After ranking in the middle of the pack when it came to running the ball last season, it shouldn't have come as a big surprise to see the Denver Broncos allow their leading rusher to leave in free agency this past offseason. While the Broncos didn't end up retaining Javonte Williams , who signed with the Dallas Cowboys instead, they did sign J.K. Dobbins .
Yet, if anything, signing Dobbins should have been an indication that the Broncos were planning to select a running back early on during the 2025 NFL Draft, possibly even in the first round. Well, the Broncos didn't use their first-round pick on a running back, but they did select RJ Harvey in the second round.
However, according to ESPN's NFL insider Jeremy Fowler , the Broncos did consider using their first-round pick on a running back. In fact, they reportedly had an interest in trading up into the top 10 so they could select Boise State superstar Ashton Jeanty .
"Yes, the Broncos considered moving up in the first round for running back Ashton Jeanty. They called around to teams picking in the top 10. But the price simply would have been "too heavy" for Denver's liking, per a source. And the team eyeing Jeanty (the Raiders at No. 6) was a division rival, thus not a likely trade partner,
Of course, the Broncos never did get their chance to select Jeanty because the Las Vegas Raiders stepped in and drafted the running back with the sixth overall pick. Yet, with the Broncos returning to select Harvey in the second round, it surely seems like taking Jeanty was part of their original plan.
Now Jeanty is expected to take over as the Raiders' starting running back while the Broncos are expected to move forward with Dobbins and Harvey splitting opportunities to begin the season.
Related: AFC West Running Back Rankings 2025
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