Pro Football Rumors
Although the Broncos brought back both Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin this offseason, neither figures to be too close to the team’s starting lineup. Denver moves in free agency and the draft should see to that.
The Broncos re-signed J.K. Dobbins to a two-year, $16MM deal that included $8MM guaranteed at signing. This came after the team made what it viewed as a competitive offer for Travis Etienne, who signed with the Saints. Weeks later, Denver drafted Washington’s Jonah Coleman in the fourth round. Dobbins, Coleman and 2025 second-round pick RJ Harvey are positioned as the Broncos’ top three running backs, and the Denver Post’s Luca Evans notes this likely leaves McLaughlin and Badie battling for one roster spot.
[RELATED: Jaguars Nearly Completed Deal With Dobbins]
With Dobbins among the NFL’s most injury-prone players in many years, the Broncos kept four RBs on their 53-man roster last season. The team carried both McLaughlin and Badie after the August roster-setting deadline, though the latter saw action first while the ex-Javonte Williams sidekick was a healthy scratch during the portion of the season in which Dobbins was healthy. However, Dobbins’ Lisfranc injury reopened the door for McLaughlin, who impressed in limited duty.
The Broncos retained Badie, an ERFA, on a one-year, $1.1MM deal. Nontendered as an RFA, McLaughlin re-signed for $1.43MM ($125K guaranteed) days later. While McLaughlin outpaced Badie in guarantees, that will make little (if any) difference in a roster battle. Both players beat out Audric Estime for spots last year, but with Coleman now rostered, the Broncos almost certainly will not have room for both vets.
Badie, a 2022 Ravens sixth-round pick who landed in Denver later that year, did not make much of a statistical contribution last season; he totaled just 164 scrimmage yards in 16 games (though, the Missouri alum did average 7.4 per carry on 19 totes). The NCAA’s all-divisions rushing leader, McLaughlin totaled 570 scrimmage yards in 2023 and 572 in ’24. Despite the run of healthy scratches, the 5-foot-7 back outcarried Dobbins (37 handoffs) and averaged 5.1 per rush. Badie’s pass-protection skills remain a core component of his roster candidacy, Evans adds.
Both players would need to clear waivers if cut next month, as neither has four years of accrued service time. Denver could certainly attempt to keep both by stashing one on the practice squad, assuming the competition’s loser clears waivers, with a roster promotion potentially in the cards if Dobbins hits IR once again. Dobbins has spent time on IR in each of the past five years. While McLaughlin teamed with Harvey as Denver’s primary ballcarriers once Dobbins went down last season, Coleman will be positioned to play that role if the veteran misses time again.
