Broncos 2021 Free Agency Preview: Running Backs

When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 17, the Broncos figure to be very active. For one, they have a lot of holes to fill, so there are plenty of reasons to go shopping. In addition, Denver has a new general manager, as George Paton will want to put an immediate stamp on his new team.

Currently, the Broncos are $29 million under the 2021 salary cap, but that number could grow a ton, depending on what Paton decides to do with high-priced veterans. Von Miller, Jurrell Casey, A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan are just some of the names who could be let go to free up space to sign new faces, with more than $60 million potentially available.

How should the Broncos put all of those dollars to use? In the weeks leading up to the start of free agency, we’ll offer a position-by-position breakdown of the best players projected to be on the open market, as well as analysis of who would be a realistic fit in Denver.

It continues today with an intriguing position – running back. On paper, the Broncos appear set. Melvin Gordon nearly had 1,000 yards in 2020, but he’s facing a potential suspension at the beginning of the year due to a DUI arrest during the season. And Phillip Lindsay had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in ’18 and ’19, but he’s clearly unhappy with his diminished role. So Denver could be in need of some reinforcements in the backfield.

***

Top Five Available

1. Kenyan Drake – Drake had a solid 2020 in Arizona, rushing for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes for another 137 yards. He’s a solid back, but he doesn’t need a ton of carries in order to be effective. With the Cardinals, he only got the ball 12 to 15 times per game, but still managed to make an impact. He also has some explosiveness, evidenced by the 80-yard touchdown run he had in the second half of 2019, a play that convinced Arizona that it was time to move on from David Johnson.

2. Leonard Fournette – At times, Fournette can look unstoppable, as he did in 2019 against the Broncos when he rushed for 225 yards in Denver. Then, he can disappear, seemingly running in mud as he struggles to reach double-digits in yardage. The up-and-down performances are why the Jaguars moved on from the No. 4 overall pick after three seasons. Fournette found new life in Tampa Bay, where he rushed for 300 yards and three touchdowns during the Buccaneers playoff run.

3. Todd Gurley – In 2018, Gurley was arguably the best running back in the league. He was completing the second of back-to-back All-Pro seasons with the Rams, leading the league in rushing touchdowns with 17 and posting 1,251 rushing yards. This came on the heels of a year in which he had more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Gurley was the complete back, perfect in Sean McVay’s offense. Then, injuries derailed him. He showed flashes of his old self early in 2020, but by the end of the year was once again too banged up.

4. Matt Breida – At times, Breida has looked like a really good running back. Unfortunately, he’s been caught up in the ultimate RB-by-committee situation, as the 49ers seem to go a different direction in their backfield on a weekly basis. In 2018, when he got 13 starts, Breida posted his best numbers, rushing for 814 yards and catching passes for another 261. He’s been a spot player every since, however. In the right system, with enough carries, he can be productive.

5. Mark Ingram – In 2019, Ingram found new life in Baltimore. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards, becoming a big part of the best rushing attack in the NFL. This past season, however, things came to a screeching halt. Ingram only had 72 carries, racking up just 299 yards and two touchdowns in the process. Perhaps Father Time is starting to catch up to the three-time Pro Bowl selection. He’s 31 years old and has 10 NFL seasons under his belt. That’s a lot of wear and tear.

***

Realistic Options for the Broncos

1. James White – In each of the past five seasons, White has had more receiving yards than rushing, as he’s one of the best backs in the league when it comes to catching passes. At 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, that’s probably a good thing, as he’s not exactly built for running between the tackles. That said, if Pat Shurmur is looking for someone who can be a pass catcher out of the backfield, providing a third-down back in his system, White is as good of a fit as any.

2. Mike Davis – Davis is a bit of a journeyman, as he’s been on four different teams during his six years in the NFL. For the most part, he’s been a backup, only eclipsing 100 carries in two season. One of those was 2020, however, when he saw significant action in Carolina because Christian McCaffrey was injured most of the season. Davis made the most of the opportunity. At 5-foo-9 and 221 pounds, he’s a bit of a bowling ball, but he still managed to rush for 642 yards and six touchdowns, while also catching 59 passes.

3. Ty Montgomery – Best known as the running back who wears No. 88, a quirk that dates back to him originally entering the league as a wide receiver, Montgomery was hardly used by the Saints in 2020. He had just 19 carries and three receptions, buried on the depth chart behind Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray. He’s not going to come in and unseat Gordon, but he could fill in early in the season and provide a dynamic option out of the backfield if utilized correctly.

Related

In Broncos loss, they got a win in something specific that truly matteredRockies’ early lead vanishes as Guardians pull away for routBo Nix happy with ‘solid’ first TD drive, says return ‘was like riding a bike’Sean Payton unhappy after Packers demolish Broncos, sends message to startersBroncos waste no time getting Jaylen Waddle involved in his preseason debutBo Nix throws a TD, leads two scoring drives in return from broken ankle