Denver Broncos: Four Free Agent Running Backs To Consider

Jan 5, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Ronnie Brown (23) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC wild card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Ronnie Brown (San Diego Chargers)

Brown is pretty much the same exact player Leonard is, although he was once actually an elite talent and still might pack a slightly better punch as a pure runner. He’s the definition of versatile even at 32 years old, though, as he blocks decently, can still run effectively and is an exceptional receiver. He can’t make people miss like he used to, but Brown has actually been surprisingly effective over the past two seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He’d be a good veteran presence in terms of guiding Ball and helping the running game out in a jam.

If you hadn’t figured it out, the running back free agency market has dried up considerably. There are some younger, more explosive options still out there, but the Broncos already have an explosive back in Hillman and neither Hillman nor those other backs offer the toughness or versatility that most of these four backs above can. With the exception of Michael Bush, the guys above can all catch the ball out of the backfield, run effectively and just about as important as anything else, they won’t be a liability in pass protection when Denver needs to create extra time for Peyton Manning to throw the ball.

Ideally, it’s going to be Andre Brown or bust. He has some fumbling issues last year and has had health woes, but he’s the total package and is in his prime. If Denver doesn’t snatch him up, it’d probably come down to Brian Leonard or Ronnie Brown, with Leonard having the slight leg up between the two thanks to less grind on his legs.

Realistically, though, the Broncos are more than likely going to bypass adding a veteran running back in these last waves of free agency, and instead just draft one. It sounds like they feel comfortable with Ball as the lead back and are still fairly high on Ronnie Hillman, so it’s even entirely possible that they don’t make a move at all and stick in-house with the current talent on the roster. However, if they do dip their toes in the draft’s running back pool, don’t be shocked for them to chase after a more versatile back like West Virginia’s Charles Sims, who can run effectively and also catch the ball safely out of the backfield.