If you’re a Broncos fan who can’t quite make heads or tails of what direction the team is leaning at running back after veteran J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey, you’re not alone.
Sean Payton is right there with you.
The third-year Denver head coach acknowledged as much Thursday, and he considers it a good problem to have. In fact, he spoke with a sense of curiosity and excitement as he outlined just how tightly contested the battle for roster spots is in Denver’s backfield.
“Here’s the deal: You’re right where I’m at, and we don’t know yet,” Payton said of the battle. “If you recall, at the start of training camp, I said we’re all going to know (in a few weeks). And I hopefully am going to be right, but we all don’t know yet, and it’s still a very competitive spot.
“… We’re not there yet, but the good news is we still have 10 or 11 days, and hopefully we can get there and we’ll all know.”
Payton talks about Harvey and Dobbins as clear pieces to Denver’s backfield puzzle. Last week against San Francisco, Harvey handled most of the early down work, and Dobbins was primarily the third-down back.
Dobbins is going to play extensively on third downs because he’s clearly the Broncos’ best pass protector. That means the question for him is how far beyond that work his role extends.
After those two, Jaleel McLaughlin has the most experience and is the most accomplished of the rest. Is he a sure thing? Payton on Thursday made it sound like he’s still competing for a role and roster spot along with Tyler Badie, Audric Estime and Blake Watson.
The Broncos, Payton said, could keep four backs, but there are conversations across the rest of the roster. Want to keep an extra back? What about a third quarterback? Or an extra defensive lineman in a deep, talented group?
Given that almost none of Denver’s starters are playing Saturday night vs. Arizona (7:30 p.m., KUSA-9), the game will represent a chance for bubble players to get extensive playing time.
So, here’s a closer look at the running back race and three other position battles to watch.
Running back
Payton had specific, considerable praise for Badie on Thursday. To be fair, he was asked a question about the former Missouri back, but Payton’s insight was still interesting.
“He’s someone who has really good football IQ,” Payton said. “He’s a little bit more experienced. He’s been here, but that doesn’t equate to anything. He’s good in the protections. When the fronts move around, he’s a good receiver. …
“He can play in the two-minute, and we activated him late in the year for a playoff game. There’s some savviness to his game. Before he got hurt, he had a little bit of success. So I like the player. I like coaching him.”
The protection part is perhaps most noteworthy. After Dobbins, Badie might be Denver’s best pass protector. That alone doesn’t guarantee a roster spot, but it does come into play because teams need a couple of backs who can protect, and also because of Dobbins’ extensive injury history.
Each of the other three has also done good things, and they’re all different shapes and sizes.
“You guys can do the math. Hopefully (Saturday) we’re getting a ton more exposure,” Payton said. “That’s one of those position groups of like, ‘Let’s find the argument for Tyler. Let’s find the argument for Audric, let’s find it for Jaleel.’ You’re rooting for all of them.”
Wide receiver
On paper, this looks like a clean six-man room. Those players: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, Pat Bryant and Trent Sherfield Jr.
Last year, Denver cut veteran Tim Patrick after a productive camp, so a surprise somewhere is possible.
Payton’s bullish on his receiver depth, too, and said Thursday he wouldn’t be surprised if somebody on Denver’s camp roster ended up on another team’s 53-man to start the season.
Michael Bandy’s been a practice squad regular, and the coaching staff trusts him. A.T. Perry might have pushed harder for a roster spot, but he’s still just getting ramped up after starting camp on the PUP list. Each of Denver’s undrafted rookies — Joaquin Davis, Jerjuan Newton, Courtney Jackson and Kyrese Rowan — has had bright spots during camp. Davis, in particular, is a player to dream on given his size (6-foot-4, 195 pounds), speed and leaping ability.
Defensive line
Every year is a little different, but the Broncos started last year with six defensive linemen.
This year, six would probably mean getting rid of a promising player who was on the roster last year.
Start with Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, John Franklin-Myers, self-proclaimed “sixth man of the year” Malcolm Roach and rookie third-rounder Sai’vion Jones. That leaves a potential battle between Eyioma Uwazurike and Jordan Jackson for a sixth spot.
It’s not impossible to take all seven. The name of the game is finding “the right 53,” Payton always says, and retaining as much talent as possible. But that’s a big number for a team that plays primarily three or even two down.
Safety
The Broncos are set on the top line with Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga, while P.J. Locke provides a ton of experience as a third. After that … well, we’ll see.
Devon Key’s played the most defense for Denver among the rest of the group, but his strong suit is special teams. JL Skinner is a good one on special teams, too. Keidron Smith has also been on those units, while Delarrin Turner-Yell was solid on special teams before an injury cost him all of 2024. Sam Franklin signed as a special teams ace this spring.
Special teams work is going to factor heavily here, but there are other roster considerations. Do the Broncos feel good about going much beyond four or maybe five, given their depth of talent at other spots? Could the group get pinched to take an extra DL, corner or another position?
This will be an area ripe for surprise and is tough to peg without knowing exactly how new special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi sees the group’s capabilities.
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