Finding Broncos: Five Running Backs to Improve Depth

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with a group of running backs who can improve their depth at the position.

The Denver Broncos have made significant strides to improve their offense through free agency. However, there are still concerns about depth at a few positions, and running back is one of them. With the status of Javonte Williams up in the air, they can use additional depth behind the newly signed Samaje Perine. 

Right now, they have four running backs who have a total of 82 touches on offense, led by the other new running back, Tony Jones Jr. They need someone else to increase the competition for the backup spot behind Perine and the third spot depending on the status of Williams. So while this isn't a great running back class, there are a good number of options. 

Deneric Prince | RB | Tulsa

© Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Prince is a good athlete with that extra gear. 
  • He has good size for the NFL, with a good build on his frame. 
  • He has an excellent fumble rate with only three on 332 touches on offense. 
  • There is good natural power to his running style. 
  • There is good foot quickness and agility to make quick cuts. 
  • He has excellent contact balance to stay on his feet. 

Cons

  • He didn't get much exposure on third down, with only 21 targets and 17 catches. 
  • He has an upright running style, which can make him easy to cut down. 
  • He isn't as decisive as you would like. 
  • There isn't much of a third-down ability, and it isn't developed as a pass protector. 

Fit with Broncos

There are plenty of flashes as a receiver out of the backfield, but he has a lot of room to develop. He can fit in with what the Broncos do on offense, but they could use someone with more homerun potential to round out their room. 

DeWayne McBride | RB | UAB

© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • He has a good build on his frame. 
  • His production was excellent game to game in 2022. 
  • There is great power and finesse to work through or around tacklers. 
  • He does well in the short-yard situations to pick up the first or touchdown. 
  • He uses fakes and his eyes to create some extra space as a runner. 
  • There is a versatility to work in different running schemes. 

Cons

  • There is a significant lack of ball security, averaging a fumble every 54 touches on offense. 
  • He had little experience as a receiver, with only five catches and 10 targets. 
  • He is overly cautious as a runner, which leads to him being excessively patient and missing lanes. 
  • He has to improve his tempo and timing when following his blocks. 
  • There isn't much as a blocker to be a rounded third-down option. 

Fit with Broncos

DeWayne McBride is a scheme versatile running back that might be limited to a two-down player. He has to develop more to be a third down threat, but most importantly, improving the ball security. The Broncos have dealt with too many issues with fumbles for McBride to make it a good pairing. 

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Eric Gray | RB | Oklahoma

Oklahoma's Eric Gray (0) gets by Oklahoma State's Jason Taylor II (25) in the first half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022. Presto Id
© SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

  • He has decent size but has a good build on his frame. 
  • He had excellent ball security, with five career fumbles on 658 touches on offense. 
  • There was plenty of exposure as a receiver, with 101 catches on 121 targets. 
  • His hands as a receiver were good enough, with only six drops. 
  • He runs cleaner routes than many receivers and has a solid catch radius. 
  • He can start and stop on a dime. 
  • There is plenty of finesse as a runner. 
  • He is quick and sharp with his jump cuts. 
  • There is good footwork, and he is crisp with his plant-and-go. 

Cons

  • His athletic testing was poor. 
  • His usage on third down has to be exclusively as a receiver, with little there to stay in as a blocker. 
  • He lacks power and will rarely break through the first attempt. 
  • He can be easy to bring down with poor balance as a runner and through contact. 
  • There is a bad habit of wanting to jump everything outside. 
  • He doesn't offer up much to be scheme versatile. 
  • There isn't that breakaway speed, and he is caught from behind often. 

Fit with Broncos

Gray is a runner who needs to be in space to be most effective. He works well as a receiver out of the backfield and can even line up as a receiver. Even though he doesn't have that breakaway speed, he fits what the Broncos need at the position. They have plenty of power, but they need someone who can take advantage when the defense gets worn down. 

Khalan Laborn | RB | Marshall

Marshall running back Khalan Laborn runs past Georgia Southern safety Anthony Wilson (12) on Saturday night at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro. Vsmarshall2
© [FRANK FORTUNE/SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS] / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

  • While he doesn't have an ideal size, he does have a good build. 
  • There is excellent explosion and burst. 
  • He had excellent production in 2022, picking up over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns. 
  • He is incredibly shifty and agile. 
  • The short area twitch and quickness is more than enough for the NFL. 
  • He has good vision and is quick to find and burst through the open lane. 
  • He runs with good anticipation and trusts his blockers to open a lane. 

Cons

  • He is a little on the smaller size for the NFL. 
  • He only has one year of production. 
  • He fumbled once every 56 touches on offense. 
  • He has to improve significantly as a blocker or receiver to be a third-down option. 
  • There isn't much experience under his belt. 
  • His game has no power, and he can be extremely easy to bring down. 
  • He was dismissed from Florida State, which leaves some questions that need to be answered. 
  • There isn't ideal long speed for his size. 

Fit with Broncos

There isn't much experience for Lanborn, but he has plenty of good tape from 2022. However, with him being undersized, you wish he had more speed than he does or had a better idea of what he can bring as a receiver. He can work with what the Broncos need, but the questions about his dismissal and lack of third-down ability hurt the fit significantly. 

Travis Dye | RB | USC

© Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • There is room on his frame for a little more mass. 
  • He is super competitive and never backs down. 
  • There are great instincts and anticipation as a runner to hit the lane as it opens. 
  • He can work as a receiver out of the backfield or from the slot. 
  • His feet are light and quick, with excellent footwork. 
  • His cuts are sharp and can stop and start on a dime. 
  • He loves to bring it in pass protection and will meet rushers. 
  • He has solid contact balance, stays square to the line, and squares up for tackle attempts.

Cons

  • He tested out poorly in all aspects. 
  • There isn't an ideal size or build.
  • There are a lot of miles on the tires, with 771 touches in college. 
  • He is working back from a late-season injury. 
  • The fumble rate is below the standard, averaging a fumble every 77 touches. 
  • There isn't much strength to his game, and he isn't an explosive runner. 

Fit with Broncos

Travis Dye is an experienced and versatile runner. He can fit in with what the Broncos need as long as they clear him medically. Dye can raise the floor of the room and compete for every touch and rep he can get in practice and games. The issue is his fumble rate, which is below most teams' standards. 

Whatever way the Broncos go, they need to bring in more help at the running back position. Their pieces behind Perine have not consistently shown enough to be handed a job. Not only that, competition helps bring out the best in players. 


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Erick Trickel
ERICK TRICKEL

Erick Trickel is the Senior Draft Analyst for Mile High Huddle, has covered the Denver Broncos, NFL, and NFL Draft for the site since 2014.