The Broncos are about to hit training camp, and while plenty of attention is already landing on wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, and safety, there’s another roster fight sitting a little quieter in the background: running back.
At the top of the depth chart, Denver looks set to sort J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and rookie Jonah Coleman in that order.
The real question is what happens after that. The Broncos have carried four running backs on their Week 1 roster in each of the past two seasons, and with six backs currently on the 90-man roster, the final spot looks like a battle between two familiar names - Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin.
Both players bring a similar build and athletic profile, but they get there in different ways. That’s what makes this competition worth watching as camp gets rolling later this month.
Badie’s case starts with special teams. Last season, he was a regular part of that unit, appearing in 16 games and playing 59% of Denver’s special teams snaps.
A big chunk of that work came as a returner, where he handled 17 kick returns for 452 yards, which works out to a little over 26 yards per return. Marvin Mims handled more of that responsibility, but Badie’s involvement there still matters when you’re looking at how he fits on the roster.
He also gave Denver a little something on offense. Badie carried the ball eight times for 23 yards and added 19 catches for 144 yards. That kind of versatility gives him a small but real argument as a back who can help in a pinch.
McLaughlin’s value comes from a different place. He didn’t do nearly as much on special teams, logging just 7% of the Broncos’ total special teams snaps, and that could work against him in a roster fight for a depth role. Teams usually want those back-end running backs to contribute in that phase, not just wait around for offensive snaps.
But McLaughlin has the stronger case as a runner. He was active in eight games last season and turned 37 carries into 187 yards and a touchdown. In the passing game, he had just four receptions for 27 yards, which is where Badie held the edge.
So the Broncos’ decision at RB4 really comes down to what they want that last spot to do. If they’re prioritizing special teams help and some extra utility in the passing and screen game, Badie makes a strong case. If they want a back who can step in and carry the ball, McLaughlin is the better fit.
Right now, with the top three of the room looking the way it does, Badie seems to have the more useful role. But training camp and the weeks that follow will do the deciding, and there’s still plenty of time for that picture to change before cutdown day.
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Jonah Coleman is arriving in Denver with a path to real playing time already in view, even if he begins training camp behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey on the Broncos running back depth chart. The rookie has drawn praise for his versatility, with evaluators pointing to the kind of all-around skill set that can help in pass protection and in short-yardage spots, and Denver intends to work him into the rotation as the summer unfolds.
There is also a little extra draft-day intrigue hanging over Colemans first NFL season, the kind that tends to linger when a player lands in a place that once looked like a natural fit. The Broncos see a useful piece they can deploy based on game flow and health, but the larger question is whether Coleman can turn that early role into something bigger and give the team a reason to revisit how the board unfolded. [Read more 🡒]