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New York Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Broncos draft RB RJ Harvey: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Denver Broncos drafted Central Florida running back RJ Harvey with the No. 60 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday, filling the last glaring vacancy on their roster. Denver selected Harvey after twice trading back in the second round, acquiring an extra fourth-round selection in the process. Harvey had one of the most productive seasons of any running back last season, rushing for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns and adding 20 catches for 267 yards and three more scores. His 25 scrimmage touchdowns were the fourth-most in college football, only five behind Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty. 'That call was the most joyful moment of my life,' Harvey said moments after being selected. 'It's a blessing. I'm just so excited.' Harvey ranked No. 92 in Dane Brugler's Top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: 'Though he doesn't have the power to drive through the first level, he is a dynamic make-you-miss runner with his tempo and burst (54 carries of 10 or more yards in 2024), which made him a frequent visitor to the end zone (UCF-record 48 total touchdowns). He is below average as a pass-protecting blocker but has the tools to be a weapon catching the ball on screens and wheels. Overall, Harvey needs to develop better consistency on passing downs, but he is skilled at patiently settling his feet and changing lanes with his instinctive field vision and lateral quickness. Similar in ways to Tyjae Spears, he projects best in a timeshare role in the NFL.' Sean Payton loves his 'Joker' players. Harvey gives up size, but he was an extremely productive player at UCF — as a rusher and pass catcher. Think of him as a slightly bigger version of Darren Sproles. He might not be able to handle a huge workload in the NFL, but this is a very nice fit. Grade: B-plus Advertisement The Broncos moved back twice in the second round, but they kept Harvey in their sights as a potential instant infusion for their backfield. The 24-year-old dealt with injuries early in his career, including an ACL tear that wiped out his 2021 season, but he rushed for more yards during the past three seasons (3,789) than all but three other FBS running backs. The 5-foot-9, 208-pound running back isn't an especially bruising runner, but he has an extra gear when he reaches the second level. An FBS-best 23.3 percent of his carries last season went for 10 or more yards. The Broncos lost leading rusher Javonte Williams in free agency. No other player on their current roster has rushed for more than 500 yards in a season. Harvey is not a perfect running back. But he has illustrated a big-play potential for the last three seasons that the Broncos simply didn't have on their roster before they called Harvey's name Friday night. Payton will make Harvey earn his carries and general playing time, just like he made rookie Bo Nix earn the job in a three-way quarterback competition last offseason. But make no mistake, Harvey is now the featured running back in Denver's offense. An intriguing subplot of the Harvey selection is how the depth will stack behind him. The Broncos have four running backs on their roster — Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estimé, Tyler Badie, Blake Watson — who could complement Harvey in different ways. There won't be room for all of them, and Denver could still add another running back on Day 3. The Broncos like the defensive line depth in this class. Though that position group returns every player from a stout 2024 unit, the Broncos could use a player ready to start as soon as next season. They could address that position in the third round … or the fourth … or with one of their two picks in the sixth. The same goes for tight end, a position that thinned out quickly during the early and middle portion of the second round. But there was no arguing Denver's biggest position of need, and it would have made no sense to let the wait for a running back continue. Advertisement The Broncos spent free agency plugging holes at linebacker (Dre Greenlaw), safety (Talanoa Hufanga) and tight end (Evan Engram). Running back was the one glaring vacancy remaining. The Broncos didn't fill that void in the first round, opting instead to draft cornerback Jahdae Barron at No. 20. They were out of reach for the Ohio State duo of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson at the top of the second round. But general manager George Paton has reiterated throughout the predraft process that Denver would be able to land an impactful running back at various points in the draft. They found that in Harvey, who scored at least one touchdown in 11 of his team's 12 games last season.
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
7-round Mock Draft: Can Cowboys solve all issues without trading back? WR, CB, RB landed
7-round Mock Draft: Can Cowboys solve all issues without trading back? WR, CB, RB landed The Cowboys need to fill plenty of holes, but what if they didn't trade back? Could they still pull it off? The Dallas Cowboys are now less than a week away from their last chance to make major renovations to their 2025 roster. There's still going to be free agency following the NFL draft, and come training camp there will be teams looking to deal, but the amateur draft is the crowning jewel of the offseason. Starting on Thursday night, there's going to be a 48-hour frenzy of activity for all 32 clubs in the competition to outsmart each other in the race to add talent. The Cowboys are starting behind in the race. With no fourth-round pick, the club's chances of landing three high-impact players in this draft, much less four, are greatly hindered. The best chance, the one they employed last draft, is to find a partner they can trade back with to gain an additional top-100 pick. Most Cowboys-centric draftniks employ the trade back in their mocks. But if the Cowboys aren't able to find any worthwhile deals, would it be possible to still nail the draft? In this mock, all offers to climb up to the No. 12, No. 44 or even No. 76 were rebuffed. Instead, the Cowboys stay put and make all 10 of their selections where they stand. 1.12: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Scouting Report McMillan shines at the catch point and uses his Gumby-like body-adjustment skills to frame the football with his hands, regardless of the placement or action required. With heavy helpings of slants, hitches and go routes on tape, he is at his best when he can stretch out his stride. He has the feet of a smaller athlete but will need time to expand his route tree and pacing to avoid giving away subtle hints that savvy NFL corners will notice. 2.44: CB Shavon Revel, East Carolina Scouting Report 3.76: RB RJ Harvey, UCF Scouting Report He rushed for 75 or more yards in each of his final 21 games at UCF, and only Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton and Tahj Brooks had more rushing yards in the FBS over the past two seasons. Though he doesn't have the power to drive through the first level, he is a dynamic make-you-miss runner with his tempo and burst (54 carries of 10 or more yards in 2024), which made him a frequent visitor to the end zone (UCF-record 48 total touchdowns). 5.149: DT Ty Robinson, Nebraska Scouting Report Robinson was an interchangeable defensive lineman in former defensive coordinator Tony White's 3-3-5 scheme, lining up as the nose, 3-/4i-technique and wide of the tackle. He returned for his sixth year and helped Nebraska achieve its first winning record in almost a decade, posting personal bests across the board with 42 pressures, 12.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. 5.174: Safety RJ Mickens, Clemson Scouting Report The son of an 11-year NFL veteran, Mickens grew up around the game, and it shows in the way he sees the field — especially when working from depth in the run game as a willing, secure tackler. In coverage, he is more smooth than sudden with his movements and trusts his instincts to lead him to the catch point. 6.204: TE Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse Scouting Report Gadsden is an athletic pass catcher with the adjustment skills and catch radius to be a possession target in an NFL offense, although his average frame and marginal ability to sustain blocks create questions about his role. He projects best as an F tight end who can be flexed across the formation and should continue to get better. 6.211: DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, SMU Scouting Report Late to the game of football, he was a steady part of Miami's defensive line rotation before blossoming at SMU — especially over the final month of the Mustangs' run to the playoffs (six of 8.5 sacks came in the final four games). As a pass rusher, Harrison-Hunte plays well on his feet, with the initial quickness and upfield mentality to force his way through gaps. He reads well versus the run, although zone-based runs and point-of-attack power in the NFL will be a much tougher challenge. Overall, Harrison-Hunte might not be an ideal body/style fit for every defense, but he is explosive, active and promising in enough areas on the field to earn a rotational role in an attacking, one-gapping scheme. 7.217: Center Jake Majors, Texas 7.239: Guard Joshua Gray, Oregon State 7.247: Guard Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
