The complete and utter mess that is the Broncos backfield just got messier. According to the Denver Post's Troy Renck, rookie RB Audric Estime’s spot on the roster is all but locked up, writing that Estime will be ‘making the team.’ He also went on to mention that he believes that second-year RB Jaleel McLaughlin is primed to make the final 53 by a comfortable margin, leaving the two oldest ballcarriers in the backfield to duke it out for the last RB roster spot. Of course, this is just what one reporter is hearing on the situation, but it runs heavily contrary to the widely-held belief that Williams would not only make the roster, but have a shot at leading Denvers backfield in 2024 should he be healthy. That’s evidenced by his RB34 price tag on Underdog, which sits well above the aforementioned McLaughlin (RB47), Estime (RB63), and Perine (RB74). At any rate, a running back who isn’t guaranteed to be on the roster after the final cuts are made has no business going ahead of other running backs who’s spots are secured, let alone as an RB3 in the 10th round of drafts. As mentioned before, this isn’t scripture and a lot can change over the course of the offseason – the reason this is news is, in fact, because it’s an unprecedented development. But with the Broncos in the thick of a rebuild around rookie QB Bo Nix and a young team around him, they very may well want to get a look at the new talent in the room before they trot out the oft-injured Williams in 2024.
top of page
bottom of page