Broncos Linked to Pair of Free-Agent Running Backs

The NFL offseason is officially underway. With free agency’s 'legal tampering' period less than a week away on March 13 and free agency officially kicking off two days later, every team will comb over the pool of available talent and make their best pitches to lure players to join their squads.

Especially the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos currently sit in the middle of the pack in salary cap space before starting free agency. Denver also has the ability to create ample cap space moving on from players such as Chase Edmonds, Graham Glasgow, and Ronald Darby before the start of the next league year.

Of course, the Broncos will need to target the offensive and defensive line in free agency and the draft, but running back has apparently become a position of interest for the Broncos.

Despite GM George Paton's public remarks that starting running back Javonte Williams is on target to return to start next season after suffering a significant knee injury early in 2022, NBC Sports' Matthew Berry said he had heard the opposite.

With a range of outcomes possible for Williams, Berry expected the Broncos to target running backs, specifically Cleveland Browns’ Kareem Hunt, in free agency. While Hunt makes sense for the Broncos for several reasons, there are other running backs to consider in free agency.

Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine listed two of the top free-agent ball carriers as fits for the Broncos to sign starting next week: the Chicago Bears’ David Montgomery and Buffalo Bills’ Devin Singletary.

Montgomery was not a part of a great offense in Chicago the last few seasons, but he was far from the issue. As Ballentine states in the article, Montgomery’s offensive line failed him often, and the back did the most given his opportunities, ranking sixth in the NFL in attempts per broken tackle.

The Denver Broncos just hired Montgomery’s college running back coach, Lou Ayeni, to the same position, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Javonte Williams is recovering from a knee injury that included a torn ACL and LCL, so finding a reliable early-down back who can ease him back into the game would be ideal.

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The connection of Montgomery to Coach Ayeni could prove to be big. Interestingly, both Montgomery and Hunt were recruited and coached by Ayeni in college. Could the Broncos’ new running backs coach recruit one of his former pupils to his new NFL team?

Ballentine also lists Singletary as an option for the Broncos. Singletary never provided the type of production of a true RB1 in Buffalo despite playing with the likes of Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. But Singletary could be an excellent short-term veteran option for Denver to bridge the gap between the start of the season and when Williams is healthy enough to return.

Furthermore, Ballentine notes Singletary’s prowess in the receiving game, hauling in 145 receptions in his NFL career, as a reason for his value. With Sean Payton in town, there is no doubt Denver is looking to add backs that can contribute to the passing game.

(Singletary) could also fit as the Broncos lead back while Javonte Wiliams is recovering. With Sean Payton taking over the offense, there’s going to be a role for a pass-catching back. Singletary is no Alvin Kamara, but he might be the closest thing the Broncos can afford.

The Broncos are exceedingly likely to make moves in the running back room this offseason. As Paton stated in his NFL Combine press conference, expect the Broncos to bring in an additional back (or two) prior to the start of next season.

Whether it be Hunt, Montgomery, Singletary, several other free-agent backs, or even adding a ball carrier in the draft remains to be seen. But Denver needs to add a running back to the fold this offseason.

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