Grading Broncos' second-round selection of RB R.J. Harvey

Travis Wakeman

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Grading Broncos' second-round selection of RB R.J. Harvey image

The Denver Broncos needed a running back in a big way in this year's NFL draft. It was the position that was most talked about with the team ahead of this year's draft.

The Broncos passed on a running back in the first round in favor of Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. After trading back twice in the second round from pick No. 51 down to No. 60, the team found Central Florida running back R.J. Harvey. 

Much like with Barron, Harvey was not a player that was discussed much in connection with the Broncos in the pre-draft process. But he is a player that Sean Payton likely locked on and could not go without. 

With Kaleb Johnson of Iowa still on the board, and seemingly a much higher-ranked player, the Broncos went with the 5-foot-8 Harvey. Initially, it looked like a strange pick for the team but when you get into what Harvey has the potential to bring to the table, it becomes an exciting selection. 

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Harvey is a patient runner but with the ball in his hands, he is an exciting player who is capable of making tacklers miss in a phone booth. That's a phrase you often hear when describing a player, but this guy could legitimately do it. 

Harvey is not a big, powerful running back like many seemed the team would be targeting in this draft. But his shiftiness is next level and because of his ability as a receiver, can be a three-down runner, despite his size. Fans of the Colorado Buffaloes may remember playing against him last season. 

Searching around for other thoughts, you will be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't like this move for the Broncos, specifically because of what Payton has done with running backs such as Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, Reggie Bush and Alvin Kamara in the past. 

The Broncos seemed destined to take a running back in the second round. With the Ohio State duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins already off the board, the Broncos found a guy who some had as their No. 3 running back in this draft. 

He has overcome adversity and proven he belongs as a second-round pick. After beginning his career in college as a quarterback at Virginia, he transferred to UCF and switched to running back. Ahead of the 2021 season, he suffered a torn ACL. 

But Harvey bounced back and had huge seasons in 2023 and 2024 for the Knights, rushing for over 3,000 yards and scoring 38 touchdowns in that time. At only 24 years old, the Broncos have a contributor for many years to come in this guy. 

Grade: A

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Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.