When veteran running back J.K. Dobbins visited the Denver Broncos last week, a deal between the two sides seemed imminent. But after a two-day trip that included dinner and a tour of the facility, Dobbins left without a deal.
Why?
The two sides did not reach an agreement, at least as far as the media knows. But there is nothing to say that the team didn't agree to a deal with Dobbins that will be announced at a later time. However, with the Houston Texans officially signing Nick Chubb on Monday, the options for available experienced running backs are dwindling.
As for why the Broncos haven't signed him, there could be several reasons, but it's all speculation.
Did the team make him a lowball offer and he still wants to weigh his options? Did the team see something in his medicals during the visit that it wasn't quite comfortable with? Considering the amount of time Dobbins has missed in his career — including four games last season — that is entirely possible.
The Broncos also still need to sign second-round pick RJ Harvey and could be looking to do that before signing another free agent.
Should the Broncos sign J.K. Dobbins?@BaldyNFL fears he would be a "rep-stealer" 👀 pic.twitter.com/2eiTkX5UaB
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) June 9, 2025
It seems to be a coin flip as to whether or not the team ultimately signs the former second-round pick who rushed for 905 yards for the Los Angeles Chargers last season. It's hard to argue that the Broncos don't need more experience in their backfield, however.
Broncos current RB depth chart
| Player | Career Rushing Attempts |
| RJ Harvey | 0 |
| Audric Estime | 76 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | 189 |
| Tyler Badie | 12 |
| Blake Watson | 4 |
Dobbins has 429 career rushing attempts, more than all of the Broncos' running backs combined. He's also still just 26 years old and has averaged over five yards per carry in his career. On paper, Dobbins looks like a solid addition to this group.
As for what happened to cause contract talks to hit a snag, it's anyone's guess. Perhaps the two sides agreed to announce the deal at a later date. It does seem that there is still interest between both sides, but if the Broncos don't sign him, or if he agrees to a deal with a different team, the 2025 season will proceed with a young and inexperienced backfield.
That could lead to some questions as to whether or not the team has given the offense enough to work with this coming season.
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