Latest news with #JKDobbins
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Free agent RB J.K. Dobbins visits Broncos
June 5 - Free agent running back J.K. Dobbins was set to visit with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, coach Sean Payton confirmed at the team's offseason program. Dobbins, 26, played last season for the division rival Los Angeles Chargers, who applied an unrestricted free agent tender on him in April. The tender is worth about $1.1 million, according to ESPN, and would allow the Chargers to count Dobbins toward the compensatory draft pick formula for 2026 if he signs elsewhere before July 22. "We'll have a chance to visit with him, and then we'll see where it goes," Payton said. The Broncos' running back depth chart currently includes second-round pick RJ Harvey, second-year back Audric Estime and veteran Jaleel McLaughlin. "Just another good football player that we've seen first-hand (that) I've seen for a while," Payton said. "Just the importance of that position group. We really like the group right now we're working with. "It's just another opportunity to possibly bring in another good football player to help us win." Dobbins led the Chargers in rushing last season with 905 yards and nine touchdowns on 195 carries. In four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2020, 2022-23) and Chargers, he has totaled 429 rushing attempts for 2,252 yards and 21 scores, plus 59 receptions for 330 yards and one receiving touchdown. --Field Level Media
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
What Broncos' interest in JK Dobbins says about running back room status
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When Sean Payton showed up in Florida for the annual league meetings back in March, he did so without a new running back on his roster. The first wave of NFL free agency had passed without Denver addressing one of its biggest positions of need, and Payton stated the reason plainly. Advertisement 'We felt like it was a pretty lean year in regards to free agency at that position, just relatively speaking,' Payton said at the time. 'There is depth in the draft.' The Broncos did indeed find their running back in the draft when they selected RJ Harvey in the second round, but they might not be out on the position in free agency after all. Denver this week hosted former Los Angeles Chargers running back JK Dobbins at the team's headquarters. He had dinner with members of the organization on Wednesday night and was set to spend time touring the facility on Thursday. 'We'll have a chance to visit with him and we'll see where it goes,' Payton said after the Broncos wrapped up their final OTA practice Thursday, with only next week's three-day mandatory minicamp standing between the team and its summer break. The Broncos drafted Harvey and have been pleased with his early progress during what has amounted to three weeks of practices and meeting work. He's been a staple in the passing game during OTA practices open to reporters, including a catch from quarterback Bo Nix on a long route down the sideline Thursday. Payton has expressed an eagerness to give second-year back Audric Estimé more opportunities to showcase his 'physical, downhill' style as a runner. He mentioned Tyler Badie's solid work as a pass protector after Thursday's practice. And Jaleel McLaughlin continues to showcase his versatility as a runner and receiver as he enters his third year in the offense. Right on 🎯 @BoNix10 x @Speedkills2k_ — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 5, 2025 So the potential pursuit of Dobbins, Payton said Thursday, isn't an indictment of what the Broncos already have on the roster. Instead, he said, it's a chance to add a productive back — when healthy, being the key caveat with Dobbins — to a deep, if largely unproven group. 'It's another good football player that we've seen firsthand,' Payton said. 'I've seen him for a while. The importance of that position group, we really like the group we're working with, (but) it's just another opportunity to possibly bring in another good football player who can help us win.' Advertisement Dobbins, a second-round pick of the Ravens in 2020, is coming off the best season of his career. He rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games last season and caught 32 passes. He had 96 rushing yards and a touchdown during a Week 6 win for the Chargers over the Broncos in Denver. Dobbins missed four games with a knee injury, but 2024 still qualified as by far the healthiest season for the running back since his rookie year. Dobbins suffered a devastating knee injury during the 2021 preseason in which he tore multiple ligaments, similar to the setback former Broncos running back Javonte Williams suffered in 2022. Dobbins missed all of the 2021 season and half of the 2022 season as a result. Then, in 2023, he suffered an Achilles injury in Week 1 and missed the rest of the season. That extensive injury history is the biggest reason Dobbins did not find the offers he was looking for when free agency opened in March. He also struggled in the Chargers' playoff loss to the Houston Texans, rushing for just 26 yards on nine carries. But in this stage of the offseason, Dobbins could be a value add for a team that lacks overall experience at running back. The Broncos have been determined this season to bolster a running game that struggled at times last season despite Denver's offensive line ranking first in ESPN's run-block win rate metric. 'Did we watch cut-ups of runs where we felt like there was more meat left on the bone? Yes,' Payton said. 'We feel like it's certainly a point of emphasis to improve in that area.' A contract with Dobbins at this point in the offseason could be palatable for a Broncos team that has roughly $16.2 million in available cap space, according to Over The Cap. It would be a move to create another backfield option for a team that believes it is ready to contend for the AFC West and needs a more productive running game to make it happen. New Broncos tight end Evan Engram entered the NFL in 2017 as a first-round pick of the New York Giants. The Giants' third-round pick that year: quarterback Davis Webb, who is entering his second year as the coach of that position in Denver. Engram and Webb struck up a quick friendship and stayed in touch as their NFL paths split in different directions. Engram found himself scanning Broncos film last season, his way of 'just watching and supporting' Webb. Advertisement Little did Engram know he was actually getting a jump on learning about his next quarterback. 'I was always really observant of Bo Nix,' Engram said Thursday as he spoke with the Denver media for the first time since signing with the Broncos as a free agent in March. 'It was kind of, obviously, as a rookie, kind of a slow start last year. He was learning the game, but once he turned it on, you can see it all over the tape. Flying around for the (free agent) visits, got to download some games on the laptop and watch some film. The potential is through the roof, and even better is just the way he is as a man, as a worker, as a leader.' Engram met with the Broncos and then the Los Angeles Chargers as free agency opened in the spring. He arrived in Denver first and had lunch with Nix. As Engram continued to move intentionally through the decision-making process, the early interaction with the quarterback kept sticking in his mind. 'It's been really great to get to know him on and off the field,' Engram said. 'I just love the way he approaches each and every day. I love the way he builds relationships with his teammates. ' … Even that lunch, I was able to just kind of listen to his process and things that he's working on. Just a really impressive young guy. Like I said, the potential is through the roof, and I like to see myself as someone that can come in and help his development and take this team to another level.' Engram is hard to miss during Broncos practices. He's the fluid route runner and consistent target at the position the Broncos haven't had since at least 2021, which was Noah Fant's last season in Denver. Then there's the No. 1 jersey that Engram is wearing, an unusual digit choice for a tight end — but one that has significant meaning for the team's new offensive weapon. 'It's awesome, honestly,' Engram said. 'That was my number for three years in high school. I wore 17 in college, so I got to Jacksonville and got to wear 17 again. When I signed with Denver, (the equipment staff) sent me a list of numbers that were free. I sent the list to my family, and I honestly didn't even notice 1 was open. All of them said 1. It's a cool thing just to reconnect to the glory days of high school football where I really started to come into my own as a football player. Where I'm at in my career, how much I've learned, the talent I've worked for, the experiences I have to be able to bring that here and wear that jersey number again, I don't take it lightly.' • Defensive end John Franklin-Myers did not attend OTA practices, but Payton said the veteran will participate in next week's mandatory minicamp. Left tackle Garett Bolles was also not in attendance. • Payton and the Broncos' coaching staff have been impressed with the way first-round pick Jahdae Barron has grasped the team's defensive scheme at multiple positions early in the offseason. He's shuffled between the nickel spot and both outside corner spots with aplomb. Advertisement But that doesn't mean the Broncos will overload Barron with responsibilities. Asked if Barron also would play safety, similar to former Payton draft pick Malcolm Jenkins, the coach said he doesn't 'have the same vision' for the rookie. 'Malcolm came (to New Orleans) in (2009); he played nickel and then went to safety,' Payton said. 'Now, I'm not saying (Barron) couldn't in a pinch, but the vision for him is corner: inside and outside.' • One player who has been hard to miss during the two OTA practices open to the media is second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin. He caught three passes near the line of scrimmage Thursday that he quickly turned into massive gains with the help of his quick, long strides. 'You haven't been able to see all the plays, but there have been a number of explosive plays,' Payton said. 'He can run, and I would say a strength of his is ball in hand after the catch. He can run after the catch. He's doing well.'
