These players were drafted after the first round, but have the skill set and natural talent to shine as rookies

But that was before the Texans brought in Nick Chubb, who gained over 1,000 rushing yards in four straight seasons in Cleveland from 2019 to 2022. But his 2024 campaign was a mess; one year removed from a serious knee injury, the four-time Pro Bowler averaged just 3.3 yards per carry before a broken foot ended his season eight games in.

The newest infusion of Bronco horsepower was easy to pick out, beyond his 5-foot-10 stature, because he rarely stopped moving. Or talking.

If RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins are all that and bag of chips, the Broncos will win the AFC West for first time since 2015.

The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel wrote on June 9 that there was “no signing imminent” for Dobbins. Broncos head coach Sean Payton praised Dobbins, but also piqued interest with other comments on what Gabriel termed the “fascinating subplot.”

Jump into the veteran running back market or take an approach that’s worked at other positions the past two years and let young players like RJ

It was no secret that the Broncos would draft a back; it was just a matter of when. Many assumed they would select one in the first round, but they would go on to draft Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron with their 20th overall selection.