Running backs the Denver Broncos should not pass on in the Draft

If the Denver Broncos get the chance to draft one of these star running back prospects, they should not pass on the opportunity.

The Denver Broncos traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft to secure Javonte Williams, who will be the team’s RB1 in the 2022 NFL season. Even with Javonte Williams on board, could the Broncos once again go for a running back high in the 2022 NFL Draft?

It shouldn’t be counted out of the plethora of possibilities, considering the Broncos do not pick until 64th overall, right in the middle of day two of the 2022 Draft.

As of now, the team has not re-signed Melvin Gordon. There seems to be a borderline blind faith level of confidence from many in the fan base in 2021 free agent pickup Mike Boone, who touched the ball a grand total of six times in eight games last year.

Boone does have intriguing skills, but should the Broncos pass on some of the top running backs in this year’s draft just because Boone is on the roster? I would highly disagree with that strategy.

The reality is, over the course of a 17-game season (plus playoffs, hopefully), you are going to need multiple backs that can help carry the load. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a “backup” running back touch the ball over 200 times, and if that’s the case, are they really just a backup?

Important context could lead to Denver Broncos prioritizing RB in 2022 Draft

To make the case for a running back with a high selection in 2022 for the Denver Broncos, we need some important context.

First and foremost, the running back position was always a high priority for the Minnesota Vikings when George Paton was with their front office. That was one of the reasons I felt the team could go running back early on in the 2021 NFL Draft, and they did exactly that.

Beyond just the perception that running back was a high priority for Paton and the Vikings, he has personally stated on multiple occasions over the last year-plus that he believes you need two or three backs to have success in the NFL.

By all appearances, this is a philosophy that is shared by Nathaniel Hackett, whose Green Bay Packers had a big-money contract running back in Aaron Jones last year splitting carries with 2020 second-round pick AJ Dillon.

Combined, Jones and Dillon touched the ball 444 times with over 2,300 yards from scrimmage and 17 total touchdowns.

That was with Aaron Rodgers putting forth a second straight MVP campaign, and that’s worth noting because so much of the pushback I’ve gotten for this running back idea has to do with the fact that Russell Wilson is now in Denver, which means the running game won’t be as big of a priority.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

You can look back at Hackett’s offenses with the Buffalo Bills in 2013-14 when the Bills had veteran Fred Jackson and first-round pick CJ Spiller, or his Jacksonville days when the Jaguars had second-round pick TJ Yeldon and top-five pick Leonard Fournette.

I’m not saying that you should take running back at pick 64 to the bank, but I am saying it shouldn’t be discounted from the list of possibilities depending on who is there. Even if you extend that net to pick 75, the Broncos should have a top running back prospect on their radar, and I think they could go with that position sooner than many think.

Here are some players I think the Broncos should take if they are on the board at 64 or 75.

Denver Broncos RB target no. 1: Kenneth Walker, Michigan State

Kenneth Walker is coming off of a truly outstanding year for Michigan State in which he contended for the Heisman Trophy.

Walker ran for 1,636 yards at over six yards per carry, and scored 18 touchdowns.

The fact that he only has 18 receptions to his name as a collegiate running back is troubling, but there’s no doubt about Walker’s ability to create as a featured runner.

He also backed up his stellar season at Michigan State with an incredible workout and RAS score.

The sub-4.4 in the 40-yard dash would be a nice contrast to Javonte Williams, whose game is based much more off of creating yardage after contact than it is about his long speed.

Walker is a physical freak whose athleticism is reflective of the hard work he clearly puts in off the field in the gym.

He’s an instinctive runner and that comes across when you watch him.

What really could endear him to this coaching staff? Walker is a one-cut and go type of back and that is the perfect type of back for the wide-zone offense.

As a bonus note, Walker transferred to Michigan State from Wake Forest, where the Denver Broncos have had a bit of a presence in recent years acquiring players during and after the NFL Draft.

If the scouts on the staff liked players like Justin Strnad, Kendall Hinton, and others, perhaps they took an early liking to Walker as well.

Even if that’s a bit of a stretch, what Walker showed at Michigan State this past year should make him worthy of serious consideration if he’s on the board at pick 64.

Denver Broncos RB target no. 2: Breece Hall

If I could choose one back for the Denver Broncos to come away with from this particular Draft class, it would be Iowa State’s Breece Hall.

You know that’s genuine because Iowa Hawkeyes running back Tyler Goodson is also in this Draft, and I love it when Hawkeyes become Denver Broncos.

Breece Hall represents just about everything you could ask for from the running back position. He’s an elite-level athlete whose production has been outstanding throughout his time in college.

Hall was named a consensus All-American two years in a row as well as the Big 12 offensive player of the year two years in a row.

He’s been a playmaker since he stepped foot onto the field for the Cyclones to the tune of 3,941 rushing yards, 82 receptions, and 56 total touchdowns in three seasons.

At almost 6-feet, 217 pounds, Hall has pretty ideal size for the running back position even if he’s not in the “elite” category there. His 40-inch vertical shows just how explosive this guy is along with a blazing 4.39 in the 40-yard dash.

That kind of speed and explosiveness is a perfect fit for the offense Nathaniel Hackett will be installing in Denver.

If Hall is available to the Denver Broncos, he would be a home run pick.

Denver Broncos RB target no. 3: Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

The final player I think the Broncos might consider if you’re talking about the 64th or 75th overall pick is Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller.

Unfortunately, he’s missing one rather important prerequisite here as he is not a high RAS type of player at the position.

Considering Spiller is still near the middle of the pack when it comes to overall RAS for running backs over the last three decades or so, this might not be a deal-breaker, but it’s at least a slight concern.

It would be interesting to see what kind of improvements to his overall score would be made by factoring in his pro day, which included a better 33-inch vertical jump, a 4.27 short shuttle (solid), and confirmation of a 1.59 10-yard split.

That 1.59 10-yard split is better than Javonte Williams’ 1.60 and the overall speed from these two players is pretty comparable.

Spiller would be selected here not for his elite RAS score but for his all-around abilities as a running back.

While Javonte Williams excelled on all three downs at North Carolina, especially in pass protection, Spiller needs some work at pass protecting.

He is, however, arguably the best receiver of the three backs listed here and maybe the most ideal scheme fit with his patience, vision, and ability to create after contact.

He didn’t miss a game in three seasons at Texas A&M and I love his competitive toughness.

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The one primary issue with Spiller is that he’s not a long speed threat. If the Broncos are looking for a stylistic contrast to Javonte Williams, this guy isn’t it. However, I don’t think they’re going to be looking for that. I think they’ll be looking for someone that can be a true RB2 or RB1a along with Williams, and Spiller can definitely do that.