SB Nation • 12 min read

Future Broncos: A Tale of Two Running Backs

Another Saturday and you know what that means—another installment of Future Broncos. Last weekend, I took a look at several wide receivers the Denver Broncos should consider that would bolster the position

group out long-term. This week, I wanted to highlight several players at running back Denver should take a look at to do the same.

In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Broncos added R.J. Harvey into the mix. He will be a focal point of the team’s plans down the road but is still learning to hit his stride in the pros. Free agent acquisition J.K. Dobbins has helped revitalize the Broncos rushing attack and has performed very well over the past two weeks. Even so, he only signed a short-term deal this past summer. This season, Tyler Badie has been a mainstay as the team’s third running back and best option in pass protection. Meanwhile, third-year pro Jaleel McLaughlin has been a healthy scratch for every game.

All things considered, this is not a position group that the Broncos need to use early round draft capital on. Therefore, I won’t be highlighting top prospects like Notre Dame standout Jeremiyah Love, Washington prospect Jonah Coleman, or the Penn State duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen—who all figure to be early round picks given their play to date. Instead, I’ll opt for a few players I think are in that late Day 2 to early Day 3 mix for the time being. With the Broncos having an extra fourth round selection from the Saints, that gives them the ability to consider adding a back while also addressing more important needs.

Le’Veon Moss — Texas A&M — (5’11”, 210 pounds, 4.42 40-yard dash)

Based on talent and past performance, senior running back Le’Veon Moss definitely has the ability to be a Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, medical issues could cause the talented prospect to experience a bit of a draft day tumble. Moss returned to Texas A&M for his senior season after suffering a season ending ACL and MCL tear last November.

Prior to injury, he was one of the best backs in college football and having a stellar junior campaign. He had 121 carries for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also made the most of his opportunities as a receiver when targeted, hauling in 10 receptions for 141 yards. Outside of Week 9 where he suffered his season-ending injury, there was only one game in 2024 where he didn’t amass at least 70 yards or more on the ground.

This season, it’s been a bag of mixed results for the former four-star recruit. He had a monster three touchdown performance in the Aggies 41-40 victory in early September against the Fighting Irish and followed that up with a 139-yard rushing performance against the Auburn Tigers the next week. But in three other games, Moss has failed to top 70 yards. His Head Coach Mike Elko has openly discussed Moss having some stomach issues during games which may be a reason he only had 24 total reps in those outings.

When at his best, Moss is quick to hit is mark at the line of scrimmage and shows great acceleration through holes at the point of attack. He’s a physical runner with a penchant for delivering opposing defenders blows with his stiff arm. Yet for all his power, he also showcases some grace with great lateral agility and quick feet in the open field. He is a liability as a pass protector and certainly won’t help in that regard out the gate, but if the Broncos are interested in adding a well-rounded prospect who has a good blend of size, vision, and power, Moss is certainly someone to consider next April. You can see him in action tonight against the Florida Gators.

Jadarian Price — Notre Dame — (5’11”, 209 pounds, 4.45 40-yard dash)

As mentioned above, Fighting Irish standout Jeremiyah Love is the clear-cut running back eligible in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, his teammate that backs him up is also starting to gain a lot of attention after his hot start to the season. That’s former top recruit Jadarian Price.

Price missed all of his 2022 season due to an Achilles injury. However, has since worked his way into a decent role in Notre Dame’s offense. In 2023, he and Love were backups to Audric Estime. Last season as a redshirt sophomore, he saw an increase in reps and had 120 carries for 746 yards and 7 touchdowns. Through five games this season, he has 48 carries for 356 yards and 7 touchdowns and is averaging an astonishing 7.4 yard per carry which is one of the best in all of college football.

Price is a physical player who is at his best running in between the tackles. He gains steam quickly and is tough to bring down. Over the course of his collegiate career, he has done a great job with creating yards after contact. This season is averaging just over four yards additionally per carry after contact. I really like his vision and patience and think he would excel in the Broncos’ running scheme. Areas for improvement come with respect to pass blocking and showcasing more as a receiver out of the backfield. Unfortunately, he just doesn’t get a whole lot of opportunities with either considering how important Love is to Notre Dame’s offensive plans.

Another reason I like Price is because of his special team’s ability. He is also an accomplished kick returner. In 2023, he had 10 returns for 344 yards and a touchdown. This season, he has 4 returns for 188 yards and a touchdown. While the NFL’s kickoff format has changed, adding a player into the mix that averages over 38 yards per return is never a bad idea. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him become a riser in the draft process and could certainly wind up being a Top 100 player by the time Spring arrives. You can see him in action this afternoon when the Fighting Irish take on the N.C. State Wolfpack.

Other Running Back Prospects to Watch: