The Denver Broncos‘ running backs room could look different in 2026.

That’s because J.K. Dobbins is a pending free agent, and despite his strong showing in 2025, it’s possible the Broncos won’t bring him back after he succumbed to injury once again, an all-too-common occurrence during his career.

If the Broncos do decide to go in a different direction, they will almost certainly target a veteran running back in free agency to pair with RJ Harvey.

That’s part of the reason why Pro Football Focus’ Mason Cameron believes Denver is the top landing spot for Seattle Seahawks running back and pending free agent, Kenneth Walker, who is projected by Spotrac to receive a $33 million deal.

Here’s Cameron’s thoughts on a Walker-Broncos pairing:

While J.K. Dobbins — also a free agent this spring — performed well while leading the Broncos’ backfield when healthy, a player like Walker could take it to the next level. His 93.9 PFF rushing grade since entering the NFL in 2022 ranks second, behind only Derrick Henry, highlighted by his ability to break tackles at an exceptional rate (243 missed tackles forced, third most). 

What makes Walker such a good fit in Payton’s offense is his ability to perform no matter the scheme. Over his four NFL seasons, Walker has produced a 90.0-plus PFF rushing grade in both gap and zone concepts.

Walker is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro, and he played in all 17 games for the first time in his career. Combined with the fact that he’s still just 25 years old, Walker should draw plenty of interest on the open market.

Walker is a big play waiting to happen when the ball is in his hands, both as a runner and pass-catcher. He would add some much-needed explosiveness to Denver’s offense.

The biggest concern with Walker is that he has battled injuries during his career, but the good news is he won’t have to carry a heavy workload with the Broncos with Harvey also getting consistent touches, so that will help keep him healthy.

The Broncos are in good shape in terms of cap space, with Denver projected to have $28 million to work with.

With not many significant holes to fill, the Broncos can afford a significant running back contract if it provides an upgrade. Signing Walker would qualify as such.

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