The Denver Broncos came up just short of a Super Bowl appearance, falling 10-7 to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. And while the loss stings, it’s hard not to wonder what might’ve been if rookie quarterback Bo Nix hadn’t fractured his ankle in the Divisional Round.
Still, Denver isn’t dwelling on what-ifs. They’ve already begun reshaping their coaching staff and are now turning their attention to building off a promising 2025 campaign - with free agency and the NFL Draft firmly in focus.
The good news? They’ve got room to maneuver.
With over $26 million in cap space, the Broncos are in a strong position to make a splash this offseason. And if there’s one area that could use a serious injection of talent, it’s the backfield.
Enter Kenneth Walker - or at least, the idea of Kenneth Walker.
The Seattle Seahawks running back put the league on notice during Super Bowl 60, putting together the kind of performance that turns heads across front offices. Walker carried the ball 27 times for 135 yards, added 26 receiving yards on two catches, and was named Super Bowl MVP.
That’s not just a good day - that’s a legacy game. And it came on the biggest stage.
Walker’s postseason run was nothing short of electric. In the Divisional Round against the 49ers, he racked up 116 yards and three touchdowns on just 19 carries.
He followed that up in the NFC Championship Game with 62 yards and another score. Add in his regular season - 1,027 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 221 carries - and you’re looking at a player who’s not just consistent, but clutch when it matters most.
So yes, Walker would be a dream target for the Broncos. He’s the kind of dynamic, downhill runner who could take pressure off a young quarterback like Nix and open up the offense in a big way. But here’s the catch - it’s unlikely he ever hits the open market.
Seattle’s already dealing with a depleted backfield after Zach Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in the Divisional Round. That alone makes Walker even more valuable to the Seahawks. And with the franchise tag for running backs projected around $14.2 million, Seattle has a realistic path to keeping him in the fold - either through the tag or a long-term extension.
New head coach Mike Macdonald has already made it clear he wants Walker to stick around, and Walker himself said during Super Bowl week that he’d prefer to stay in Seattle. That mutual interest makes it hard to imagine the Seahawks letting him walk, even with the financial implications.
For the Broncos, that means they’ll likely need to look elsewhere to fill their need at running back. But Walker’s performance - especially under the postseason spotlight - sets the bar.
Denver doesn’t just need a back who can eat carries. They need someone who can tilt the field, control the tempo, and be a difference-maker in January.
The Broncos have the cap space. They have the momentum. Now, it’s about finding the right pieces - even if Kenneth Walker ends up being the one that got away.