Broncos Training Camp Battle: Running Back—One Spot Left

McLaughlin is the longest-tenured back on the roster, joining as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Payton's first year as head coach. McLaughlin made the 53-man roster out of training camp and has never looked back, even though his role has ebbed and flowed.

Last season, McLaughlin was the No. 4 back on the depth chart and was rendered a healthy scratch for most of the season. But — and this is interesting — when Dobbins went down in Week 10 with his season-ending foot injury, McLaughlin went from the sideline to the No. 2 role behind Harvey.

Down the stretch, McLaughlin was the more efficient back, by far. For the second time in his young NFL career, he averaged north of 5.0 yards per carry (5.1), offering some nice burst as a change-of-pace option behind Harvey.

For whatever reason, though, McLaughlin has never been trusted as a receiver out of the backfield. That limits his opportunities to get his beak wet in a Payton offense, but McLaughlin has been a valuable piece to the backfield puzzle in each of the past three seasons.

McLaughlin is also a first-in, last-out type of player. That resonates with a coaching staff, and the Broncos are no exception. That's why he was just re-signed to a one-year deal.

Entering his fourth year, McLaughlin has to be viewed as the leader in the clubhouse for that fourth and final running back spot on the roster.

Tyler Badie

Badie joined the Broncos the year before Payton arrived. Denver signed him off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad — the team that drafted him in the sixth round just months before.

When Payton took over, he liked Badie, too, especially as a pass-catching option out of the backfield, though he spent the 2023 season on the practice squad. Fast forward to 2024, and Badie was about to get an opportunity to take over the lead-back duties in relief of Williams before a scary back injury suffered in Week 4 basically ended his season.

Badie was the No. 3 back last year, though, ahead of McLaughlin. But it's worth mentioning that when Dobbins went down, it wasn't Badie who saw the increase in role; McLaughlin leapfrogged him.

Payton likes using Badie on third down, catching screen passes or checkdowns, and using his burst to move the chains. Badie only had eight carries in 2025, even though he dressed for 16 of the 17 regular-season games.

It will be interesting to see McLaughlin and Badie go at it this summer. If McLaughlin shows big improvement in his hands and receiving, though, it's hard to see Badie edging out.

Cody Schrader

Schrader went undrafted out of Missouri in 2024 and signed with the Los Angeles Rams as a college free agent. He stuck around on L.A.'s practice squad for two years before the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him to their active roster last September.

Schrader lasted two months in Jacksonville before getting waived, though the Houston Texans swept in and claimed him. A week later, Houston waived him, and that's where the Broncos come into the picture.

The Broncos claimed Schrader off waivers, and he spent a week on the active roster before being waived and re-signed to the practice squad. After the season, the Broncos signed him to a futures contract.

Schrader is an interesting back, but the NFL has yet to fully tap into his full potential. In his final year at Mizzou, he rushed for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns — in the SEC — and he produced a 2,000-yard season at the Division II Truman State University two years prior.

It will be interesting to see whether Schrader can push McLaughlin and Badie. He's an intriguing player

The Takeaway

Again, the Broncos will field a "three-headed monster," to quote Coleman. Payton has always been a running-back-by-committee guy, and it's hard to find a more dynamic trio in the NFL.

That makes it harder on McLaughlin, Badie, and Schrader to get a touch in edge-wise, but it's a great harbinger for the Broncos' offense overall. This is a deep running back room, and it's not top-heavy, thanks to Coleman's arrival.

The battle for the No. 4 running back spot on the roster will commence on July 28 when the veterans report for training camp. Soon after, the pads will go on and we'll start seeing what's what.