Michael Burton has a path to playing an 11th NFL season. The well-traveled fullback will stay put with the Broncos, who are bringing him back for what would be a third season with the team.
The team is re-signing Burton on a one-year deal, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans report. Burton is going into his age-33 season. While the Broncos will enter the draft with an eye on adding a starter-caliber running back, they will ensure fullback continuity for another season. Burton played last season for the veteran minimum.
Like a few others on Denver’s roster, Burton has a New Orleans past. Playing for Sean Payton with the 2020 Saints, the well-traveled blocking back reunited with the veteran HC in Denver two years ago. Burton also began his career with the Lions, who employed current Broncos OC Joe Lombardi when Burton arrived as a 2015 fifth-round pick. Burton has also made career stops in Chicago, Washington and Kansas City.
The Broncos used Burton on just 180 offensive snaps last season. That is not exactly out of step with the modern fullback workload (non-Kyle Juszczyk division), as the position has declined in importance for many years now. Pro Football Focus, however, ranked Burton first among FBs in 2024. PFF also ranked Burton first among fullbacks in 2023, and the Broncos will aim to deploy the niche player again in 2025. Burton has also played at least 62% of Denver’s special teams plays in each of his two seasons with the team.
Collecting a Super Bowl ring with the 2022 Chiefs, Burton is now the longest-tenured Broncos back — now that Javonte Williams joined the Cowboys in free agency. Denver still rosters Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin, the latter joining the team as a UDFA weeks after Burton in 2023, along with reserve Tyler Badie. Blake Watson, a 2024 UDFA, is on the roster as well. The team, however, will undoubtedly be looking to this deep draft class to replace Williams, who moved on after four seasons.
The GOAT
If he ranks so high in PFF rankings why has the average fan not paying much attention to Denver never heard of him? I have heard of Juszcyk, Richard, Ham but not this guy. I am not knocking him he has played a long time so good for him. He has no PBs on his resume. I am just not sure what stock to put into their rankings.
He puts up less fantasy stats than those guys do. He’s almost purely an old-school blocking fullback.