All Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin has done in his three NFL seasons is produce when asked.
The proof of his proficiency is in the prolific per-carry production: With 4.84 yards per attempt on 226 carries in his career, McLaughlin ranks fourth in Broncos history in per-carry average among 41 players with at least 200 attempts — and first among all those whose head coach wasn’t Mike Shanahan. Only Clinton Portis, Selvin Young and Tatum Bell sit above McLaughlin in that department.
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And among the sample size of 56 running backs league-wide with 200 or more carries since 2023 — the year McLaughlin stuck on the roster as an undrafted rookie — his per-carry average ranks second, one spot ahead of teammate J.K. Dobbins.
That sort of production is why if the Broncos choose to waive McLaughlin at the roster deadline and roll the dice on his potential return to the practice squad, it’s likely to come up snake eyes. Someone will likely place a claim on a runner with his production, even though what has proven to be his ideal use is in a No. 3 curveball/change-of-pace type role.
Still, when asked to get tough yards, he typically delivered last season, finding his form again after being inactive for all but one of the Broncos’ first 10 games, as Tyler Badie got the No. 3 back nod because of the team’s desire to get him onto the field for pass-protection purposes. When Dobbins suffered his season-ending foot injury, McLaughlin was right back into action, eventually averaging 5.1 yards per carry with a career-best 59.5-percent success rate on the ground.
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It wasn’t enough to get him a restricted-free-agent tender. But it was enough to spur the Broncos to bring him back as part of their flurry of March re-signings, which included Dobbins.
And then, a month and a half later, they drafted Jonah Coleman in Round 4. And that changed the dynamic completely.
Last year, there was room for Dobbins, Badie, McLaughlin and then-rookie RJ Harvey on the 53-player roster coming out of training camp. Now, in all likelihood, one’s gotta go. The chances of keeping five running backs on the 53-player roster are remote.
Dobbins and Harvey figure to be locked in as RBs 1 and 2. Coleman will be in the mix, at minimum to develop, but most likely as a potential relief option if Dobbins lands on injured reserve for what would be a sixth-consecutive season.
That leaves one spot between Badie and McLaughlin.
McLAUGHLIN’S ATTITUDE REMAINS ON POINT, AS PER USUAL SINCE HE CAME TO THE BRONCOS
Badie will stake his claim based on his pass-protection ability and versatility, as he looks to show that he can recapture the flashes he displayed in September 2024. McLaughlin has a greater career body of work, but he knows the reality, and also that he has to keep attacking as he has, arriving before dawn most mornings.
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“I think I’ve gotta keep my head down and keep working,” he said in June. “Shout-out to those guys, our running back room is loaded. And it’s amazing — you come out there and compete every single day.”
To that end, he said he hit the weight room, just as he did last year, adding mass to his upper body.
“I’ve been out there killing myself in the weight room,” he said last month. “Spitting up a little bit, throwing up a little bit, but it’s been amazing and I’m working my tail off so that I can help this team, the Denver Broncos, win football games.
In OTAs and minicamp this year, he looked more powerful in his lower body. But unlike in 2025, he wouldn’t say how much weight he added after pushing to just under 200 pounds on his 5-foot-7 frame in 2025.
“I ain’t gonna tell you how much, but I’ve definitely gained some (weight),” he said.
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If that can help him improve as a blocker — and he can keep his explosiveness — that likely gives him an edge on Badie. But the scenario could be different anyway with Coleman around and having potential as a third-down back in his first season. And if the Broncos are looking for change-of-pace work from their No. 4 runner, McLaughlin’s career would seem to give him the edge, even though he might be back on the inactive list when the regular season comes.
But after three seasons, one has learned that it’s unwise to wager against No. 38.