The Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers in Week 9, and just about every playmaker on the offense got in on the fun. It definitely was a well-rounded effort, as eight different players had a reception.
One of the primary developments in recent weeks, though, as been rookie running back Jonah Coleman essentially ripping the RB1 duties away from J.K. Dobbins. Coleman came back off IR and really didn't look back.
The thing is, though, while Coleman does have RB1 potential and does check nearly every single box, Coleman's Week 9 performance, while solid, should still compel the Broncos to trade for a running back.
The Denver Broncos still need to swing a trade despite another quality Jonah Coleman performance
Despite Carolina sporting one of the worst run defenses in the sport, Coleman amounted just 57 rushing yards on 17 carries, which is good for 3.4 yards per carry. Dobbins added 18 yards on four carries. In total, the Broncos had 82 rushing yards against one of the worst units in the sport.
Much of the issue does appear to be the interior, as left guard Ben Powers and center Luke Wattenberg have largely been liabilities this year in the run game. We just have not seen this unit take off like we had hoped, and given how much chemistry this offensive line has, it is a major concern.
With that being said, the Broncos also have every reason in the world to make a move. There appear to be multiple running backs available, and it's not like the Broncos haven't had their share of injuries at the position - Coleman has already had a stint on IR, Dobbins is injury prone, and both RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie are on IR.
Denver's health at the position has not been there this year, and while Coleman could end up being a long-ish term future at the position for the Broncos, we're talking about capitalizing on this current Super Bowl window.
If Coleman were to go down again, for example, Denver would be left with Dobbins as the primary back, for example, as Harvey and Badie aren't eligible to come off IR for a few more weeks. As quickly as Super Bowl windows open in this league, they can close.
And with how the 2025 season ended for the Broncos, that year essentially got flushed down the drain, and with the Broncos also having an older roster, the time to strike is now, and with the Broncos having not broken out much on the ground in Week 9 against a poor defense, it's beyond time for this front office to make a move.
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