Is Rutgers’ Isaih Pacheco the No. 2 RB the Broncos are looking for?

The Denver Broncos have made some big moves in the new league year. They’ve made big trades, snaring superstar quarterback Russell Wilson. They’ve added top free agents, like pass-rusher Randy Gregory. Broncos general manager George Paton has indeed been a busy man.

He’s done all this while also working diligently to prepare for the 2022 NFL draft. Part of the draft process is going to Pro Days and bringing players in for private workouts. This week, Rutgers running back Isaih Pacheco shined at his Pro Day and revealed that he had an upcoming private workout with the Broncos on April 11.

#Rutgers RB RB Isaih Pacheco has a private workout with the #Broncos set for next month.

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) March 22, 2022

Running back is a position of need for the Broncos, but is Pacheco the right type of runner they need? Let’s take a look.

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Youth Movement

It seems like Melvin Gordon’s market is not that hot. In the first two weeks of free agency, we’ve seen the top backs on the market find new teams or stay with their team from 2021. The decisions have been made and Gordon is not getting much interest. There’s a chance Gordon could return at a good price, but the draft may simply be more appealing for a younger player at a lower price.

Gordon was good-not-great for the Broncos over the last couple of seasons. He stayed healthy for the most part, a problem he had with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, and Gordon certainly showed a nose for the end zone during his time in Denver. Gordon worked in a running-back-by-committee with both Phillip Lindsay (2020) and Javonte Williams (2021), so that helped keep him fresh.

Pacheco is not the receiving option out of the backfield that Gordon is, but he brings more speed than Gordon does to the football field. He’s the type of player who can turn on the jets and run by defenders for field-flipping runs. Gordon used to have that speed, but over the years he tried to become more of a power back and didn’t rip off the big runs regularly that you see from Pacheco. The Rutgers back measures in at 215 pounds and can play special teams (something Gordon doesn’t do) as a return man or in coverage.

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Different From Pookie

Pacheco’s game is much different than that of Javonte Williams. Last year, Williams was my No .1 running back in his draft class, and I felt the Broncos got a steal when they moved up in the second round to draft him out of North Carolina. Williams split time with Gordon last year, but he showed that he could handle a large workload and will be the featured back for the Broncos this year. His game is all about power, while Pacheco’s game is all about speed.

Pacheco is a high-energy runner who doesn’t stop moving. I like his contact balance, and because of his feverish (sometimes out of control) style Pacheco is tough to bring down with arm tackles. He’s not a power back, but he’s not a small back and doesn’t shy away from contact. Instead, Pacheco will run past defenders and those reaching out to tackle him can’t secure him easily.

His footwork is outstanding, although it is a bit blurry to watch at times. It’s almost as if Pacheco is ahead of the play – almost ahead of time – because of his footwork and non-stop running style. In addition to speed and big-play ability as a runner, Pacheco can be tasked with a couple of halfback throws here and there. Rutgers asked him to do that several times in his college career, and Pacheco generally put the ball where it needed to be.

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Shrine Bowl and Combine Standout

During the pre-draft process, Pacheco has done a lot to increase his draft stock. I watched Pacheco during the week of practice at the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this year. The Shrine Bowl has a knack for finding great running back talent, and in recent years I’ve seen Pro Bowl caliber backs like Phillip Lindsay and James Robinson at this game. While I don’t think Pacheco was the top back at these practices (that’s USC’s Keontay Ingram), I do know he impressed those in the scouting community that week with his performance.

Pacheco liked to bounce too many runs outside at Rutgers. It’s part of the deal with a speed back. If he can get outside, then he can turn on the speed and make things happen. That works in college, but it’s bad discipline in the NFL. I think he showed more patience as a runner during practice, and he showed a willingness to run inside then turn on the jets when he got to the second level of the defense.

He continued impressing at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Pacheco was the fastest running back at the Combine, clocking in at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash. I know, I know, it’s not about timed speed but rather about pad speed. Well, during Pro Days and the Combine it’s important for players to back up what they showed on film. Pacheco was known to be fast on the field, so this top time was not a surprise by those familiar with his game.

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Summary

The Broncos need a running back, and Pacheco is a riser during the pre-draft process. After a ho-hum final season at Rutgers, Pacheco was seen as a priority free agent. Now, with his performance at the Shrine Bowl and the Combine, Pacheco has worked his way into Day 3 of the NFL draft. He’s a good option for the Broncos because he brings speed, special teams ability and high energy to the backfield.
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