If the Indianapolis Colts decide to tear things down and start over, the Denver Broncos may need to be ready to jump in before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, November 10.
Running back has become one of the clearest problem spots on the Broncos’ roster. JK Dobbins has not resembled his usual self and is averaging only 3.3 yards per carry this season.
Jonah Coleman is a rookie who has just come off injured reserve, even with the organization still high on him. Tyler Badie also appears headed for missed time after getting hurt in Week 6.
That’s why Terron Armstead is pushing Denver toward a potential splash. Sean Payton’s former Saints left tackle is urging the Broncos to pursue Jonathan Taylor if the Colts make him available.
. @T_Armstead72 would love to see Jonathan Taylor in Denver or Seattle if the Colts move on from him 👀 #justfootball pic.twitter.com/i4ByLT3DdY
- NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 21, 2026
Armstead’s thinking is simple: Taylor would help ease the burden on Bo Nix and could give a major lift to one of the league’s least effective rushing attacks.
- Former Saints OT Terron Armstead
There’s also a little history here worth keeping in mind. Sean Payton reportedly tried to bring Armstead aboard during the 2025 offseason, and while that doesn’t put Armstead in the middle of any negotiations, it does show the kind of voice Payton tends to trust. He has long valued input from former players.
The Broncos’ ground game is telling the same story Armstead is seeing. Even with Nix under pressure, opponents are still inviting Denver to run the football. Dobbins is seeing 8+ men in the box fewer than all but one running back with at least 80 rushing attempts this season, Jaguars back Bhayshul Tuten.
And yet the production after contact has been ugly.
Denver's run game after contact:
#30 in yards after contact per rush at 2.26
#31 in % of runs that gain 5+ yards at 26.5
#31 in longest run at 17 yards
#31 in elusiveness rating
- Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 21, 2026
That leaves Denver in a frustrating spot. The boxes are lighter than they should be, the opportunities are there, and Dobbins still isn’t turning those chances into much.
Dobbins has said recently that he hasn’t been 100 percent this season, and the results back that up.
So the real question is whether the Broncos are willing to act.
They probably should. If Taylor becomes available, he has to sit near the top of Denver’s trade board as one of the two or three most appealing options out there.
The Broncos already knew their backfield was an issue. They were preparing to explore the position in free agency until it became clear that Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne were heading to the Chiefs and Saints, respectively.
Once that happened, Dobbins was the best option left, and Denver moved quickly.
But the Broncos didn’t invest so much in Dobbins that they should shut the door on another move, even if Taylor would come at a higher price.
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For Klatt, the answer is still no. He suggested the Broncos best path is not a quick switch, but a better version of Nix himself, which is what makes this stretch so tricky for a team that is trying to balance patience with urgency. If the offense keeps sputtering, the question only gets harder, but for now the argument around Denvers quarterback spot remains as much about the long view as the next snap. [Read more 🡒]