Jonah Coleman is headed into his first NFL training camp with real buzz already building around him, even though he arrived in Denver as a fourth-round pick. The Broncos rookie running back has drawn plenty of attention from national media, and he’s also been the rookie fans have been most eager to watch.
That interest makes sense. Coleman slipped to Round 4, but he was one of the most complete backs in the 2026 draft class - a true three-down runner whose slide was tied to a lack of straight-line speed. Even so, the Broncos believe he has enough burst to matter, and fans will get their first look Friday when the team opens its first training camp practice to Broncos Country.
NFL Media’s Gennaro Filice already has Coleman in the conversation for the 2026 NFL All-Rookie Team, placing him alongside Arizona’s Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick, in his early running back selections.
"Checking in at 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, Coleman is a bowling ball with three-down ability, having eclipsed 1,100 scrimmage yards in each of his final three college campaigns. It's a crowded running back room in Denver, but J.K. Dobbins has never stayed healthy for a full season while RJ Harvey performed best in a specialized role as a rookie," Filice wrote.
"Sean Payton likes taking a committee approach at the position, and Coleman seems like the kind of experienced, well-rounded back who can hit the ground running [in] the NFL, carving out a significant role in Year 1. He lacks game-breaking speed, but I envision him routinely moving the chains behind Denver's stout offensive line."
That kind of role is exactly why Coleman is worth watching. He’ll begin camp at the bottom of the depth chart, but by the time the season opens, he could be Denver’s No. 3 back and maybe even No. 2 behind Dobbins. The Broncos clearly like RJ Harvey after his 12 total touchdowns as a rookie, but Coleman gives them something different.
And that difference matters. Denver was missing a real between-the-tackles presence last season after Dobbins went down with a Week 10 foot injury.
The Broncos tried to lean on Harvey in that spot, but consistency wasn’t there from snap to snap. Coleman’s game is built for that kind of work, and even with Dobbins healthy, it’s easy to see Denver using him.
Before the injury hit, Dobbins was averaging 15 carries per game, while Harvey was at five. That worked out to about 20 planned rushing attempts per game from the Broncos’ backs.
This year, that total could climb if Denver leans harder into the run game with more options in the backfield. Even if the overall volume stays the same, the Broncos have reason to trim Dobbins’s workload a bit to help keep him healthy.
A reasonable setup would have Dobbins around 10-12 carries per game, with Harvey and Coleman dividing up the rest. That would help keep Dobbins on the field and still give both younger backs enough work to stay involved.
Coleman also brings value in short-yardage situations. His thick lower body and vision let him squeeze through tight openings and push the pile, which gives Denver another tool near the goal line. Harvey still has the edge there because of his proven nose for the end zone, but Coleman’s power gives the Broncos another option.
The red zone should still belong mostly to Harvey, but Coleman’s receiving ability and willingness to block give him a path to snaps in plenty of situations. He also found the end zone often in college, scoring 25 rushing touchdowns over his final two seasons at Washington.
The biggest question around Coleman’s All-Rookie upside is simple: how much work will he actually get? Denver is counting on Dobbins staying healthy, and if that happens, the veteran should handle most of the carries. But if history repeats itself and Dobbins misses time, Coleman could be pushed right into the No. 1 role.
If that happens, the rookie could put up serious numbers behind Denver’s top-tier offensive line, a group led by two first-team All-Pros. For now, though, the Broncos are just hoping the backfield stays intact. A healthy rotation would keep the ground game fresh and explosive.
Coleman’s arrival also gives Denver some protection against the unknown with Dobbins. The Broncos brought Dobbins back with a 4x raise, but they also made sure to add insurance in Coleman.
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