Despite playoff contention, the Broncos' rushing attack falters. Securing a dominant back in 2026 is crucial to elevate their Bo Nix-led offense.
The Denver Broncos are set to enter the postseason as potentially the No. 1, and even if they don't get that seed, they should be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Head coach Sean Payton has turned things around in Denver, and quarterback Bo Nix has played well in his young NFL career.
But, going forward, one position that could an upgrade (and there aren't many of them in Denver), is the running back room.
Former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL.com named five teams that need to upgrade the running back room, and, in a bit of a surprise, the Broncos made the list.
"The Broncos have an average rushing attack that ranks 19th in the NFL. While rookie RJ Harvey has done a pretty good job since being pressed into the starting role -- getting much of his shine as a pass catcher out of the backfield -- this unit was at its best when J.K. Dobbins was healthy. With Dobbins in Weeks 1-10, the Broncos were tied for seventh in rush yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Without him in Weeks 11-17, they're tied for 21st, averaging 4.0 yards per attempt. Dobbins, a free agent this offseason, provided a physical element that this offense has lacked since he sustained a season-ending foot injury in mid-November. Jaleel McLaughlin (RFA) and Tyler Badie (ERFA) will likely re-join Harvey in the backfield in 2026, but re-signing Dobbins (if he's healthy) or adding a physical runner like Brian Robinson Jr. is essential to taking this Bo Nix-led offense to the next level."
Now, Harvey has done wonders in his rookie year, but Dobbins still leads the team with 772 yards in 10 games. Besides Dobbins and Harvey, it is just Jaleel McLaughlin, and it remains to be seen if Dobbins returns in 2026 or not.
Plus, Dobbins has been injury-prone as of late. Harvey could be a capable starting running back, but the NFL has shifted into a workhorse and timeshare strategy at the RB position, so adding another solid RB alongside Harvey would be a smart move going forward.
The good news is that the Broncos don't have many areas they need to upgrade going forward, so being able to either spend money on a running back or draft one in the NFL Draft is a move that would make sense for Denver going forward in hopes of continuing their dominance.