For much of this offseason, it didn't seem like the Denver Broncos would prioritize re-signing running back J.K. Dobbins, at least not on the first day of the legal tampering window. But after seeing the massive contracts that running backs such as Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne were getting, the team opted to go the more cost-effective route.
Dobbins was terrific in his first season with the Broncos, rushing for 772 yards, which was fifth-most in the NFL, before a foot injury that he suffered in Week 10 sidelined him for the rest of the season. That left the Broncos without an effective rushing attack, and might have been the biggest reason the team fell short of the Super Bowl.
Last offseason, Dobbins hoped that the Los Angeles Chargers would give him a second contract despite missing time with an injury during the 2024 season. That didn't happen and the Broncos chose to take a flyer on him. Now, they are also choosing to overlook his injury history.
Grading the Broncos re-signing J.K. Dobbins
Broncos fans wanted a bigger name, such as Walker, Etienne or even Tyler Allgeier. With all of those players off the board, the team chose to get something done before being left out in the cold. But Dobbins' injury history is impossible to overlook.
The #Broncos are re-signing RB JK Dobbins.
Dobbins was having a career year for Denver before his injury — and would’ve been back for the Super Bowl if Denver made it that far. Now he’s back. pic.twitter.com/nVxRDtaetO
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 9, 2026
It's hard to assess this transaction fully because much of whether it was a good move or not depends on what else the team does. George Paton and Sean Payton need to be looking for another option to add to the backfield through free agency before relying on hoping to find that player in the draft.
Dobbins is an effective runner and he was a solid mentor to rookie RJ Harvey last season. Fans should be excited about having that combination back, but Dobbins' health has to be accounted for with a solid insurance policy.
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If the Broncos add another proven option in free agency, then this deal gets an A. If not, it's more like a lower C. For now, we'll go in the middle.
Grade: B
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