BSN Denver has confirmed Mike Klis’ original report that Ronnie Hillman has agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Denver Broncos. Talks started heating up last week and the two sides agreed to keep Hillman to return for his 5th season in Denver.

Hillman was originally drafted by the Broncos in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft and has developed slowly into a formidable backup behind C.J. Anderson.

Even Anderson earning the big payday in Denver, it was important for the Broncos to find a suitable backup they could rely on given Anderson’s injury history.

Hillman rushed for 863 yards on 207 attempts (4.2 YPC) with 7 TDs in 2015 and rushed for a career-high 117 yards on 15 carries in week 17 vs the Chargers, helping the Broncos clinch the number one seed in the AFC. For Hillman, this gives him another year to prove himself to the NFL to be a dynamic back entering his second season in Gary Kubiak’s system.

The Broncos also lost linebacker Lerentee McCray in free agency to the Green Bay Packers. McCray looked like a very promising backup at times in his Denver tenure, but injuries and the emergences of Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett pushed McCray out of the front-7 rotation.