Former Scout Tabs Broncos RB RJ Harvey for Major Honor Amid ‘Key Question’

The Denver Broncos selected former UCF Golden Knights running back RJ Harvey with the No. 60 overall pick of the 2025 draft, a higher slot than some rival front offices, and their decision could pay off in the form of hardware.

Harvey is expected to at least split carries with veteran free agent pickup J.K. Dobbins.

However, former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks, now an analyst for the league, believes Harvey will receive enough of a workload to be a “long shot” for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“When Sean Payton decided to draft Harvey in Round 2, he likely envisioned the former UCF standout thriving in an Alvin Kamara-like role with the Broncos. Measuring 5-foot-8, 205 pounds with outstanding balance, body control, hand-eye coordination and burst, Harvey can create mismatches in a variety of spots depending on his pre-snap alignment. He’s too quick and shifty for linebackers in space, but he also flashes enough power and pop to run through arm tackles in the hole,” Brooks wrote on June 27, calling the rookie a “gritty runner with a little pizzazz.”

Harvey is +2200 to win the award, per Brooks and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino.

“He is the do-it-all playmaker Payton covets as his feature back in his diverse offensive system,” Brooks wrote. “Given his potential workload and supporting cast, Harvey could put up eye-popping numbers for a team on the rise.”

Harvey joins a crowded Broncos backfield that figures to have a committee rather than a true bellcow. Harvey would be the third Broncos player to win the award, and the first since 2002.

The previous two, Clinton Portis and Mike Anderson, were also running backs.

RJ Harvey Must Overcome Broncos Teammates to Capture Award

Harvey led the Big 12 with 6.8 yards per carry and 22 rushing touchdowns in 2024. He also caught 20 passes for 267 yards and tallied over 1,600 total yards from scrimmage in each of his final two seasons.

The Broncos ranked 13th in rushing attempts and 16th in rushing yards during the regular season.

They also allowed leading rusher Javonte Williams (Dallas Cowboys) to leave in free agency.

Still, the Broncos already had 2024 fifth-round pick Audric Estime along with Blake Watson, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Tyler Badie on the roster when they added Dobbins and Harvey to the group.

Moreover, Payton has said that it is too soon to begin counting reps to sort out who will handle what role, if any, this coming season.

That should change quickly when Harvey and the Broncos put the pads on in training camp.

Broncos Face ‘Key Question’ About Ground Attack

The Athletic’s Mike Jones listed whether or not the Broncos did enough to improve their rushing attack as their “key question” heading into training camp.

“I had to triple check their rushing numbers from 2024,” Jones wrote on June 26.

“Their running backs had one more touchdown (seven) than fumbles (six). 2025’s new-look backfield has nowhere to go but up, with second-round pick RJ Harvey and free agent signing J.K. Dobbins expected to pair in the Alvin Kamara-Mark Ingram style that Payton covets.”

Jones also pointed to colleague Nick Kosmider’s take on what Dobbins’ presence means for Harvey.

“There is no established pecking order. However, Denver used a second-round pick on RJ Harvey and gave J.K. Dobbins a one-year deal that could be worth more than $5 million in 2025,” Kosmider wrote on June 19. “That investment suggests the two new running backs on Denver’s roster will be leaned on to revitalize a running game that must be better for the Broncos to reach their offensive ceiling.”