Strike 2: Ugly wins are still wins. Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos will certainly take any and all of those they can get.
But Payton knows this is not yet a complete team.
Beating the Colts to all but wrap up a playoff spot, even when they didn’t play their best, revealed some Broncos strengths – like resiliency – as well as exposing some weaknesses. Most prominent among the shortcomings is Denver’s run-down rushing offense. After gaining just 72 yards against Indy and having your scrambling quarterback be your leading rusher, it’s clear that as they move forward, the Broncos need some new blood.
The season’s final three games and the playoffs will have to be navigated with the current group of running backs, each with skills but none reaching “playmaker” or “game breaker” status. Someone new and improved will have to be brought in before next season.
There are perhaps three options for that. They could use a draft pick, acquire a free agent, or make a trade.
Denver figures to draft somewhere in the 20’s come next April. Having secured the offensive line, they’ll be free to go after playmakers, and the biggest need is at running back. Not much chance that dynamic Ashton Jeanty from Boise State will still be available, but in later rounds, perhaps a Kaleb Johnson from Iowa or Cam Skattebo from Arizona State or even Devin Neal from Kansas could be a pick. In terms of drafting someone who can outperform the Broncos current threesome, an early round pick would obviously be better than a later round selection.
The list of available free agents for 2025 – which includes the Broncos Javonte Williams – isn’t overwhelming. How would Nick Chubb look in predominantly orange? Or Najee Harris, or A.J. Dillon?
Underwhelmed?
If Denver wants (or needs to) to get really bold, perhaps Payton makes a trade play for his former New Orleans Saints playmaker Alvin Kamara? The versatile back will be 30 years old when next season kicks off. It would take a lot of assets to entice the Saints to part with their best player, who is under contract for 2025 and 2026 – when he will be due $11.5 million. Would it be worth it?
Kamara would have been a big help against the Colts, and in the upcoming playoffs.
The Broncos have navigated the Russell Wilson dead salary cap situation flawlessly to this point. Soon, Russ’s contract will be just a bad memory. That being the case, there’s no reason to think this front office can’t find a way to afford to bring in someone who can energize the running game.
At some point, maybe soon, they’re going to need it very badly.
