Should Jamaal Charles be a veteran free agent target for the Broncos?
Jul 4, 2018, 7:56 AM
There is no shortage of expectations on Denver Broncos rookie running back Royce Freeman. The same goes for projected starter Devontae Booker. And there’s growing call to see more De’Angelo Henderson in 2018.
But with Booker and Henderson, the oldest members of the running back room at 26 years old each, “Stokley and Zach” host Zach Bye argued Tuesday the Broncos could benefit from a veteran presence at the position.
Bye’s suggestion on who to bring in: Jamaal Charles.
“If they’re going to go get a veteran, and I think they should explore it … either into training camp or take that wait and see approach, (they should target) Jamaal Charles.”
After spending nearly a decade with AFC West rivals the Kansas City Chiefs, Charles joined the Broncos on a one-year deal ahead of the 2017 season.
But, in a limited role with Denver, Charles rushed for just 296 yards and one touchdown on 69 attempts, much to the chagrin of Alfred Williams and DMac, co-hosts of “The Drive.”
“Why on god’s green earth if you’ve got Jamaal Charles, and you activate him, you don’t play him? That makes no sense,” DMac said Tuesday.
Said Williams: “Clearly, we had a guy who was an explosive player who could have given us big moments. It made no sense.”
Bye said he is “not trying to be funny” in suggesting the Broncos target Charles either before or during training camp, especially since he led the team in yards per carry (4.3) in 2017.
“… He showed you a real burst physically, he’s been around Bill Musgrave already, there’s already built-in continuity from the previous season, and I just refuse to let their mishandling at that position, with that guy in particular, distort how I view that guy,” Bye said.
Bye called the free agent a “perfect fit” and said there’s low risk in signing as an insurance policy.
“If it turns out Royce Freeman’s a stud, and it turns out De’Angelo Henderson is everything we thought he could be coming out of Coastal Carolina, and let’s just say even Booker can play,” Bye said, “well Jamaal Charles is no longer a priority.
“But, if we need him, he’s there.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
