Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is known for keeping his draft preferences under wraps—even from members of his own staff. That strategy seemed to pay off when the Broncos landed two key stars, both of whom were also on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ radar.
According to Mike Silver of The Athletic on, the Jaguars had hoped to target top prospect with the 70th pick in an ideal scenario. However, the Broncos selected him earlier, at No. 60, prompting Jaguars GM Tony Boselli to jokingly call them “b*******.”
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen was reportedly very high on top star, though Boselli noted concerns about Harvey’s pass-blocking ability, saying it wasn’t his strength: “His superpower is making people miss.”
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Mike Silver reported that Jaguars general manager James Gladstone urged patience as the second round of the draft progressed, while head coach Liam Coen grew increasingly eager to make a move.
“Let’s just say ‘f— it’ and get him,” Coen said, according to Silver.
Gladstone responded with a more cautious perspective, saying, “We’ve got to roll the dice at some point,” though Silver noted his comments were meant to advocate against trading up for RJ Harvey. “I mean, what’s the fun of just going out and getting your guys?” he added, emphasizing the strategic tension between risk and restraint.
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RJ Harvey Expected to be Broncos’ RB1
Interestingly, the Broncos did exactly what Coen had pushed for—selecting RJ Harvey earlier than most draft projections had anticipated. Despite some skepticism from fans, Underdog Fantasy’s Brett Kollmann sees major potential in the pick.
“I was blissfully unaware that Broncos fans didn’t like the RJ Harvey pick?” Kollmann wrote on X on April 28.
“That kid’s awesome. Immediate RB1 there.”
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RJ Harvey brings an impressive résumé to Denver after rushing for 1,577 yards on 232 carries, leading the Big 12 with 6.8 yards per carry and scoring 22 touchdowns. A former college quarterback, he also showed versatility in the passing game with 20 receptions for 267 yards.
In contrast, no Broncos running back surpassed 513 rushing yards in 2024, with Javonte Williams—now with the Dallas Cowboys—leading the team. That opens the door for Harvey to potentially validate Brett Kollmann’s prediction that he’ll be Denver’s immediate RB1.
“Forty-one players had more rushing yards than Denver’s leading rusher, Javonte Williams, last season,” ESPN’s Steve Muench noted on April 25. “There are a number of backs that I have ranked higher than Harvey, but he is still a good selection. It’s also no secret that coach Sean Payton wants someone who can create matchup problems and make plays in space. Harvey has a chance to fill that ‘joker’ role.”
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Broncos Draft ‘Duval Pat’ Ahead of Hometown Team
The Broncos didn’t stop at snatching RJ Harvey from the Jaguars’ grasp—they struck again in the third round.
This time, it was for Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant.
“Fourteen picks later, the ‘bastards’ would select another of the Jags’ potential targets — Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant, aka ‘Duval Pat’ — albeit much earlier than Gladstone would have considered drafting the Jacksonville native,” Mike Silver wrote.
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Sean Payton offered strong praise for both RJ Harvey and Pat Bryant following the draft, signaling that each could be in line for a meaningful role in 2025.
While Bryant may face slightly tougher competition than Harvey, the path to playing time remains relatively open. As ESPN’s Steve Muench noted, “Courtland Sutton, 30, is heading into the final year of his contract, and Marvin Mims Jr. and Devaughn Vele are good complementary players. But Denver needed to address this position and add a target for quarterback Bo Nix.”
Muench added that Bryant ranked as his ninth-best available receiver, largely due to a disappointing combine performance. Still, he called Bryant one of his sleepers and expressed confidence that “coach Sean Payton will get the most out of him.”
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