During an appearance on the Up & Adams show that aired Monday, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper emphasized the most likely landing spots for the two best running backs in this year’s NFL draft.
Kiper believes Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty will land with the Las Vegas Raiders at pick No. 6, and he feels “very confident” about North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton being picked by the Denver Broncos at pick No. 20.
“I think if he’s there at Denver, for Sean Payton he makes a ton of sense. [And] I still think for Pete Carroll and the Raiders … Ashton Jeanty would be a great addition, but you have a couple teams picking ahead of them that could take Ashton. So, like I said, the one I like [is] Omarion Hampton, running back, North Carolina, to Denver at pick No. 20, I think would be a real nice addition.”
Mel Kiper’s most CONFIDENT RB predictions:
🏴☠️ Raiders at 6: RB Ashton Jeanty
🐴 Broncos at 20: RB Omarion Hampton@heykayadams | @MelKiperESPNpic.twitter.com/vsKnSYdhkA— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 21, 2025
Hampton has been a popular pick for the Broncos in NFL mock drafts, and Kiper is buying that trend. The first round of the NFL draft will take place on Thursday, April 24.
The Broncos have inquired about trading up.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Mel Kiper ‘very confident’ about Broncos’ first pick