The Denver Broncos flipped the script on draft experts when they took cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft — a spot they seemed destined to fill pressing needs at running back or tight end.
While the Broncos got their running back one round later with UCF’s RJ Harvey in the second round )No. 60 overall), it’s turning out to be a better fit than they could have gotten with anyone else, regardless of the round.
The latest evidence was in an 18-15 win over the Houston Texans in Week 8 where Harvey’s 27-yard touchdown reception made him the first rookie in Broncos history with a touchdown catch in 3 consecutive games.
Harvey led the Broncos with 5 receptions for 51 yards against the Texans as the Broncos rallied in the fourth quarter. It was their sixth consecutive win to improve to 7-2.
After having one of the NFL’s worst rushing attacks in 2024, the Broncos now have one of the best with a 1-2 punch of Harvey and veteran J.K. Dobbins, although Harvey is still serving something of an apprenticeship.
“RJ Harvey does something insanely cool almost every time he touches the ball,” NFL Network’s Michael Florio wrote on his official X account. “His flaw? Sean Payton hardly lets him touch the ball.”
Trio of Talented AFC West Rookie RBs
Harvey is one of a trio of talented AFC West rookie running backs along with a pair of first round picks in Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty and Los Angeles Chargers rookie Omarion Hampton.
While Harvey is the only one of the 3 who isn’t the featured back for his team as a rookie, he also leads the group with 6 total touchdowns and has 371 yards of total offense. Through Week 9, his 6 touchdowns are the second most for any rookie behind New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo’s 7 touchdowns.
That’s not too bad when we consider Dobbins leads the Broncos with 634 rushing yards and is on pace to be the first Denver player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season since Phillip Lindsay in 2019.
Broncos Purged Running Backs From 2024
The Broncos didn’t lift a finger to try and bring back last year’s starting running back Javonte Williams, letting him leave to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency on a 1-year, $3 million contract.
Williams led almost a complete purge of last year’s running backs from the roster, including 2024 seventh round pick Audric Estime, who was cut by the Broncos on August 26 and has spent time on the practice squads for the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.
While Dobbins has been a pleasant surprise on a 1-year, $2.065 million free agent contract, Harvey seems like the future of Denver’s backfield.
Harvey signed a 4-year, $7.35 million rookie contract.
“After conducting a deep dive for information, watching hours of game film and crunching the numbers, the Denver Broncos concluded that UCF’s RJ Harvey was the best running back not named Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL draft,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote on May 7. “So when (the Broncos) were ready to make their second-round pick (No. 60 overall) on Day 2 of the draft, the decision was easy.”
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