Broncos predicted to give up on 2024 draft pick after one year, but should think twice

Perhaps the most intriguing position battle for the Denver Broncos this summer will be at the running back position. The addition of J.K. Dobbins brought even more questions for players on the back end of the roster. 

It seems that with Dobbins now on the roster, many feel that either Audric Estime or Jaleel McLaughlin will not be. It's hard to imagine either of those players being cut, but that could become a reality. 

It has been predicted that Estime could be traded but Will Peterson of Denver Sports went one step further, stating that the team should trade Estime before he is 'inevitably cut'.

"Dobbins and Harvey are locks to make the 53-man roster. McLaughlin brings a unique skill set and more speed than most of the other guys. Badie and Watson are practice squad candidates with some unknown potential. Estime is simply the odd man out.

That began to feel inevitable when the former Notre Dame product didn’t get a jersey against the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs last year. He was a surprise inactive, not a good sign for a fifth-round pick to cap off his rookie year.

And let’s be honest, it was an underwhelming campaign from Estime in a weak Broncos running back room. He rushed for only 310 yards on 76 carries. He had as many fumbles as touchdowns, with two each. He didn’t seize a starting job that on paper could’ve been his, pretty much doing the exact opposite. Estime was essentially a non-factor.

It’s nothing personal, it’s just business — and this is how the NFL works. Estime could use a change of scenery already, and Paton and Payton can fire another dart next spring with an additional sixth-round or seventh-round draft pick", wrote Peterson. 

While there are some good points in there, it's not hard to argue against this move. 

For one, Dobbins, for all his promising traits, is one of the more injury-prone running backs the league has seen in recent years. RJ Harvey looks explosive, but he's a rookie and Sean Payton never saddles rookies with too much of a workload. If you only keep those two and McLaughlin, you could be asking for trouble. 

The Broncos should keep four running backs this year. Yes, that may be a bit unconventional, but so was keeping three quarterbacks on the final 53-man roster last year. 

Estime can be used in short-yardage and goal-line situations and with him being only 21 years old (22 in September), it would be slightly ridiculous to give up on him this quickly. The Broncos used a fifth-round pick on him last year and after just 76 carries, it's way too soon to say whether he will find great success in the NFL or not, but I'd rather place my bet where I placed it last year and not change hands completely. 

If a player like Tyler Badie or Blake Watson has such an impressive summer that you just can't deny them a spot on the 53-man roster, then you could entertain trading Estime. But not before that. 

MORE BRONCOS CONTENT

Broncos undrafted player looking to steal roster spot at center position

Broncos are already in the center of the radar of the Raiders' first-round pick

Broncos rookie RJ Harvey addresses J.K. Dobbins signing, passion besides football, more

Broncos predicted to trade 21-year old running back following J.K. Dobbins signing

Broncos wide receiver's odds of making team greatly diminished following OTAs