Denver Broncos: Players on the chopping block at each position

Running Back: Royce Freeman

As we get into the numbers game of the 90-man roster, Royce Freeman’s name continually comes up as a player that could be cut or traded.

It makes sense.

Every time Vic Fangio has been asked about the running back position in the 2021 offseason, Freeman’s name doesn’t come up when Melvin Gordon’s, Javonte Williams’, and Mike Boone’s names do come up.

I will say — if the Broncos can’t trade Freeman, I think there’s a good chance he will stick on the roster. Maybe they sacrifice a receiver, maybe it’s a tight end, or maybe it’s somewhere else on the roster, but there’s no doubt that Freeman is a 53-man roster player who can contribute on special teams, as a receiver, and obviously as a runner.

Unfortunately, the team just seems to be moving in a different direction. It once appeared as though Freeman would be the clear-cut number one back in Denver and an ankle injury in his rookie season really just derailed his progress and momentum.

With the arrival of free agent Mike Boone as the RB3, Freeman’s role beyond someone above him on the depth chart getting injured is just not there.

The Denver Broncos will undoubtedly be hoping for Freeman to do well in preseason play to maximize trade value, but that RB4 spot is probably going to wind up being someone added to the practice squad like LeVante Bellamy or Damarea Crockett.