J.K. Dobbins is a worthy lead back when healthy, but his injury history says the team must add a rusher either through free agency or the draft.

DENVER — As the 2025 Broncos season unfolded, it seemed destined to align with the 10-year anniversary of their Super Bowl 50 victory at Levi’s Stadium.

As it turned out, the stars from the 2025 Broncos connected with the 20-year anniversary of the Jake Plummer/Champ Bailey-led 2005 Broncos losing the AFC Championship Game at home.

After getting so close in 2005, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan tried to add that one more piece to put his team over the top. He acquired star receiver Javon Walker from the Green Bay Packers in 2006 and signed 1,200-yard running back Travis Henry in 2007.

Neither worked out as hoped and the Broncos went through a five-year playoff drought before Tim Tebow came along in his magical season of 2011, speaking of a higher power.

Fortunately for the Broncos, the 20-year link between 2005 and 2025 has some apples to oranges elements. Shanahan also transitioned quarterbacks from Plummer to Jay Cutler, a first-round pick in 2006. The Broncos need no such dramatic switch at their most important position in 2026.

As long as Bo Nix keeps his ankles sturdy – the team is counting him being available to participate in OTAs by late-May – the Broncos already have their ascending quarterback heading into year 3.

Nix has averaged an impressive 3,853 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes and 12.5 wins in his first two seasons. Give him a few more weapons and he should play up a level to the 4,000/30/Super Bowl club in 2026.

The Broncos will have a much tougher schedule, at least as it stands now on paper, than they had in 2025 when they finished with a 14-3 record and No. 1 playoff-seed.

With the 2026 NFL offseason beginning next Sunday with the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, the Broncos need to address starters at five positions: Running back, inside linebacker and tight end.

Depth along the offensive line (is Alex Palczewski ready to become a full-time starter?), receiver and safety (P.J. Locke is a free agent) are other significant, if secondary issues. The defensive line is expected to lose John Franklin-Myers to free agency, but with Zach Allen, D.J. Jones and Malcolm Jones all receiving contract extensions within the last year, the team will be counting on Eyioma UIwazurike and Sai’vion Jones to take on bigger roles.

However, today, we address the Broncos’ running back position:

Free agent: J.K. DobbinsRestricted free agent: Jaleel McLaughlinUnder team control: RJ Harvey, Tyler Badie (exclusive rights), Cody Schrader, Deuce VaughnTop running back free agents: Kenneth Walker, Seahawks; Breece Hall, Jets; Travis Etienne, Jaguars; Rico Dowdle, Panthers; Rachaad White, Bucs.Top running backs in draft: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame; Jonah Coleman, Washington; Jadarian Price, Notre Dame; Seth McGowan, Kentucky; Emmett Johnson, Nebraska.Summary: Must get a No. 1-type back to team with the 1B Harvey. The quest to improve at this position begins with the Broncos’ evaluating their own Dobbins and McLaughlin.

Dobbins was fantastic through 10 games last season, ranking No. 5 in the NFL at the time with 772 rushing yards. But his season-ending Lisfranc injury damaged the Broncos in their 10-7 loss in inclement, run-first conditions to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Given both his extensive injury history and impressive production when healthy, it’s easy to see the Broncos trying to bring Dobbins back on a one-year contract at a decent, if not, exorbitant raise from the $2.07 million he made last year. He brings energy to the playing field and the locker room, and was a terrific mentor for no-longer-rookie Harvey last season.

But you can’t go into the season with Dobbins as your bell cow, again. His injury history is simply too significant.

Can’t see the Broncos slapping the low restricted free-agent tender of about $3.5 million on McLaughlin, but maybe they can work out a one-year, reduced deal that would still give him a nice raise from the $1.04 million he made last year.

Having said all that, the Broncos can’t run it back with this same running back group.

They either need to sign a lead-type back from free agency like Etienne, Hall or Dowdle (I’m guessing Seattle steps up big to re-up Walker) to partner with Harvey, or they need to try and draft another running back for a third consecutive year.

The Broncos have the 30th pick in each of the first three rounds so it would be one thing to target two or three backs in the draft and another if they’re still there by picks 30, 62 and 94.