Broncos Stand at 6-2 After Stunner Against Kansas City
Following a thrilling 28-24 triumph at Mile High on Sunday where they overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to shock the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos are riding high. That dramatic victory pushed Denver to a 6-2 record, giving them a half-game lead over the Chiefs in the AFC West and shifting the internal calculus of the front office with the trade deadline just a week away.
Jonah Coleman has been a revelation over the past two weeks, serving as a bright spot in a backfield otherwise weighed down by J.K. Dobbins’s continued regression. George Paton is currently forced to weigh a central question: has Coleman’s rapid emergence been enough to move the Denver Broncos away from trading for a running back ahead of the November 10 deadline?
Dobbins Struggles Force Front Office to Evaluate Options
During Sunday’s comeback, Coleman played a massive role in the fourth-quarter resurgence by rattling off explosive runs, hauling in a 51-yard catch-and-run, and punching in the go-ahead touchdown. Meanwhile, Dobbins was again relegated to the bench in the second half following an impotent 13 yards rushing on seven carries.
The franchise certainly didn’t expect Dobbins to look this slow coming off the Lisfranc foot injury that ended his 2025 campaign in Week 10. Had the organization possessed a crystal ball back in March, they likely would have let him depart to Jacksonville rather than handing him a two-year, $16 million deal. Instead, they are left grappling with a veteran running back who appears unable to recapture his form.
Depth took another hit when RJ Harvey suffered a knee injury in practice last week, landing him on injured reserve for at least three more games. Harvey was forced into duty late last year after Dobbins went down, but his skill set leans more toward a receiving joker option than a ball carrier the Broncos could lean on.
Weighing Trade Targets Ahead of the Deadline
With a full complement of 2027 draft picks and quarterback Bo Nix playing on his rookie contract for two more seasons, the front office faces immense pressure to capitalize on the team’s current window. Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts stands out as an intriguing option, though the Colts have already received an offer of a second-round pick for him.
Taylor carries significant mileage, having logged 1,699 NFL carries and 208 receptions since entering the league in 2020. This year, his explosive play rate has decreased, and he is currently registering a career-low average of 4.1 yards per rushing attempt. On the financial side, however, Taylor is under contract for $15 million in 2027 and $9.6 million in 2028, meaning his salary is manageable for a team seeking an immediate difference-maker.
Alternative targets include Tennessee’s Tony Pollard, who has accumulated 610 rushing yards this season—just 15 fewer than Taylor—at a fraction of the acquisition cost. The Broncos have also been linked in the past to Breece Hall of the New York Jets. Hall is enduring a difficult season with just 163 rushing yards on 51 carries behind a 3.2 average, though a change of scenery could spark a turnaround if Darren Mougey is willing to deal with George Paton.
Coleman has injected undeniable excitement into the offense, but leaning entirely on a rookie to shoulder the load through a grueling late-season playoff push carries considerable risk. As the clock ticks down toward November 10, the front office must determine whether to stand pat with their emerging rookie or swing a deal to secure the division.
