Bolstering their secondary by choosing Jahdae Barron, the Broncos next turned to what many considered their top need. The team drafted Central Florida running back R.J. Harvey at No. 60 overall.
While Harvey is expected to quickly push to the head of a Denver backfield committee, the team was connected to first-round running backs in mock drafts for months. Sean Payton said the trade-up rumors surrounding his team were unfounded, but the Broncos did eye at least one RB via a trade-down maneuver during the first round.
It is believed Denver was interested in Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson in the event of a first-round trade-down move, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel notes. GM George Paton said after Round 1 one running back drew interest from the team, and it is interesting that it does not appear to have been Omarion Hampton — the North Carolina product many had going to Denver at No. 20.
Hampton went two spots later to the Chargers. Henderson was viewed as a threat to be the draft’s third RB off the board. That nearly came to fruition, but the Browns took fellow Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins first. Henderson went two picks later, at No. 38, to the Patriots. The Broncos met with Hampton, Judkins, Henderson and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson on “30” visits.
It will be Harvey set to team with Jaleel McLaughlin and 2024 fifth-round pick Audric Estime. Javonte Williams joined the Cowboys in free agency. The Broncos deemed a trade-down move (via the Panthers) to No. 57 a safe play due to not deeming the teams behind their No. 51 spot as a particularly RB-needy lot, Gabriel adds. The team then dropped three more spots in a trade with the Lions.
Receiving rave reviews for his pass-protection skills, Henderson also drew attention for his potential as a receiving option. Payton has generated considerable value from receiving backs throughout his career, as the likes of Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara became central pieces in his Saints offenses. Payton has yet to find that in Denver, continually expressing a desire to add a “joker” to his offense.
The Broncos now have Harvey and Evan Engram, the latter being added after the team’s post-Noah Fant offenses received little tight end contributions. But Henderson checked in with a higher profile compared to Harvey, who dazzled at the mid-major level before clocking a 4.40-second Combine 40-yard time. (Henderson ranked 32nd on Daniel Jeremiah’s final NFL.com big board this year, while Harvey was 99th.) Henderson battled injuries with the Buckeyes but was one of the nation’s top RBs when healthy. That included last season, when he and Judkins formed a 1,000-1,000 tandem to help the team to a national championship. Henderson paced the Big Ten with a 7.1-yard average per carry, totaling 1,300 scrimmage yards and 11 TDs.
Elsewhere on Denver’s roster, the team will use third-round pick Sai’vion Jones as a defensive end in their 3-4 scheme, 9News’ Mike Klis tweets. Although LSU had played Jones as an edge defender, his 283-pound frame aligns more closely with a five-technique player. The Broncos have both their starting D-ends — Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers — in contract years. While both appear extension candidates during Bo Nix‘s rookie contract, Jones adds a potential option in the event the team does not pay one of them.
Denver long snapper Mitchell Fraboni underwent back surgery recently, per Klis, who describes it as a cleanup. Fraboni, who has been with the Broncos since 2022, is expected to be ready for training camp. The team has him signed through the 2027 season. Recent addition Zach Triner will snap during the team’s offseason program, though it does not yet sound like this is a competition.