Broncos To Pursue RB, LB Upgrades

Having reached extension agreements to keep a few key players away from free agency, the Broncos do not have too many starters close to hitting the market. A few are, however, and the 31-7 wild-card loss to the Bills revealed a sizable gap between the Broncos’ current standing and the AFC’s formidable top tier.

Acquiring more help for Bo Nix will be on the team’s radar. It would stand to reason wide receiver will be considered, as Courtland Sutton will turn 30 during a 2025 contract year, and tight end improvements will be on the radar after Greg Dulcich disappointed to the point he was waived in-season. A clear-cut upgrade area on offense looks to be running back, however.

[RELATED: Nik Bonitto On Broncos’ Extension Radar]

Sean Payton said the Broncos need help at the position, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Although free agent-to-be Javonte Williams is interested in staying, Denver has not seen the 2021 second-round pick come too close to resembling his rookie-year version — before ACL and LCL tears sidetracked his career. The team also has change-of-pace back Jaleel McLaughlin and fifth-round rookie Audric Estime set to return, but it should be expected another starter-caliber back will be added in free agency and/or the draft.

While Payton indicated (via Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer) the team will still use a two-RB approach, Williams leading the 2024 Denver edition with 513 yards represented an underwhelming effort that impacted the team’s offense. Nix’s 430 yards played a key role in the Broncos’ somewhat deceiving 16th-place rushing ranking. The RB market will not be as fruitful as it was in 2024, however, with the likes of Chuba Hubbard, Rhamondre Stevenson and James Conner signing extensions.

Payton’s Saints offenses regularly featured multipurpose threats — Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara being the most notable examples — and Aaron Jones would fit the bill as a potential option, though the 2024 Vikings starter turned 30 last month. Najee Harris profiles as a more traditional back and may be the top UFA option due to the aforementioned extensions. Rico Dowdle broke through for a 1,079-yard rushing season in Dallas and should have a much better market compared to his 2024 status.

Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, who nearly broke Barry Sanders‘ Division I-FBS rushing yardage record (with 2,601) will be the top RB available in the draft after declaring last week. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Jeanty as the 2025 class’ fourth-best prospect, while assigning Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) second-round grades in what is viewed as a better class compared to 2024. Jeanty might be out of the Broncos’ reach, pointing to a potential Day 2 selection being in play to boost this position group.

Elsewhere on the Broncos’ roster, three-down linebacker Cody Barton is a looming free agent who has shown interest in coming back. But the the team is expected to target an upgrade at that position as well, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Entering a contract year, Alex Singleton suffered an ACL tear in Week 2 and is now 31. The team also has replacement Justin Strnad — a player who went from 2022-23 without playing a snap on defense — due for free agency. Denver lost Josey Jewell to Carolina last year, but with Russell Wilson‘s contract still set to bring $30MM-plus in 2025 dead money, the team might continue to be cautious in spending at this position.

GM George Paton (via Tomasson) alluded to a measured approach in free agency, though he pointed to a projected $52MM in cap space as a reminder the team can chase some roster augmentations after a cautious 2024 free agency period — thanks to Wilson’s whopping $53MM cap penalty. Paton said (via Tomasson) the Broncos’ intent to use more young players in 2024 led to the team taking on the larger portion of Wilson’s record-shattering dead money bill in 2024. The contract will be off the books in 2026.