Broncos running it back all the way at RB with McLaughlin in the fold

Just as the Broncos kept the band together at tight end, they’re doing the same at running back.

After re-signing J.K. Dobbins and bringing back Tyler Badie on an exclusive-rights tender, they agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Jaleel McLaughlin, to whom they declined to make a restricted free-agent tender prior to the start of the new league year. NFL Network was first to report the move.

McLaughlin has averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry in two of his three NFL seasons — 5.4 as a rookie in 2023 and 5.1 last season. He played in all but one game in his first two seasons before being inactive nine times last year while the Broncos utilized J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie as their top three backs, with Badie earning the third-down nod over McLaughlin primarily on the basis of pass-protection proficiency.

But after Dobbins suffered a Lisfranc injury, McLaughlin returned to the field for the final seven games of the season and both playoff contests. He finished third behind Dobbins and Harvey among Broncos running backs in rushing yardage, but led the group in average per carry.

McLAUGHLIN HAS BEEN PRODUCTIVE FOR BRONCOS OVER THREE SEASONS

Although McLaughlin isn’t an every-down back, he’s proven reliable in a specific, change-of-pace role since breaking into the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2023.

Among 99 running backs with at least 100 touches in the last three seasons, here’s where McLaughlin stacks up:

Yards per carry: 4.76, 14th
Rushing success rate: 52.5 percent, 17th
Rushing first-down rate: One every 4.72 attempts, 68th
Broken-tackle rate: One every 13.88 attempts, 39th
Yards after contact per attempt: 1.93, 59th
Fumble rate: One every 301 touches, 18th
Yards per reception: 4.34, 98th
Receiving success rate: 35.6 percent, 85th
Yards after the catch per reception: 8.28, 49th
Drop rate: One every 16.25 catchable passes, 50th
Total offensive success rate: 48.54 percent, 42nd

He’s earned also earned a reputation for arriving at team headquarters before dawn, a habit he continued even as the team scratched him from nine of the first 10 games last season before needing him down the stretch.

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