Broncos’ running back plan screams ambition while Chiefs held back

Only time will tell which team had the right approach.

Of course, NFL teams cannot and do not make moves unto themselves. That is, one choice will affect others, so it can be considered an apples to oranges affair when comparing the approaches of both the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos this offseason when addressing their backfields. But the contrast is worth mentioning all the same.

If this seems like a roundabout way to dive into a subject, let's make things a bit more straightforward. It shouldn't be hard to find Chiefs fans who are looking at the Denver Broncos moves this offseason at running back with a bit of jealousy.

It's easy for Chiefs Kingdom to point to AFC West supremacy and recent Super Bowl titles and not care too much about Denver's roster decisions. But that's an easy way out of a present consideration, and not a path we're interested in taking.

Earlier this week, the Broncos signed J.K. Dobbins to a one-year deal worth up to $5.25 million for the 2025 season. This follows the drafting of R.J. Harvey at No. 60 overall in the second round of the NFL Draft, giving the Broncos two new weapons to utilize in a revamped backfield that also includes Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin—and former Chiefs fullback Michael Burton, of course.

Harvey is a high-upside play who was ultra-productive at Central Florida, to the tune of nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground over the last two seasons. Harvey also had solid hands and could be a three-down threat for Sean Payton's offense.

Dobbins enjoyed a tremendous turnaround season and put up career-best numbers for the L.A. Chargers after signing a cheap one-year deal following injury-plagued seasons over the three previous campaigns. Last year, Dobbins had 195 carries for 905 yards and 9 scores in 13 games, and he was the second-leading vote-getter for the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.

The Chiefs were facing major concerns in their own backfield this offseason with an injured Isiah Pacheco coming into a contract year. The team decided to bring back an aging and somewhat limited Kareem Hunt while allowing Samaje Perine to leave in free agency. The team then added former 49ers speedster Elijah Mitchell in free agency and seventh-round pick Brashard Smith in the draft.

Mitchell signed for half of what Dobbins did in free agency with a one-year deal worth up to $2.5 million, but he's not been a relevant product on the field since 2021. It's the sort of flyer the Chargers took a year ago and the Chiefs are hoping for similar results.

Smith brings some change-of-pace upside, but as a seventh-round choice with a lot to learn, no one should count on him making much of an early impact.

The Jerick McKinnon role, if you want to call it that, has been an important one in the Chiefs' offense in the past, but it's typically required veteran backs to man the spot. From protections to chemistry, there's a lot to know before being tasked with major responsibility in Andy Reid's offense, which is a tall order for Smith coming into the NFL.

In a way, the Broncos are rolling the dice with an oft-injured player of their own, but no one can deny the significant difference in the body of work of Dobbins versus Mitchell. And the play to draft Harvey gives the Broncos a much higher ceiling in their remade backfield.

The Chiefs avoided making such investments for the sake of bolstering other positions and that move could absolutely pay off. In fact, Brett Veach has earned the benefit of the doubt here. But it will be interesting to see just how the moves for both teams pay off in the ground game, because some K.C. fans would have loved the sort of approach that Denver followed this offseason.