Many fans within Broncos Country were anticipating the team selecting a running back with the No. 20 overall pick in the draft on Thursday night. Instead, the Denver Broncos added to an already strong defense, bringing in cornerback Jahdae Barron, last season's Jim Thorpe Award winner.
Though some fans are unhappy with that selection as it did nothing to help the team's running game, the selection of Barron has scored well among analysts posting draft grades after the first round.
Perhaps those fans will be appeased if the team selects a running back in round two. With great depth at the position in this class, there will be several options potentially available when the Broncos go back on the clock at pick No. 51.
Denver Broncos second-round running back options
Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Kaleb Johnson put up massive numbers for Iowa last season and he would be a great prospect for the Broncos. Johnson is a volume rusher who is used to handling a high number of carries and he gets stronger as the game goes on.
Your chance to call it now, who picks Kaleb Johnson tonight in the NFL Draft?
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) April 25, 2025
I'll say he joins Riley Moss in Denver. Broncos take him in the second round. pic.twitter.com/LKBVgk04kX
Johnson is a powerful, explosive back who combines great vision with one-cut quickness and he is tough to bring down, carrying defenders for extra yardage. His biggest positive trait is his ability to keep that explosiveness as the game wears on, meaning he could become a great closer in games down the stretch.
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
The Broncos have been rumored to be very high on TreVeyon Henderson, but if they wanted him, they probably needed to overpay with a first-round pick. Now, it could require a trade-up in the second round.
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The Chicago Bears, who are looking for a running back to pair with D'Andre Swift and likely would have jumped on Ashton Jeanty if he fell to them, pick twice in the second round before the Broncos.
Henderson is considered one of the best available players still on the board. Henderson has terrific athletic traits as a running back. He brings great burst, explosiveness, good vision and can step up in pass protection, something that is rare for young running backs. On top of that, he will also be an asset in the passing game.
The Broncos would love to select him and if you polled Broncos Country, he would probably be the player most would like to see come to Denver. But it would likely require a move up the board.
Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
If the Broncos can't get Henderson, Quinshon Judkins is a terrific parting gift.
Judkins is a straight-ahead, bowling ball of a runner who loves to engage in physical contact. He is scheme versatile and has deceptive acceleration, able to turn a short run into a massive chunk play down the field. He will need to work on his receiving skills but there is enough there to show he can develop well in that area.
He might be the most likely pick for the team on this list. This Day 2 mock draft by the Scouting Department at Bleacher Report predicts the Broncos will take him.
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
If the Broncos don't get one of the three running backs already mentioned, there could be real discouragement within the fanbase. Dylan Sampson would still be a capable option for the team, but he wouldn't bring as much excitement as the other three.
Sampson is a bit undersized at 5-foot-8 and exhibited a bit of a fumbling problem while in college, but he possesses true home-run speed and the Broncos have been rumored to have interest in him throughout the draft process.
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