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Javonte Williams, 23 years old
Remaining contract: One year, $2.8 million with 952K guaranteed.
The 2024 season figures to be tremendously important for Javonte Williams.
It’s the last year of his rookie deal, and, as a result, his last chance to show what he looks like post-injury before signing an extension.
If Williams returns to 2021 form, he’s set to become one of the higher-paid backs in the league. If he looks like he did in 2023 though, he’ll be signing a low-level contract you see associated with rotational backs.
The shadow that uncertainty casts will loom not only over Javonte Williams, but the Denver Broncos as well.
This is a team that has attempted to construct a foundation around a ground-and-pound rushing attack since Sean Payton was brought in. They want to run the ball, and their only back that figures to be more than a mere role player, unfortunately, has serious questions about his remaining talent.
As a result, the Broncos’ running back room ultimately feels a lot like the edge-rusher room. They’ve got a lot of solid pieces, but they’re lacking that true difference maker to make the whole thing sing.
It would be a questionable move given their limited draft capital, but don’t be surprised if Denver looks for a long-term replacement for Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft
Samaje Perine, 28 years old
Remaining contract: One year, $4.5 million with $1.5 million guaranteed.
Samaje Perine is in an awkward position this offseason, despite arguably being the offense’s most valuable player a season ago.
He’s both the Denver Broncos’ most expensive running back and the Broncos’ running back with the least-defined role in this rebuild.
Javonte Williams might return to form and give Denver a high-end workhorse back to build their offense around. Jaleel McLaughlin could grow beyond his scat-back role and become a cheap, young and valuable offensive element, especially given Coach Payton’s résumé with running backs.
Samaje Perine is…?
He’s a good all-around back. He’s a better pass-protector than McLaughlin, though he isn’t as good as Williams. He’s a better receiver than Williams, but he’s not as good there as McLaughlin could be. He’s a fine runner, but it’s also hard to imagine him ever being more than a secondary or tertiary back.
Even the argument that he’s a trusty veteran is somewhat nullified by the fact he’s only under contract for one season — a season in which the Broncos aren’t exactly prioritizing winning. So why do they even need a trusty but expensive veteran?
Wouldn’t they be better served by investing in a rookie with upside and just live with the youthful mistakes, considering they aren’t really trying to win in 2024 anyways?
The Denver Broncos’ front office could easily arrive at a similar conclusion, so if they draft a back in this year’s draft, Perine’s seat will be the hottest.
Jaleel McLaughlin, 23 years old
Remaining contract: Two years, $2 million ($1 million in average annual value (AAV)) with $10K guaranteed.
The only member of this backfield under contract with the Denver Broncos past this upcoming season is oddly the undrafted free agent — Jaleel McLaughlin.
McLaughlin was one of Denver’s only two rookies to really make an impact on the team last season. As Williams’ legs faded down the stretch, McLaughlin became a vital element of the Broncos’ run game and even looked like the team’s best back for stretches of the season.
He boasted a rushing success rate of 53.9% — good for 10th-best in the entire league, and in two of Denver’s three final games, he averaged over five yards per carry.
He also demonstrated an increased understanding of Sean Payton’s famed ‘joker’ role as the season went on, leading to him becoming a crucial part of an anemic passing attack down the stretch. After averaging 1.7 targets per game the first nine weeks of the season, McLaughlin saw 2.5 targets per game the second half of the season.
That said, it is fair to wonder what his long-term role is, as a No. 3 running back that doesn’t presently contribute on special teams, though, maybe his role there changes with the NFL’s new kickoff rule.
Michael Burton, 32 years old (Fullback)
Remaining contract: One year, $4.5 million with $1.5 million guaranteed.
Bringing back Michael Burton makes a lot of sense for the Denver Broncos.
As previously discussed, they’re attempting to build a ground-and-pound attack in Sean Payton’s image, so who better to help than a fullback Payton is familiar with?
Burton is also one of the league’s best fullbacks, yet the Broncos managed to sign him to one of the cheaper fullback contracts.
No qualms here.
Tyler Badie, 24 years old
Remaining contract: One year, $795K with $0 guaranteed.
There really isn’t much to say about Tyler Badie.
He remains an intriguing practice squad player, but, if he were ever going to have a breakout season, it likely would have already happened. Running back is not a position with a big learning curve between the college and pro game, nor is it a position that ages well.
If Badie is anything more that a practice-squad player this season, it would be a surprise.
Overall
The Denver Broncos will have to find an answer at running back at some point during this rebuild, though it’s not a pressing concern right now.
It might be wise to take a late Day-3 swing at the position, just to safeguard the roster against a potential mass exodus in 2025, and to give the offense a more foundational run game so long as Jarrett Stidham is quarterback, but that also isn’t a necessity.
In the short-term, it seems to be in the Broncos’ best interest to find out what version of Javonte Williams they’re left with and who Jaleel McLaughlin is and how expansive his role can be. If they receive positive answers there, the room could solve itself.
