Running it back appears to be the early major theme for the Denver Broncos early on with their free agency endeavors. After a flurry of in-house moves over the weekend, it’s clear the franchise is striving for some continuity with respect to roster building. That’s not necessarily bad considering how close they were to getting to the Super Bowl, though many fans across Broncos Country appear to be quite underwhelmed with the moves thus far.
Many thought that the Broncos were poised to make a splash
with a major outside addition at running back. Alas, Kenneth Walker III signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and Travis Etienne wound up securing a four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. According to various reports, the Broncos were the other team that was the most interested. However, Etienne’s desire to return home to Louisianna appeared to be the major dealbreaker that ended Denver’s pursuit of the talented playmaker.
With other options signing elsewhere, Denver switched gears and brought back veteran running back J.K. Dobbins on a two-year deal. So, what does that mean for Denver’s running back stable moving forward? Let’s dig in.
Reasons to like the Broncos bringing back Dobbins
Before going down with an injury, Dobbins was one of the NFL’s most productive runners in 2025. He notched 772 yards on 153 carries and scored four touchdowns. Nearly a third of all his rushing attempts went for first downs. That’s quality productivity in ten games.
The veteran running back was certainly on pace for a career year. Prior to the hip drop tackle that ended his season, Dobbins was a huge addition to Denver’s offense. The running game looked effective on early downs when he was tasked to tote the rock.
Inside Dove Valley, the Broncos value his leadership and mindset. Continued operating knowledge of Head Coach Sean Payton’s offense is also a plus. Those are reasons to be optimistic. Denver’s floor here is back to what it was last year. The potential for improvement exists, but that entirely hinges on one big thing—his health and availability—which brings me to my next topic of discussion.
Reasons to be concerned about the move
There is no doubting Dobbins’ productivity when healthy. He is an efficient early down runner that has averaged 5.2 yards per carry over the course of his career. That’s a remarkable number, and a testament to his incredible vision and patience as a runner.
Unfortunately, there has not been any point in time since being drafted in 2020 where he has stayed healthy for an entire season. When on the field, Dobbins is a quality playmaker. However, some would say availability is the best ability and that’s been an issue for him his entire career. It’s highly unlikely that ever changes.
Time will tell if the mega investments the Chiefs and Saints made in Walker and Etienne will pay off. In my opinion, this move isn’t the needle moving upgrading myself or many fans were hoping for. All we can do his hope for the best regarding Dobbins’ health in 2026.
What Denver needs to do to round out their running back stable
With Dobbins back in the fold, the Broncos are set to return their top 1-2 duo from last season. RJ Harvey’s twelve touchdowns were impressive and his ability to make plays in space and as a receiver was a big highlight of the season. Even so, Denver certainly can’t be complacent with just them and Tyler Badie as their top three backs.
I wouldn’t expect the Broncos to kick the tires on any of the remaining backs in free agency. With that in mind, Broncos Country should instead focus on the group of backs available in the 2026 NFL Draft. Which of those backs could be in play and when?
Notre Dame standout Jeremiyah Love will certainly be out of reach. Though his teammate Jadarian Price is a good fit for Denver and poised to be one of the first backs selected. It’s unlikely he will last to the second round, so if Denver likes him—they’d have to pounce earlier than some would like.
Other options to consider are Washington prospect Jonah Coleman, Mike Washington Jr. of Arkansas, the Penn State’s duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, and Emmett Johnson of Nebraska. A handful of them are poised to be Day 2 selections and would present Denver with some long-term potential at the position alongside who is already in the mix.
