J.K. Dobbins has become the Broncos’ most interesting name to watch as the Nov. 10 deadline creeps closer, and it’s not because he’s suddenly been buried by injury or ineffectiveness. It’s because rookie Jonah Coleman is changing the shape of Denver’s backfield, and Dobbins is now the veteran who looks like he’s slipping into the background.
That shift showed up in a very real way in Week 7, when Dobbins logged a season-low 14 snaps in Denver’s 30-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. With Coleman back from injured reserve, Dobbins saw both his snaps and touches cut down in the desert. The Broncos’ offense simply looks different with Coleman involved.
Coleman gives Sean Payton something Dobbins and RJ Harvey do not. He can help as a receiver and in pass protection, which forces defenses to hesitate for a beat.
They can’t immediately lock in on run or pass when he’s on the field. That uncertainty matters, and in the NFL, it’s exactly the kind of edge an offense wants.
With Dobbins and Harvey, opponents can read the situation more cleanly and play the odds.
That puts Denver in a difficult spot. If the Broncos want to climb out of the bottom 10 in rushing offense, they may have to keep leaning into Coleman’s role even if it means fewer opportunities for Dobbins.
The problem is that Dobbins doesn’t appear to be handling the change especially well. If his frustration keeps showing up the wrong way, the Broncos could become open to moving him.
And there are teams around the league that could use running back help right now, including the New York Giants, who have already made a major trade for quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
A Giants connection would make some sense because of the ties between Dobbins and John Harbaugh from their Baltimore days. Harbaugh drafted Dobbins in the second round in 2020. Other teams in the mix for backfield help include the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and possibly the Carolina Panthers.
Dobbins’ injury history is part of the equation, too. He was banged up early this season, but he has not missed a game.
Contractually, though, any trade gets tricky. The Broncos just gave Dobbins a two-year, $16 million extension, but only the first year was guaranteed.
That helps and hurts a potential deal. Another team wouldn’t be tied to him beyond 2026 unless he really excels.
At the same time, the money ramps up quickly in 2027, when he carries a $10 million cap number and a $7 million base salary after being at $6 million this year. That’s manageable for a lead back, but expensive for a secondary piece in a rotation.
There is some relief for a suitor, though. Nearly half of the 2026 season is already gone, the Broncos have eaten a decent portion of the contract, and Dobbins’ $4 million signing bonus has already been paid out. That makes the deal a little easier to swallow for a team hunting immediate help more than long-term certainty.
Denver also isn’t under any pressure to move him cheaply. Tyler Badie is on injured reserve for three more games, and Cody Schrader is the emergency option on the practice squad if the Broncos did get blown away by an offer.
And the Broncos still value Dobbins. Payton has praised him and credited him with helping fuel Denver’s rise in confidence and swagger last year.
That appreciation showed in the Cardinals game, too. On a drive where Coleman handled most of the running work and converted two of his three carries for first downs, Payton gave Dobbins the team’s only goal-line carry, and he finished it off.
Even so, the reaction afterward raised eyebrows. Instead of celebrating with his teammates, Dobbins headed straight to the sideline and sat on the bench. After the game, he reportedly did not make himself available to reporters in the locker room, which added to the sense that he was frustrated with the role.
Payton pays attention to body language, and he expects leadership from players others look to in the room. If the frustration keeps spilling over, the situation could get messy before the deadline.
Still, Dobbins has earned some patience. His disappointment at being pushed into a secondary role is understandable, but it would be surprising if he doesn’t bring a better edge Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Character has not been the issue here.
So while a Dobbins trade is still unlikely, he’s suddenly one of the more surprising names to monitor. Coleman’s rise, last week’s sideline reaction and the league-wide demand for running backs have all pushed him into the spotlight.
If another team comes calling, the Broncos will listen. They’d just need a serious offer to part with a healthy veteran back they still like.
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