Troy Renck: Legal tampering is like sour cream: an oxymoron. Regardless, the Broncos cannot continue to have a juxtaposition at a key position. Free agency opens Monday with teams allowed to talk with agents, and secure verbal agreements. The Broncos have a Super Bowl-caliber defense and an offense that needs more weapons, most notably at running back. J.K. Dobbins exceeded expectations, but only played in 10 games, leaving his future uncertain. R.J. Harvey emerged as a joker in the passing game, but struggled as a north-south runner. A running back is a must. So where do the Broncos go next? Travis Etienne Jr., Tyler Allgeier, Kenneth Walker, a mid-round draft pick?
Sean Keeler: For me, Breece Hall was “it,” but the Jets said at the combine that he’ll get tagged. We know what Harvey can do in space as a receiver, or outside the hash marks, so you’d prefer somebody who can do well what the former UCF star doesn’t. Right now, that’s running against a stacked box and grinding between the tackles. J.K. Dobbins, according to SumerSports.com, excelled when there were more than eight defenders in the box, averaging 4.94 yards per tote when everybody knew what was coming. That’s a good hammer to have, especially when Harvey averaged 3.17 against crowded boxes. The obvious answer would be to back a Walton-Penner Brink’s truck into Kenneth Walker III’s driveway. But the trick with tailbacks is getting value on the dollar — and ex-Carolina back Rico Dowdle (4.34 yards per carry vs. stacked boxes) might give you Walker-esque power without a Super Bowl MVP’s price tag.
Renck: Don’t overthink it. The answer is clobbering the Broncos over the head, like, say, the Jacksonville Jaguars did last winter. Etienne boasts 206 yards on 40 carries in two games against Denver. He was the best player on the field in London in 2022, part of a career that includes three seasons eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing and 1,400 in all-purpose yards. And don’t give me the lacking pass protection nonsense. He ranked sixth in blocking efficiency in 2025. His versatility and durability — he has missed six games in four years; Dobbins missed nine last season — make him a fit.
Keeler: Etienne didn’t allow a sack as a pass protector last year. When you don’t want personnel to give away your intent before the snap, a 1,000-yard rusher who can block like a third-down specialist is a ridiculous weapon in a pinch. Here’s the problem: Would the Broncos be willing to get into a bidding war for Etienne’s services? Our old friend Javonte Williams just landed a three-year, $24-million extension from Dallas, for an AAV of $8 million per season. Over the last two years, Etienne has a higher percentage of offensive snaps than Williams (54%), a higher rush-yards-per-game average (52) and a higher rate of rush touchdowns per game (0.28). Do you see the law firm of Payton & Paton forking over $8.5-9 million per year of cap space for a 1A/1B/timeshare back? Because I don’t.
Renck: Sign Breece Hall.That’s where all my emails go. One problem: there will be no Hall pass out of New York. He has an interest in Denver because of his connections to the coaching staff. But all indications are that the Jets will franchise tag Hall. That means he is not an option. And Walker, frankly, is not a three-down back, making his price prohibitive. That leaves Etienne, Tyler Allgeier and Rico Dowdle, another capable pass protector. The Super Bowl window demands a shrewd decision at this position. Give me Etienne, and if not him, Dowdle. And for good measure, draft Indiana’s Roman Hemby in the mid rounds.
Keeler: No love for Kenneth Gainwell, who averaged a Dobbins-esque 4.91 yards per carry against a stacked box for the Steelers last season, and 3.51 per tote vs. stacked boxes with Philly in 2023? I’d take Walker if price were no object, and Etienne works for largely the same reasons. We’re both in the Dowdle camp as a mid-priced option. And I’m absolutely with you when it comes to tossing a rookie in the mix, too. If Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson or Washington’s Jonah Coleman are somehow still on the board early in Day 3, you’d be nuts not to give them at least a sniff.
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