Denver Columnist Stumps For A Huge Running Back Trade

The Denver Broncos have a problem at running back, as they’re not getting much from starter J.K. Dobbins. He’s currently averaging just over three yards a carry, and while his backup, RJ Harvey, is a more than capable receiver, there are needs here that likely aren’t going to met by rookie running back Jonah Coleman as he returns from IR. 

That means a move is necessary, and columnist Troy Renck of the Denver Post has a solution. It’s not particularly unique or innovative, but Renck thinks the Broncos should trade for running back Jonathan Taylor, who he thinks would fix and “offseason mistake.”

That mistake, per Renck, is loyalty. The Broncos stuck with Dobbins because of it, and they declined to meet the demands of running back Travis Etienne when they rose to four years and $47 million dollars. 

Pivoting back to Dobbins made sense at the time, but he hasn’t been the same player. He’s not explosive after sustaining a Lisfranc foot injury last year, and there’s no way of knowing if or when it will come back. 

Renck also pointed to Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III as the big difference between the two team, and that’s largely true right now. Walker decimated the Denver defense when the teams played in their season opener, and he’ll try to do it again when the Broncos return home to play Kansas City after Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. 

The columnist also mentioned Coleman, but he noted that the rookie will probably take a few weeks to get back up to speed after the ankle injury he sustained. And Coleman is a rookie, so he hasn’t done much so far and is still learning the NFL version of his position.

Taylor, meanwhile, is 27, and he has four season in which he’s rushed for over 1,000 yards, plus he’s on track for another. The Colts are imploding again, and GM Chris Ballard just got fire. 

Taylor is affordable as well, with a 2027 salary of $15 million that doesn’t become guaranteed until Feb. 19. Taylor would be an upgrade, and he’d transform the offense from one that’s dependent on Bo Nix to a ground-and-pound unit that would take a lot of pressure off the quarterback. 

The draft capital would be horrendous, and the Broncos have already sacrificed nearly all of theirs to get receiver Jaylen Waddle, and they’d have to completely mortgage their future to get Taylor. Renck thinks a move like this is a must if the Broncos are truly in a championship window, and he’s got a point there.