Can RJ Harvey answer the Broncos’ critical question at running back?

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — RJ Harvey has speed — more than anyone in the Denver Broncos’ running-back room.

Their second-round pick at the No. 60 spot — after a pair of trades down that added a bit more value to their remaining capital in this year’s draft — will be counted on to provide a nitro boost to the backfield.

He’s one of the runners that NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah suggested would make sense for Denver as a joker option later in the draft, given his open-field ability and pass-catching work; he averaged more than 13 yards a reception last year. But with 207 pounds on a 5-foot-8 frame, he’s built with enough sturdiness to withstand a between-the tackles pounding.

He could indeed be a “joker.” But he also could be a first- and second-down back, too.

“I feel I can do it all,” Harvey said on a conference call with Denver-area media immediately after being selected. “I can catch the ball out of the backfield, I can run it in space, and I’m ready to just showcase all my skills … I’m excited.”

Doing it all includes shedding defenders. Only eight running backs forced more missed tackles last year in FBS than Harvey (48), per Pro Football Focus data.

His selection at that point was a slight surprise; he appeared to project more as a third-rounder. But that wasn’t far off the No. 60 spot where the Broncos selected him after Denver made its two trades that improved its third- and fourth-round spots, while also adding a fourth-round choice.

Harvey was one of the slew of running backs with whom the Broncos met at the NFL Scouting Combine. He said they also met with him at the Senior Bowl. Running backs coach Lou Ayeni also conferred with him over Zoom multiple times in the pre-draft process, Harvey said.

It was enough for the Broncos to feel good about the choice.

One of the names @MoveTheSticks mentioned as a potential joker? Central Florida RB RJ Harvey. He breaks him down here: pic.twitter.com/BX8YOm9YRs

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) April 26, 2025

RJ HARVEY AS A ‘PET CAT’

Of course, the Broncos’ running-back evaluation started at the top, with Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.

“So in the early part of this process, everyone had seen the skill set of Jeanty,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. ” he’s a fabulous player and then you’re, ‘All right, if that’s unrealistic, which obviously where he was selected (it was) … everyone knew we were hoping to get a back. Man, where are we falling in love with somebody?

“You really just try to just go through each one with an open mind.”

And that led the Broncos to Harvey.

“And I can remember the afternoon — I can’t remember what afternoon — but I can remember the two hours on this player, and then it was like, “All right, be quiet,'” Payton recalled. “And that was hard.”

Broncos general manager George Paton described the team’s affection for Harvey in a more unusual manner before turning to more conventional descriptors.

“He was kind of our pet cat throughout the process,” Paton said. “His running style, he’s dynamic, really good vision, really good instincts, really good contact balance, highly explosive.

“We thought maybe he had the best vision in the draft. You see the plus-10s, I think he leads everyone with plus-10 runs. Home run ability

“We feel like he can improve in the pass game. He wasn’t featured there, but we really liked this [running] back.”

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