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Denver Broncos roundtable: Which players should team draft in 2021?

By Graham Tiedtke

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "THE PICK IS IN" for the Denver Broncos during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "THE PICK IS IN" for the Denver Broncos during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
2021 NFL Draft prospect Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Richard Adkins’ “guy”: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina

The player that I want the Denver Broncos to select in the 2021 NFL Draft is running back Javonte Williams out of the University of North Carolina.

Williams is a 5-foot-10, 220-pound running back who has the patience of Le’Veon Bell and the trucking power of Marshawn Lynch. If I had to compare Williams to any running back from the past, think of a modern-day Clinton Portis.

Williams easily could’ve been looked at as the best running back last season, rushing for 1,140 yards, 19 touchdowns in only 157 rushing attempts. Not only does Williams dominate in between the tackles, but once he gets going, he’s hard to take down, ranking first in broken tackles with 85, including 76 as a running back.

Still not sold? Williams rushed for over 150 yards four times last season, including a game against the Miami Hurricanes where he ran for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Keep in mind that Williams did all of this while splitting carries with Michael Carter, another solid running back in this year’s draft.

With the Broncos releasing Phillip Lindsay and 29-year-old Melvin Gordon in the final year of his contract, this could open the door to draft a running back early. Luckily, Willams is one of the underrated running backs in the draft and despite his amazing season, he could be the second or third running back drafted, resulting in a steal for the Broncos.

Running backs could often be scary to draft due to the average career span at the position being under five years and the number of running backs available. In this case, I believe Williams doesn’t fit that category due to less wear and tear from splitting carries and the explosiveness he’s shown.

I believe Williams could be the future of running backs, and he belongs in Broncos Country.

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