Evans: Welcome, Jamaal Charles, from the dark side to the light

I love this Jamaal Charles move for the Denver Broncos. Way back during the start of free agency I called for Denver to kick the tires on Charles.

Free agency passed with NFL teams showing very little interest in the All-Pro running back, but that did not stop me. I kept suggesting Charles would make sense for the Broncos, despite the buildup to the draft and the over-the-top Christian McCaffrey hysteria. (Am I glad that’s over.)

Once the draft passed without Denver clearly filling its need for more juice (Hey, I can play along) in the backfield, I intensified my calls for the team to talk with Charles.

Now that he’s a Bronco, I’m obviously happy.

I understand what needs to be said first. So, here’s your disclaimer: If he stays healthy …

The contract couldn’t be more team-friendly. It’s a bargain-basement guarantee with a bunch of incentives based on playing time.

If he plays, the Broncos will gladly pay the extra dough, because if Charles is healthy and playing, he is going to make a serious impact on this offense.

What can’t he do? He can run inside. He can run outside. He can catch the ball. He’s willing to pick up the blitz. He’s smart.

In the win-now mode the Broncos find themselves in right now, he would make more of an impact over a 16-game season than McCaffrey would (if he stays healthy).

I love the idea of Denver having a guy like Charles, respected around the NFL, hungry and humble. I love having a guy like that with something to prove, with that chip on his shoulder.

It would provide a huge boost to the locker room. The veterans will love him. The young players will look up to him.

As a Broncos fan, I get it’s tough to embrace a guy you rooted against twice a year for several years. But ask yourself: If there was an opponent you found yourself grudgingly respecting, wouldn’t it be a guy like Charles?

Maybe it’s the blue collar, no frills approach Kansas City takes to offense, but I’ve always liked Charles’ game. In fact, when the Broncos beat the Chiefs during the Super Bowl season, which included a win at Arrowhead Stadium when Bradley Roby scooped up the game-winning fumble return, I was happy but felt bad it came at the expense of Charles’ mistake.

So, on paper, the Broncos have added the final missing piece to the offense. It’s an offense riddled with question marks, from the offensive line to C.J. Anderson’s ability to have a true breakout season to getting more out of the tight ends to finding a reliable third receiver to that little matter of who’s going to be the quarterback moving forward.

But, scratch this off the to-do list. Denver has its “jack of all trades,” juice running back

… if he stays healthy.