Report: Broncos 'Team to Watch' for FA RB Kareem Hunt
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After bypassing the position via the 2023 draft, running back remains an area of weakness for the Denver Broncos. Though, perhaps not much longer.
On Saturday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Denver is a "team to watch" for free-agent RB Kareem Hunt, formerly of the Cleveland Browns.
A 2017 third-round pick, Hunt earned Pro Bowl honors during his rookie campaign with the Chiefs, leading the league in rushing yards (1,327). His star dimmed the following year when a video showed Hunt physically assaulting a woman in a hotel. While never criminally charged, he was released by Kansas City and signed with Cleveland in 2019.
Altogether, across six NFL seasons, mostly in a backup capacity, Hunt has totaled 4,025 ground yards and 31 touchdowns on 895 carries (4.5 YPC), adding 211 catches for 1,806 yards and 17 receiving TDs.
Despite whispers that Hunt, who turns 28 in August, is nearing the dreaded cliff, the Broncos are a logical landing spot — not only due to need but the presence of new RBs coach Lou Ayeni, who held the same title during Hunt's time at Toledo.
“We built such a good relationship while I was recruiting him and in that first year,” Ayeni said in 2017, per The Athletic. “I don’t want to say it was like a father-son thing, but it was pretty close.”
Hunt's addition would allow Denver to slow-play the return of incumbent starter Javonte Williams, whose Week 1 status remains up in the air. Williams is recovering from multiple knee ligament tears and could start the year on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
The team currently has free-agent signees Samaje Perine and Tony Jones atop the depth chart.
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