Versatile Veteran Newcomer Key to Broncos ‘Guarantee’ for 2025 Season

The Denver Broncos can win the AFC West, but they will need veteran running back and former second-round draft pick (Baltimore Ravens), J.K. Dobbins, to do it. Dobbins signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Broncos in free agency this offseason.

He joins an already-crowded backfield.

However, the Denver Post’s Troy Renck called Dobbins’ addition a “lower-case move” in the spring, but one that will be “ALL CAPS by January” with the Broncos as division champions.

“The Broncos are not passing the Chargers and Chiefs without Dobbins playing a major role,” Renck wrote on June 12. “He represents a missing piece for an offense whose running backs aspired to mediocrity last season.”

Dobbins rushed for 905 yards and 9 touchdowns on 195 carries with LA in 2024.

Dobbins would have ranked first on the Broncos in all three categories with those marks, and Denver’s leading rusher, Javonte Williams, is now a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

J.K. Dobbins Part of ‘Huge Risk’ for Broncos

Renck noted his “guarantee” for the Broncos to capture their first AFC West title since 2015, when they went on to win the Super Bowl, came with a significant “caveat.” Dobbins played in 13 games last season, his most since appearing in 15 as a rookie amid persistent injuries.

Renck wrote that it is “impossible to overstate how much faith” Broncos head coach Sean Payton and Co. are placing in their training staff.

Even with the Broncos’ track record, it is a “huge risk.”

“The Broncos’ four biggest offseason acquisitions — inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga, tight end Evan Engram and Dobbins — represent upgrades but have medical files that could fill a season of Grey’s Anatomy,” Renck wrote.

“Even though the Broncos rank among the fewest missed games and practices over the past two seasons, it is fair to wonder if these players can stay on the field.”

Payton has touted the turnaround he has overseen with the Broncos.

“The injury data, I could give you the graph. I think – 32 teams – a year ago, we finished first. This year we’re currently second from the – I don’t want to use the wrong word – but from what was taking place prior, all right? And that’s a credit to Beau Lowery. It’s a credit to the training room, the strength and development. It’s a credit to everyone involved,” Payton told reporters in January.

“There’s more than a year of proof, there’s two years of proof. And for those prior that it didn’t work out so well for – tough. That’s just what it was. They earned those numbers. When you have 134 players miss games because of injuries, something’s wrong. And then when you have 30 something two years in a row, something’s right.”

The Broncos need those trends to continue with Dobbins and the rest of the team as they look to challenge for the AFC West.

Broncos’ Depth Critical

Given the injury concerns for Dobbins and the Broncos’ other new additions, the depth of the running back room has value, as is the case with many positions on the roster.

The Broncos won 10 games with players currently behind the likes of Engram, Greenlaw, and Hufanga, who remain on the roster. They have also bolstered some of their more questionable areas, such as along the defensive line, secondary, and wide receiver room.

Combined with a top-flight defense and the Broncos are primed for success.

How much success depends on how well the Broncos can keep their high-level talent, such as Dobbins, on the field.