Denver Broncos: 5 2021 NFL Draft needs and players to watch for

4. Running Back

Many may roll their eyes at running back as a position of need, but the Denver Broncos may find themselves needing depth at the position as early as next season.

Phillip Lindsay will be a restricted free agent this offseason, allowing the Broncos to match any offer he gets. However, some team looking for a spark on offense may be willing to pay Lindsay more than what the Broncos are comfortable with.

Lindsay’s departure would leave the Broncos with Melvin Gordon and Royce Freeman, two power backs who do a lot of the same things. However, Gordon could be facing a suspension for a DUI he faced earlier in the season. Without Lindsay and Gordon, the Broncos would be forced to rely on Royce Freeman and practice squad member LeVante Bellamy.

Moving into the 2022 offseason, both Gordon and Freeman will be unrestricted free agents for the Broncos. What was a major strength for the Denver Broncos could quickly become a massive weakness if the Broncos fail to retain some of their backs.

While it’s likely that John Elway will retain either Phillip Lindsay or Melvin Gordon, the Broncos would be smart to look to the draft for some cheap depth. With teams finding pro-ready backs in the later rounds, the Broncos may not have to invest a premium pick into a running back to find talent.

Here are some late-round running back options the Denver Broncos should look at:

"Javian Hawkins-#145 overall player per TDN, “Lightning in a bottle. Has blazing speed and rare acceleration. There aren’t many foot races he can’t win. Dynamic in space and found tremendous production working off-tackle. Slippery and quick.” Khalil Herbert-#219 overall player per TDN, “Khalil shows very good athleticism with the ball in his hands. In the run game, he’s a decisive runner in zone-read action and does a good job of sticking his foot in the ground and getting upfield. He’s a strong runner with a good instincts and vision. He has a compact build who runs with good leverage with the ball in his hands” Master Teague-#177 overall player per TDN, ” Impressive physical skills jump off the screen at you when you watch Teague play. He’s got explosive short area burst and pairs that suddenness with an angry running style — one that will challenge timid tacklers and allow him to tear through arm tackles without losing much momentum at all.”"