5 running backs the Broncos could target with Latavius Murray to Bills

The Denver Broncos passed on running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft. Of course, they only had five picks to work with, but outside of a couple of intriguing undrafted rookies, the Denver Broncos have a relatively uncertain depth chart heading into 2023 OTAs at this position. Now, the possibilities in free agency have slightly dwindled with free agent Latavius Murray signing a one-year deal to join the powerhouse Buffalo Bills.

Murray has been a bit of an ageless wonder at the running back position, a rarity in the NFL where backs typically have one of the shortest shelf lives of any position in the league. Murray did outstanding work for the Denver Broncos last season, coming to the Mile High City after shuttling up and down the Saints' practice squad. He racked up over 700 yards and five touchdowns on the ground for the Broncos, and most importantly, helped them stop fumbling the ball.

The Broncos were desperate for some help last season at the position after Javonte Williams went down with an injury and Melvin Gordon really struggled. Murray deserves his kudos and we wish him well as he heads to Buffalo. But his departure to Buffalo comes at least as a slight surprise. Murray was a likely candidate to return to Denver given Williams' current recovery and given his connections to Sean Payton. Now that he's no longer an option, and now that the NFL Draft has come and gone without the Broncos selecting a running back, what options are out there in free agency?

Denver Broncos free agent RB targets after Latavius Murray signs with Bills

1. Ezekiel Elliott

I've said it before, but I will say it again. We know that Sean Payton wants to place a heavy emphasis on running the ball this season. We already saw the Broncos bring in a veteran in Samaje Perine, and the team understandably has a vision for him given the general lack of involvement he's had in his first handful of years in the NFL, at least relatively speaking.

Perine has not taken on the typical workload you see from prominent 28-year-old running backs, but Ezekiel Elliott has been on the opposite end of that spectrum. The Cowboys ran the former first-round pick into the ground and for good reason. Elliott was once one of the most dynamic three-down backs in the league. Although his effectiveness on a per-snap basis is not what it was when he was a younger player, Elliott had over 2,200 total yards from scrimmage the last two seasons combined with 24 total touchdowns on 532 touches with just one fumble.

I will take that kind of effectiveness any day in a rotation.

2. Kareem Hunt

Some people are vehemently opposed to the idea of signing Kareem Hunt due to his prior off-field issues, which are obviously significant and abhorrent. The reality of his situation is that he may not be blacklisted by every NFL team despite it all, and I think he's at least an option to discuss for the Broncos, for one particular reason: Running backs coach Lou Ayeni.

Lou Ayeni was hired this offseason by Sean Payton straight out of the Northwestern football program, but one of Ayeni's previous stops was Toledo where he recruited Kareem Hunt. The relationship between Ayeni and Hunt could come into play if the Broncos want to sign veteran depth at the position. Hunt's effectiveness diminished significantly in Cleveland the past two seasons, but I think he's at least an option given the connection to Ayeni.

3. Jerick McKinnon

Basically an extension of the passing game at this point, Jerick McKinnon is coming off of a career year with the Kansas City Chiefs in which he racked up 10 total touchdowns and one non-touchdown that will forever live in NFL Super Bowl lore. McKinnon famously sacrificed the opportunity to score a Super Bowl touchdown to help the Chiefs run out hte clock late in the game.

Could he join the Chiefs' division rivals in Denver as a complementary piece to Samaje Perine and, of course, Javonte Williams when healthy? I really like this possibility because of McKinnon's prowess as a receiver out of the backfield. Does this help your running back depth? Yes, even though McKinnon was almost exclusively used in a pass-catching role for Kansas City.

His connection to Denver is GM George Paton, who was in the Vikings' front office when McKinnon was drafted back in 2014.

4. Leonard Fournette

Part of the mass exodus out of Tampa Bay this offseason included "Lombardi Lenny", aka Leonard Fournette, the former no. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Leonard Fournette is obviously a very high-profile name, but he is not a bell-cow back in the NFL and could work well in tandem with the other guys the Denver Broncos have on the roster currently at the position.

Last year for Tampa Bay, Fournette racked up nearly 1,200 yards from scrimmage on 262 total touches, including 73 receptions. He's obviously improved from his LSU days in terms of being a pass-catcher and I think that added value on all three downs could make him an interesting player to consider for depth.

There's no doubt that Fournette is a big body at the position but part of the reason he's still sitting in free agency is the fact that he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry last season. Even if he's not consistently ripping off 20-yard runs, he might be able to be a good fit short-term for Sean Payton's offense.

5. Mark Ingram

Sean Payton has already been adding a ton of former Saints to the roster, so why not another? Mark Ingram played seven games for the Saints in 2021 with Payton and had 88 total touches. He then moved on to the Houston Texans where he contributed a shade over 300 yards from scrimmage last season.

Of course, Ingram is no longer the dynamic three-down back we once knew from his time with the Saints, but he might be the perfect kind of veteran to add to the room who would understand he has a reduced role and he can play all three downs.