The Broncos' newest addition is a low-risk signing that is a perfect hedge against one of their biggest gambles of the 2025 draft

The Denver Broncos' new-look skill group just picked up another addition in time for minicamp. Free agent running back JK Dobbins is staying in the AFC West, transplanting from Los Angeles with the Chargers to become the newest addition to the Denver Broncos. It's a perfect fit for both parties. For Dobbins, it's a chance to play behind a well-developed offensive line and play alongside a number of running backs that can help keep the wear and tear on Dobbins limited. 

For the Broncos, it's a perfect hedge against one of the bets the team placed in April during the 2025 NFL Draft. There's plenty of enthusiasm for rookie running back RJ Harvey, who was the 60th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There should be, too. He's an explosive runner capable of hitting home runs out of the backfield. But rookies are high-variance talents. Some shine, some falter. For the holes that existed in Harvey's game during his time at UCF, the Broncos now have another potent, explosive runner who can raise the floor of that respective role in the room. 

Two holes in Harvey's draft resume were his ball security and his pass protection skills. These are the little things that, if they pop up early in an NFL career, can land a back in a coach's doghouse. Harvey allowed three sacks and 12 pressures in just 78 pass protection opportunities in 2024 and another 10 pressures on 111 pass protection reps in 2023. Additionally, Harvey fumbled six times and lost five of them from 2022 through 2024. 

Dobbins? He has not lost a single fumble in his NFL career across 429 carries. He's put two balls on the ground but managed to re-secure both. He allowed the first sack of his career in pass protection in 2024, posting 15 total pressures allowed in 139 career pass protection reps. 

Durability is the big issue for Dobbins, who logged just nine total rushes between the 2021 through the 2023 seasons. But he set a career high in carries in 2024 with 195 total carries and will be 26-years old until December. The irony of this move for Denver is that it is a risk signing in the form of injury history but because the team is protected against Dobbins' durability questions with a deep running back room, the potential for it to be considered a "bad" signing should be considered very low. 

Between the two new faces in Denver's running back room, the Broncos should have a healthy blend of experience, upside and explosive play ability that helps kick the run game into a different stratosphere in 2025. With that in head coach Sean Payton's back pocket, Denver should be able to play balanced and keep the stress low on young quarterback Bo Nix. 

Sprinkle in Denver's loaded defense and there's plenty of reasons for optimism that 2025 will be a big year in Denver.