With the recent signing of running back Melvin Gordon, the Denver Broncos are trying to inject a brand new element into their running game.
The Broncos have long been one of the league’s best teams in finding and developing their own running backs. The list of success stories goes on and on.
Of course, Terrell Davis is by far the biggest success story at running back in team history, going from a sixth-round pick to one of the best running backs in league history. But there have been many more.
Floyd Little was one of the best running backs of his time and eventually was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The team used a first-round pick in the Supplemental Draft to select Bobby Humphrey in 1989. Humphrey had a short career with the team, but in 1989 and 1990, he ran for 2,353 yards and was one of the league’s most potent backs.
In later years, relatively unknown players Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson followed in the footsteps of Davis. Shortly thereafter, Clinton Portis became one of the league’s most dynamic runners.
Even guys like Sammy Winder, Tatum Bell and C.J. Anderson had some solid seasons for the team.
Most recently, Phillip Lindsay, a hometown hero as it was, has gone from an undrafted free agent to become the first undrafted player in league history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He was also the first undrafted player to be selected to the Pro Bowl in their rookie year.
With the success of Lindsay, why would the Broncos be looking to add a player like Gordon? Clearly, because he can give the offense something it hasn’t had in quite some time and in combination with Lindsay, could help the Broncos have potentially the best combination at running back in the NFL.
Will all of that work out? Time will tell.
Here are five other instances in which the Broncos looked outside the organization for a top-flight running back, looking to pump new life into their rushing attack.