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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 10: Rico Dowdle #5 of the Carolina Panthers is introduced prior to the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium on January 10, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos enter the 2026 offseason without many glaring holes, but questions in the backfield remain near the top of the list.

With J.K. Dobbins set to hit free agency after another injury-shortened season and uncertainty surrounding the long-term workload of RJ Harvey, Denver has been widely linked to veteran help. 

Pro Football Focus’ Ryan Smith recently predicted the Broncos would target Rico Dowdle in free agency, a move that Spotrac projects at roughly two years and $13 million. 

Dowdle is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season and has quietly ranked among the league’s more efficient backs. 

He’s forced 79 missed tackles and averaged 3.21 yards after contact per attempt over the past two seasons.

The projection points to Denver prioritizing reliability and physicality behind a strong offensive line.

Why Denver Keeps Coming Back to Rico Dowdle

Dowdle’s name isn’t new in Broncos circles. 

Denver explored signing him during last year’s free-agency cycle before he ultimately landed in Carolina. 

This reinforces the idea of sustained interest rather than a one-off projection. 

Smith noted that adding Dowdle would allow Harvey to stay fresh in passing situations while giving Denver a dependable early-down presence.

The 27-year-old back rushed for 1,079 yards in 2025 while adding 249 receiving yards, showing enough versatility to stay on the field in multiple looks. 

Dowdle had three games this season with more than 130 rush yards. 

That includes a 206-yard performance against the Dolphins and a 183-yard performance against the Cowboys. 

In a rotation-heavy league, Dowdle’s ability to handle volume when needed while still contributing as a receiver makes him an appealing fit for a team looking to stabilize its run game. 

A Familiar Formula for Sean Payton’s Offense

For Sean Payton, the appeal goes beyond just the numbers.

Smith compared a potential Dowdle-Harvey pairing to the Mark Ingram–Alvin Kamara dynamic from Payton’s New Orleans days, where complementary skill sets allowed both backs to thrive. 

Dowdle spent time with the Cowboys before breaking out with the Panthers, and that experience across systems has added to his value. 

With Dobbins’ durability a lingering concern and Denver exploring both free agency and the draft for backfield upgrades, Dowdle represents a middle ground. 

He offers proven production without the premium cost of top-tier free agents. 

After J.K. Dobbins’ Week 10 injury, Denver’s rushing attack slipped sharply in 2025. 

They fell from a top-10 unit to the bottom third of the league as production and efficiency both dropped. 

The Broncos averaged just over 104 yards per game the rest of the regular season and struggled again in the playoffs, underscoring how the offense stalled without a true early-down runner.

If the Broncos do revisit a pursuit they nearly made a year ago, it would signal a clear effort to solidify one of their roster’s biggest question marks.

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