In the last two years of the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected a running back.
Those picks were RJ Harvey (2nd round, 2025) and Audric Estime (5th round, 2024). Denver’s hopeful Harvey is the future of the position, while Estime is now with the New Orleans Saints.
Will Denver add another running back during the draft, but this time by way of trade?
NFL Draft: Denver Broncos could trade for a running back
The Broncos made it clear throughout free agency they need to sign a running back, and finally did by brining J.K. Dobbins back. But they also tried to sign Travis Etienne, and even tried to trade for David Montgomery.
Even after resigning Dobbins, though, Denver still needs another running back to round out the position.
They could take a back in the upcoming draft, but with so many needs—at linebacker, tight end, and defensive line, chiefly—will they actually use a pick on a back for a third straight season?
It’s definitely possible.
However, a new plausible plan has emerged for the Denver Broncos during the NFL Draft: trading for Alvin Kamara.
USA Today’s Jack McKessy wrote earlier in the month that Kamara could end up being moved during the Draft. And Dahrya Sharma of The Sporting News believes the Seahawks, Giants, and Broncos are logical destinations for him.
Seattle lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to the Kansas City Chiefs. And they have Zach Charbonnet coming of an ACL injury. Similarly, the Giants have Cam Skattebo had a fibula fracture among other injuries, and even though he’ll be back by training camp, they make sense as a destination looking to add depth at the position.
Just like Denver.
Besides needing another back, in case Dobbins goes down with another injury, has he has every year of his career, Sean Payton drafted and coached Kamara for five years in New Orleans.
Kamara may be 31 years old and on a sharp decline, but it’s possible reuniting with Payton brings his game back to life. Albeit, in a reserve role, if the Broncos were to actually trade for him.
Or, they could even wait for him to be cut.
Back in Feb. FTN Fantasy explained how Kamara is a cap cut candidate. His cap hit was $18M, but it looks like the Saints reworked his deal, adding void years, so he’s only an $11M hit now. Still, the Saints could plausibly cut him if they can’t find a trade partner in the draft.
It’s unknown how much Kamara could provide to the Broncos this year, but adding him would be better than nothing. Considering Denver doesn’t have a lot of draft capital, though, it seems unlikely they’d send a draft pick for him.
Broncos could trade Evan Engram during the Draft
Meanwhile, Denver could pick up a draft pick or two by sending away tight end Evan Engram.
McKessy floated this idea as well, and others have mentioned Engram could be expendable.
That makes a lot of sense if the Broncos take a tight end in the second round, or if they were to trade up into the third and take one.
Engram was simultaneously mediocre and decent last year. He didn’t seem to impact many games—outside of that explosive catch and run against the Commanders in overtime—but when you look at his stats they were solid. Engram finished with 50 receptions for 461 yards and 1 touchdown. Those were the best numbers for a Broncos tight end since Noah Fant in 2021 (68, 670, 4 TD).
Ultimately, whether or not Engram is moved by Denver likely depends upon what they can get in return.
George Paton and Sean Payton have made a lot of draft weekend deals the last few years, so don’t be surprised if they pull off another one this year.