When the Broncos were on the clock in NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah's latest mock draft, a pair of intriguing talents remained on the board.
Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty were among the options available to the Broncos with the 20th-overall pick — and Jeremiah paired Loveland with Denver.
And while Jeremiah said Thursday he doesn't ultimately believe Jeanty — the 2024 Heisman runner-up — will be available at No. 20 on draft day, he thinks there could be "an interesting conversation" for the Broncos to have if both players are on the board.
"Jeanty is my third-overall player," Jeremiah said. "Loveland is my seventh-overall player. I think they both would be home-run picks. I think you go Jeanty over Loveland just based off that for me in that situation, but Loveland, when I think about 'Jokers' and chess pieces and mismatch players, he would be a fun one in that offense."
Jeremiah's nod to "Joker" players references Head Coach Sean Payton's use of a mismatch-type playmaker at the running back or tight end position.
"I know how much it can help," Payton said in January of having a "Joker" on a team.
Should the Broncos add Loveland — as Jeremiah suggested in his most recent mock draft — they would gain a player who caught 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns during his final season at Michigan. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Loveland as capable of becoming "an elite talent" and future Pro Bowler, and he picked Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta as Loveland's NFL comp.
As the Broncos look to the future, Jeremiah sees the benefit of adding such a player to the roster.
"I like the idea of having a young quarterback in Bo Nix having a chance to grow and play with the same tight end for a long period of time," Jeremiah said. "I think, as we've seen with [Chiefs quarterback Patrick] Mahomes and [tight end Travis] Kelce, that's a chemistry thing with those two positions connected. So I would love to see them get a premier tight end like that and get those guys [to] grow together because Loveland is excellent. Again, he is one of the top 10 players in the draft for me."
Jeanty, meanwhile, posted just shy of 3,000 all-purpose yards and scored 29 rushing touchdowns in his senior season. The unanimous All-American averaged 7.0 yards per carry, and he earned Player of the Year honors as the Maxwell Award recipient. Zierlein thinks highly of Jeanty, listing his NFL comparison as Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson.
And while Jeremiah said he would "be shocked" if Jeanty is on the board when the Broncos make their pick, he's also impressed by the player.
"His tape is so good," Jeremiah said. "The character is so good. All that stuff."
If both Jeanty and Loveland are on the board come April, Jeremiah seems to believe the Broncos can't go wrong with either young playmaker.
