Depth, Competition, and Opportunity
The Denver Broncos running back competition will be one to keep an eye on heading into training camp. The front office has created quality depth at the position, setting up a competitive battle for positioning and playing time. Sean Payton has a history of using multiple running backs creatively, and with the amount of talent at the position, there are countless ways to use them.
J.K. Dobbins has established himself as RB1, posting an average of five yards per carry during his five-year career. Multiple injuries have kept the former Buckeye standout off the field, the most recent of which was a Lisfranc injury with ligament damage last season. Before that, Dobbins ran for 772 yards and four touchdowns. The Broncos’ front office has committed to the talented back with a new two-year contract.
With Dobbins penciled in as the starter, the focus shifts to the competition for the RB2 role. Payton wanted more efficiency and explosiveness in the rushing attack, and he has two dependable options in RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin. Tyler Badie could also emerge as a strong candidate for playing time, but would have to really impress during the preseason. Harvey took over as the starter after Dobbins went down and finished his stellar rookie season with 896 yards from scrimmage and twelve touchdowns.
It made perfect sense for the Broncos to select Jonah Coleman in round four of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was the closest in comparison to Dobbins, as both players have strong vision, balance, patience, and three-down potential. According to Pro Football Focus, sixty-seven percent of Coleman’s rushing yards came after contact at Washington, and that skill should allow him an easier transition into the NFL. The expectation is for the organization to bring him along slowly and allow him to develop at his own pace.
There is no need to rush the prized prospect, and surely, Payton will find a suitable role for him. Another rare trait Coleman possesses is the ability to pick up the blitz, which is an important skill to have as a running back in Payton’s scheme. The Broncos had the fifth most pass attempts in the NFL last season and must prioritize protecting Bo Nix. Payton explained why the Broncos were interested in Coleman and the trait that made him stand out from the rest.
It’s not often that you’re looking at a college back, and you’re having to project how he’s going to be i n protection. Jonah had quite a bit of film, but most of the time when you’re drafting a college running back, there’s going to be a learning curve with protections. Certainly, the complexity sometimes, but that was a strong suit of his looking at the tape.
