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DENVER, CO - AUGUST 16: Head Coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos (R) talks with Broncos owner Greg Penner before the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High on August 16, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos may be positioning themselves for a major move at running back this offseason. One respected NFL insider believes they could be right in the middle of the sweepstakes for the top running back on the market.
During a recent column discussing the developing free agent running back market, Albert Breer pointed to theBroncos as one of the teams that could realistically pursue Kenneth Walker III when free agency opens.
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SI’s @AlbertBreer mentions the Broncos as a team who may give free agent RB Kenneth Walker a deal worth somewhere between $12 and $16 million per year
Breer wrote that the latest developments around the league have clarified the market and elevated Walker to the top of the available running backs.
“The tag also helps to further define the running back market,” Breer wrote. “It leaves Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III alone as the top back on the market, and Walker will probably wind up getting somewhere between $12 million and $16 million per season, from a team like the Seahawks, Broncos or Chiefs.”
That projection immediately puts Denver at the forefront of the conversation for one of the most explosive offensive players available this offseason.
Broncos Positioned to Make Major Running Back Upgrade
The Broncos have been widely expected to address the running back position after the ground game lost momentum during the second half of the 2025 season. Denver actually found success early in the year when J.K. Dobbins was healthy and producing.
However, injuries quickly changed the outlook of the backfield. Once Dobbins went down, the offense struggled to consistently generate the type of rushing production head coach Sean Payton typically prioritizes in his system.
If Dobbins ultimately leaves Denver in free agency, Walker would represent a major upgrade.
The 25-year-old back just delivered one of the most impressive postseason runs in recent memory and capped it off with a dominant performance that earned him Super Bowl MVP honors.
His blend of burst, vision, and home run speed has consistently made him one of the league’s most dangerous runners.
For a Broncos offense built around young quarterback Bo Nix, adding a dynamic backfield weapon could change the entire complexion of the offense under new play caller Davis Webb.
Walker has topped 1,100 yards from scrimmage in three of his first four NFL seasons.
Additionally, he has appeared in 15 or more games in three of his four seasons and has proven capable of handling a heavy workload in big moments. That durability could make him a safer signing than the injury-prone J.K. Dobbins.
Broncos Have the Financial Flexibility to Compete
Just as important as the fit is the financial reality behind a potential move.
Breer’s projected price range of $12 million to $16 million annually would place Walker among the highest paid running backs in football. But Denver may be one of the teams best positioned to make that kind of investment.
The Broncos are finally operating with significantly more cap flexibility after navigating the financial fallout from the Russell Wilson era. That added flexibility gives the front office options, and one of their top offensive priorities this offseason is landing an elite playmaker.
If Denver decides to pursue Walker aggressively, the Broncos would likely have the resources to compete with other interested teams such as the Seahawks or Chiefs.
Breer’s comments do not guarantee anything will happen. However, many around the league expected Seattle to franchise tag Kenneth Walker III.
The fact that the Broncos have already been named as one of the top teams linked to him by a respected insider is very encouraging for Denver.