Broncos’ Draft Needs: Will Denver look for a No. 2 running back or a long-term starter?

George Paton has shaken up the running back room in Denver his first few months on the job, to say the least.

Phillip Lindsay’s out. Mike Boone is in. And Melvin Gordon appears to have avoided suspension after his DUI charges were dismissed.

But there could be even more changes coming to the running back room by way of the draft. Here’s where Paton could add to the group with a rookie.

Special thanks to Andre Simone for providing draft input.

Current players on the roster

Starter: Melvin Gordon

Depth: Royce Freeman, Mike Boone, LeVante Bellamy, Jeremy Cox, Damarea Crockett

Level of need entering the draft: Not pressing

Strength of position in draft: Very strong class with a number of immediate NFL contributors

Round(s) targeted: Day 2 or early Day 3

Top players in the draft: Najee Harris (Alabama), Travis Etienne (Clemson), Javonte Williams (North Carolina)

The Broncos are in an ideal spot regarding their running back room entering the draft. Denver doesn’t need to add a running back. But they can easily make space if the right player falls to them in the draft.

Thanks to Gordon’s hot finish to the 2020 season, the Broncos don’t have to draft a running back. In the final five games, Gordon rushed for 432 yards — a 16-game pace of 1,382 yards – on an impressive 5.3 yards per carry along with not a single fumble. With that type of production, Pat Shurmur will have no issue using Gordon as an every-down back.

Additionally, Royce Freeman is coming off a season in which he rushed for a career-best 4.9 yards per carry and new running back Mike Boone averages 5.3 yards per carry throughout his career. If need be, Denver could count on Freeman and Boone to backup Gordon.

However, on the flip side, Paton could have his eyes set on finding the guy for the future. While Gordon will certainly have a major role in Denver’s offense in 2021, he is entering the final year of his deal.

After not wanting to tender Lindsay on a relatively affordable price tag, it’s not a stretch to say Paton won’t want to spend big on the position in free agency next year. That’s where a rookie running back comes into play.

If a first-round talent such as Najee Harris or Travis Etienne falls to the second round, it’s quite possible the Broncos could draft either of them. In fact, Paton did this just four years ago with the Vikings. When Dalvin Cook, a first-round talent, fell to Minnesota in the second round, the Vikings used pick No. 41 to grab him. The exact same situation could play out with Denver’s pick at No. 40 this year.

But a top talent doesn’t have to be available for Denver to make a big splash on Day 2. Since Gordon is under contract for one more season, the Broncos could draft a running back in the middle rounds and develop him with the hopes of him being their No. 1 back in 2022.

Even after moving on from Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay, the Broncos don’t have to draft a running back this year. But they could also make a major splash for years to come. Everything is on the table.