but it does put a spotlight on Barron heading into next year. The good news?
He’s in the right environment to grow. Learning alongside elite talents like Patrick Surtain II should only help sharpen his technique and confidence.
One more name worth highlighting: Ja’Quan McMillian. While not a rookie, his performance this past season stood out.
He’s been a steady presence in the secondary and has likely earned himself a contract extension. If the Broncos are looking to lock in young, ascending talent, McMillian should be near the top of that list.
Bottom line: Denver’s 2025 rookie class gave fans reasons to be optimistic. Harvey looks like a weapon, Bryant has upside, and several others flashed potential.
There’s still work to do, especially with Barron, but the foundation is there. Now it’s about development, consistency, and turning those flashes into full-time production.