The Denver Broncos used a second-round pick on a running back, selecting R.J. Harvey out of Central Florida. There will be a lot of excitement over what he could bring to the offense this season, but do the Broncos have enough at the position to get through the season?
Sean Payton will be bringing a very young backfield into 2025, at least as the running back room is currently constructed. The five running backs on the roster (Harvey, Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, Blake Watson) have an average age of 23.8 years old. None of those players have more than three years of NFL experience.
Payton usually likes having an experienced veteran on the roster, one who has had to go through the rigors of a full NFL season. Though Harvey is an exciting prospect, there should be a concern over the overall depth of the backfield.
McLaughlin has carried the ball just 189 times in two seasons. He's a great change-of-pace option, but if the team suffers an injury at the position, he's not a 20-25 carry-a-game player.
Estime was brought along slowly as a rookie. He has promise as a short-yardage and goal-line option for the team, but he has exhibited a fumbling issue that will need to be fixed if he wants his career to go anywhere.
Badie and Watson are depth guys who can be used in a pinch, but the Broncos should consider looking for another option who can come in and help round out this group.
The most prominent names on the free-agent market are J.K. Dobbins and Nick Chubb. Both players have been connected to the Broncos this offseason by analysts who also feel the team needs more at running back. Jamaal Williams and Gus Edwards are also out there, but after that, things get pretty bleak.
It remains to be seen if the Broncos decide to go with one of these veteran backs but if they don't, they could be taking a calculated risk for a team that figures to be in playoff contention this coming season.
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