If the Broncos want a running back from this draft class to backstop J.K. Dobbins as part of the 1-2 punch with RJ Harvey, they’ll have to find one from a group that is “not deep” — at least as ESPN’s long-time draft guru, Mel Kiper Jr. sees it.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be options for the Broncos — potentially plenty of them when Round 4 begins.
After trading away two-thirds of their early-round picks in exchange for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos are left with only the No. 62 overall choice in Round 2 from the draft’s first two days. But they have two selections early in the fourth round to open Day 3: overall choices 108 and 111.
And when that day arrives, plenty of running backs should still be available for the Broncos to consider.
“The running backs are going to get pushed down,” Kiper said when I asked him about running-back possibilities late on Day 2 and into Day 3 of the draft during a conference call this week. “So, while it’s not deep on paper, I don’t think a lot of these running backs are going to go very high.
“… So, at the end of the day, it’s gonna be kind of all over the place. I’m anxious to see how many of these running backs go within the first three rounds.
“You may only have three running backs by the time we finish Day Two selected, at the most, four. That’s it. And all these other guys are going to go on Day Three.”
If just three runners go off the board during the draft’s first two days, those are most likely to be the two Notre Dame running backs — Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price — and Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr., who dazzled at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash time. The Broncos met with Price at the Combine.
Love is a near-lock to be selected within the draft’s first 10 picks. Price could go anywhere from the late first round to somewhere in the second round; if the Broncos want to be in play for him, they will probably need to move up from No. 62.
“Jadarian Price had some fumbles late last year into this year. So, he’s got ball security he’s gotta shore up and get more reps catching the football,” Kiper said. “But as a pure running back, north, south, outstanding kickoff returner, Jadarian Price is going to be [good] … So, I think in the early second, mid-second, he comes off the board.”
Next would be Washington, whose frame — 6-foot-1, 223 pounds — and style could fit the template of a potential long-term complement to Harvey for the Broncos.
“Mike Washington Jr. from Arkansas is the guy to watch, because he went from (the University at) Buffalo, New Mexico State — where he didn’t do much — to Arkansas this past year. Had a great year,” Kiper said. “Over a thousand yards with 6.8 average per carry, 8 touchdowns, 28 receptions out of the backfield.
“He had that unfortunate fumble late against Memphis. That was the only hiccup. At 6-1, 223 pounds, ran exceptionally well in the four-threes. Tested out well athletically, with his hands, with the way he ran. He’s got just enough wiggle for me, for his size. Mike Washington Jr. from Arkansas could be in the third-round mix.”
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SO, WHO COULD BE ON THE TABLE FOR THE BRONCOS IN DAY 3?
Kiper pointed to a slew of running backs including:
Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Kaleon Black, Indiana
Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
Jonah Coleman, Washington
Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Seth McGowan, Kentucky
Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
The Broncos are known to have met with Coleman and Johnson at the Combine; Kiper described both as “third- or fourth-rounders.”
With each running back, there are concerns. Claiborne, for example, had six total fumbles last year for the Demon Deacons. Singleton is recovering with a broken foot suffered during Senior Bowl week. Moss tore his ACL and MCL in 2024, then missed six games due to an ankle injury last season. McGowan has five fumbles in the last two seasons and didn’t break a run longer than 20 yards in 2025.
Thus, with other positions more robust and likely to be the focus of earlier runs, the runners could slip, delaying the near-inevitable run on the position.
“And that’s going to allow you — if you wait on running back — to find that Isiah Pacheco that goes in the seventh round, or somebody like that, that goes late in the draft that ends up — or Aaron Jones out of UTEP who ended up in the fifth, sixth round when he came out. Right? You’re gonna find guys like that. Priest Holmes went undrafted coming out of Texas back in the day,” Kiper said.
“You’re gonna be able to find some of these running backs that maybe are in my top 10 that may not go ’til the late rounds of the draft because teams start to say, ‘There just aren’t any running backs. They’re not highly rated enough to take them, so.’ But they’re talented and they’re dropping because of a little inconsistency or they didn’t have the kind of year expected or they had an injury or didn’t run as well as expected.”
Such is life with Day 3 picks. The Broncos’ Round 5 swing two years ago, Audric Estime, didn’t connect as they hoped, although he’s found traction with the New Orleans Saints. But if they go fishing again, they’ll have options.