3 RB Prospects to Give Broncos Better Backfield Options

The Broncos are wanting to improve their running back room, and one of these three could do the trick.

Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (0) dodges Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Andru / Matt Stone/Louisville Courier Journal /

While the Denver Broncos may seem fine with their running back corps, there have been rumblings of wanting to improve the room. A recent report even suggests the Broncos have done a lot of work on one of the running backs that we are about to dig into. 

Samaje Perine and Javonte Williams' contracts are in their final year. The Broncos could be looking at finding a future replacement for one of them, if not both. This is a solid running back class, so let’s dive into three top options. 

Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (0) jumps over players as he fights for extra yards during a / Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA

Jaylen Wright | Tennessee

• Height: 5-foot-10.5
• Weight: 210 pounds
• Arm Length: 31-1/2 inches
• Hands: 9-3/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.81

Pros

Wright has excellent speed and is a threat to take it to the house whenever he has the ball in his hands. He brings good receiving ability and can move around the formation as a receiving threat, which helps get the ball into his hands. Over 19% of his runs over three years went for 10+ yards, showing his explosive ability. 

While fumbles were an issue in 2022, he cut down in 2023, going from four to one fumble on 10 fewer carries. He also does well to make defenders miss in space and can be hard to bring down, and he averaged 4.35 yards after contact in 2023. 

His agility is exceptional, and his one-cut-and-go ability could lead to early success in the NFL. He has scheme and usage versatility due to his receiving ability, which can keep him on the field no matter the situation. 

With the rule changes to kickoffs, Wright can offer value as a kick returner due to his vision and cut-ability. His hands are natural and reliable as a receiver. While he isn’t the most potent blocker, he can hold his own when asked, though you typically want him as a receiving option.

Cons

Wright can be overly patient and wait for a cleaner hole to open instead of taking what the defense gives him. There is no issue of not trusting his blockers or pressing the line, but he leaves yards on the field due to the over-patient style. He can’t always look for the home run. 

Lowering his pad level when running will need to be done; it can help him bring some extra force into tackle attempts. He does well to break through tackles, but lowering the pad level could make it even harder to bring him down. This is also an issue when he is asked to block, and he needs to be more aware. 

Fit With Broncos

Wright has been linked to the Broncos, and they are said to have a lot of interest and to have done a lot of work. He would give Payton a versatile weapon in the running back room that the Broncos need to improve. They have a lot of specialists, but not someone who can do everything for them. 

Big Board Position: No. 60 overall.

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Michigan running back Blake Corum (2) runs against Washington linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala (11) / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Blake Corum | Michigan

• Height: 5-foot-8
• Weight: 205 pounds
• Arm Length: 28-7/8 inches
• Hands: 9 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 8.28

Pros

There is no question about the production or toughness of Corum. He will do whatever is asked of him and is the ultimate team player. While he could have come out after the 2022 season and still been a high pick, Corum returned to help lead Michigan to a Championship, which was accomplished. 

Corum is a natural runner with a good feel for blocking and ultimate trust in blockers to open the lane. He isn’t overly patient, doesn’t dance around east/west, and will get going north. Rarely does Corum leave yards on the field. 

He will step up to meet blitzers in coverage, execute with good technique and leverage to stall them, and buy the quarterback extra time. His ability to absorb contact shows as a runner, receiver, and blocker. There is enough to contribute to the passing game as a receiver. The football IQ for Corum is off the charts. He sees things differently than most running backs and can almost see the hole opening before it opens. 

Cons

Corum can be easy to bring down and only averaged 2.42 yards after contact. There weren’t many instances of Corum having to create for himself because of how great the blocking was in front of it. The few times there were, Corum didn’t have much creativity. 

When changing direction, Corum often has to gather before making his breaks. This slows down his pacing and is wasted movement. There also isn’t ideal acceleration or burst to get going again quickly. 

The high max many teams have with touches entering the NFL is 800, and Corum is entering with 825 total touches, including special. There are few instances of sustained success from running backs over that touch count. Even if you remove the special team touches, Corum will still push the higher limit. 

Fit With Broncos

Corum can work with the Broncos and is a natural fit with the scheme. The only hangup could be the touch count if the Broncos are a team that factors that with their values on running backs. 

Big Board Position: No. 71 overall.

Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson (3) fends off / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Trey Benson | Florida State

• Height: 6-foot
• Weight: 216 pounds
• Arm Length: 31-1/2 inches
• Hands: 9-1/4 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.76

Pros

Benson has the size, burst, and build for the NFL and can easily be the top back in a rotation or even the bell-cow taking 25+ touches a game. There is no doubt about his physicality, and he loves to finish runs by laying a hit on would-be tacklers. 

The agility is there, and Benson maintains good balance through contact. That makes it harder to bring him down, and poor tackle attempts almost have no shot of working. He can also contribute to passing downs, both as a receiver and as a blocker. 

He can make himself smaller through the hole, which is impressive given his build. The hole doesn’t have to be cleared out for him to burst through it, and he will take what the defense gives him. 

Cons

The vision from Benson isn’t great, and there are yards left on the field as a result. He will miss open lanes to hit a lane that is closing. On top of that, Benson needs to play to his build and not always look to bounce things outside. That also leaves yards on the field and occasionally costs yards. 

While he has the speed and burst to be a consistent threat, the vision detracts from that ability. He can also press his blockers but does not always trust them to set up their blocks correctly. 

He can contribute as a blocker, but the technique isn’t there. His positioning is poor, and he is too passive as a blocker. So, his contributions to passing downs will be limited to working as a receiver. 

Fit With Broncos

Benson is a solid fit for the Broncos, but his desire to bounce runs outside does make the fit more difficult. Payton’s Gulf Coast system relies on inside runs to set up other aspects of the running game, but you have to execute between the tackles. Having a back who looks to bounce it outside can make it more difficult. 

Big Board Position: No. 106 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

Of these three running backs, Wright is the best fit. He brings what the Broncos can use and would immediately boost the room. Corum and Benson can work in the scheme, but they are not the ideal fit like Wright is. 

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