RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
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RJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Denver Broncos enter the 2026 offseason with three running backs under contract, including 2025 second-round pick RJ Harvey, and another potentially returning to the roster in short order as the draft and free agency loom large.
Harvey, the 60th overall pick of his class, assumed lead-back duties late this past season.
He showcased his ability as a pass-catcher throughout the campaign. But Harvey’s ineffectiveness as a runner has the Broncos in a familiar situation.
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RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
GettyRJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With Harvey on the roster, the Broncos were outbid for running back David Montgomery, whom the Detroit Lions traded to the Houston Texans for fourth and seventh-round draft picks.
The price was viewed as steep, but understandable after it became clear that there were other suitors. However, news that the Broncos were the team that got in on Montgomery late caught NFL Network’s Michael F. Florio’s attention and put a spotlight on Harvey.
“That is not what you wanna hear if you’re an RJ Harvey supporter,” Florio posted on X on March 2, adding in a follow-up post that the Broncos will “add a RB for sure. But there’s different levels to who they add and Monty would see a JK Dobbins workload and maybe more. If you like Harvey you want a back that’ll be a compliment to him, not the other way around.”
Florio’s point is about fantasy relevance.
The sentiments have real-world application, too, though, particularly regarding Harvey, as the Broncos’ efforts appear telling.
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RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
GettyRJ Harvey #12 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport drove the point home for Harvey regarding the Broncos’ view on their backfield.
“Almost never, it feels like, do we have this many good, productive young running backs who are set to make some money,” Rapoport said on “The Insiders” on March 2. You have teams like the Denver Broncos, Seattle, if they lose Ken Walker, perhaps the Kansas City Chiefs, perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars–you have several teams that need a running back and want to go into the draft saying, ‘We don’t have a gaping gaping hole.’”
Rapoport’s remarks raised some eyebrows in Broncos Country, and they should for Harvey.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton noted running back among the “musts” for the Broncos to evaluate during the scouting combine, though he framed it as having more to do with Dobbins’ pending free agency.
In reality, the Broncos’ efforts speak volumes about their views of Dobbins and Harvey.
Former Broncos RB Set Market
GettyJavonte Williams #33 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts against the New York Giants.
Rapoport also noted that former Broncos running back Javonte Williams’ contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys could be the benchmark in free agency.
Williams got a three-year, $24 million deal nearly one year after leaving Denver in free agency.
“The Javonte Williams deal really set it up to where it feels like $8 million-plus is probably the market here. For instance, if David Montgomery gets a new deal, I would imagine he kind of comes in around there,” Rapoport said.
“These guys are going to get paid in a way that we haven’t seen in some time. And, at the least, … we’re going to rebuild the running back market, probably where it should be.”
If that is the case, the Broncos have even more clarity heading into the offseason.