ClutchPoints
No, the Denver Broncos didn’t get Ashton Jeanty. But they were able to grab a running back they think will make a big difference for them. And that player is the Broncos’ rookie who stood out the most in the 2025 minicamp.
After selecting cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round with the No. 20 overall pick, the Broncos settled in for R.J. Harvey in Round 2. There are question marks about the 5-foot-8, 205-pound Harvey, but he fits what Broncos head coach Sean Payton called a need, according to espn.com.
“It’s also no secret that coach Sean Payton wants someone who can create matchup problems and make plays in space,” Steve Muench wrote. “Harvey has a chance to fill that ‘joker’ role.”
Payton said Harvey looks the part, according to Sports Illustrated.
“He has picked up on what we are doing really quickly,” Payton said. “You can tell it’s important to him. This is the first exposure to the training room, weight room, the schedule, the nutrition, the practice. There is a lot more than just, ‘Hey we’re going to run these plays.’ He has looked good though. We are glad he is here.”
And Harvey believes in himself, according to espn.com.
“I feel I can do it all,” Harvey said. “I can catch the ball out of the backfield, I can run it in space, and I’m ready to just showcase all my skills. I’m excited.”
Broncos general manager George Paton explained why the team drafted Harvey.
“Harvey — [he] was kind of our pet cat throughout the process,” Paton said. “His running style, he’s dynamic, really good vision, really good instincts, really good contact balance, highly explosive. We thought maybe he had the best vision in the draft.”
Payton added, “The very first thing you see in the evaluation is his running ability. I heard comparisons to [former Saints running back] Darren Sproles. So, contact balance, vision.
“You can see it, his ability to get in and out, his ability to catch, you can see his instincts, the pass game. He had a lot of big plays in the pass game. You just don’t see all the routes and you can see those at the pro day, and we think he can keep going like this and really in pass protection he can improve as well, like all these college runners.”
Despite his size, Harvey could be a three-down back, according to broncoswire.com.
“I know the question is, ‘Is he a three-down back?’ ” Payton said. “Well, he’s going to play on third down, but he could play on third down where the tight end is in protection opposite. There’s a lot we can do relative to really suit his strengths.
“It would happen occasionally with Darren (Sproles) where I’d say to him, ‘Every once in a while you might get matched up on NaVorro Bowman or [Patrick] Willis....
