Kentucky's Marques Cox agrees to UDFA deal with Denver Broncos

Kentucky‘s starting left tackle for two seasons will get a shot in the NFL, Marques Cox signing a deal with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The deal was first reported by Mike Klis of 9NEWS in Denver.

Broncos are signing Kentucky OL Marques Cox as undrafted free agent.

— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) April 26, 2025

Cox, a transfer from Northern Illinois, started in 25 of 25 total games at Kentucky in 2023 and 2024. He was on the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List in both seasons and entered 2024 as a preseason All-SEC member, finishing with 72 blocks at the point of attack and a team-high 21 knockdown blocks. He earned a 73 percent grade for the season overall with an assignment grade of 99 percent to wrap up his final campaign as a Wildcat.

Before that, he started in 34 of 36 games at NIU, bringing his career total to 61 games and 59 starts across seven seasons of college football. Cox redshirted in 2018, followed by 10 starts in 12 games as a redshirt freshman, six starts as a sophomore, 14 starts as a COVID sophomore en route to All-MAC fourth team honors, then four starts as a junior before suffering a season-ending injury — ironically, at Kroger Field against the Kentucky Wildcats. He would then enter the portal and make Lexington his next home, signing in December 2022 ahead of the 2023 season.

Cox had a productive debut season in blue and white, earning a 71.2 PFF grade overall including a 73.7 pass block grade with 18 pressures, 16 hurries and two sacks allowed. That led to an up and down second year, finishing with a 54.1 PFF grade and 57.7 in pass blocking, allowing 23 pressures, 14 hurries and five sacks. The hope is Denver can tap into his physical tools at 6-5, 318 pounds as he suits up alongside fellow former Kentucky standout Keidron Smith as a Bronco.

Elsewhere in the 2025 NFL Draft, two players heard their names called in Green Bay — both by the Buffalo Bills, starting with Maxwell Hairston at No. 30 overall in the first round and followed by Deone Walker in the fourth round at No. 109 overall. They will team up with Ray Davis in Buffalo.

As for undrafted free agents, Cox joins Eli Cox (Houston Texans), safety Zion Childress (Dallas Cowboys), linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Green Bay Packers) and left tackles Marques Cox (Denver Broncos) among those signing early deals. D’Eryk Jackson, Gerald Mincey, Octavious Oxendine, Alex Raynor, Tre’Vonn Rybka, Kristian Story, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and J.J. Weaver will also be looking for UDFA deals as they turn the page on their careers at Kentucky and begin their dreams playing in the NFL.

Who is next for the Cats?