Tag: running back

Broncos met with RB Devin Neal at the Senior Bowl

The Broncos met with Kansas RB Devin Neal at the Senior Bowl in January. He is projected to be a fourth-round pick in April’s draft.

The Denver Broncos met with Devin Neal at the Senior Bowl last month, the Kansas running back confirmed during his media availability in Mobile, Alabama, via Cecil Lammey and Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com.

Neal (5-11, 220 pounds) earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in each of the last two seasons after rushing for 16 touchdowns both in 2023 and 2024. In four years with the Jayhawks, Neal rushed 760 times for 4,343 yards and 49 touchdowns in 49 games.

Neal, 21, also totaled 77 receptions for 711 yards and four scores at the college level. He’s now entering the NFL draft and mock drafts have him projected going off the board in the fourth round.

Javonte Williams is scheduled to become a free agent in March, and running back appears to be one of Denver’s big positions of need this offseason. Neal could be a mid-round target for the Broncos, who still hold their own pick in the fourth round.

The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26.

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What condition the position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at RB

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ running back position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

With free agency a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ running back position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starter: Sincere McCormick

Backups: Zamir White

Free agents: Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah

Zamir White was the incumbent starter after finishing the 2023 season on a strong note. None of that showed up to begin this season and it became clear quickly that he was probably the worst running back in the room. Mattison came in and ran better, but still not great. It wasn’t until both White and Mattison were out with injury that the Raiders discovered they had a bit of a hidden talent in Sincere McCormick. Along with some solid contributions from Ameer Abdullah as a receiver.

Condition: Critical

McCormick may be a gem for this team, but they can’t really afford to go forward on that hope alone. That’s the mistake they made going with White after letting Josh Jacobs leave in free agency. And that backfired. McCormick should make a very nice complementary piece for whomever they bring in to start at running back. Pete Carroll loves to run the ball and he had some good ones in Seattle, including Marshawn Lynch. Finding his next great back should be a very high priority.

Sean Payton had this kind of player with Saints — will he add one with Broncos?

Sean Payton had ‘Joker-type’ players in Jeremy Shockey and Jimmy Graham earlier in his career. Will he now add one to the Broncos’ offense?

During his time with the New Orleans Saints — and during previous stops with other NFL teams — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has had what he describes as a “Joker” in his offense.

Following the conclusion of the team’s 2024 season, Payton was asked if he has a “Joker” with the Broncos, and if not, will he add one this offseason?

“Fair question,” Payton said on Jan. 15. “I know how much it can help. It’s not until you don’t have them [that you notice]. I’ve said this before — early on as a coach, when you’re just coaching and you have your players, I remember the selection of Reggie Bush and the owner asking me, ‘Well we already have Deuce McAllister,’ who was a real good running back. I said, ‘Mr. Benson — the late Mr. Benson — this running back’s different. He can do these things.’ We talked about it. It was a good question, but that was the first exposure at this level for me as a head coach.

“We had Tiki Barber when I was at the Giants, he was a Joker-type player. Jeremy Shockey was a Joker-type player. Jason Witten was a Joker-type player early in his career. Then pretty soon, we had Shockey and then Jimmy Graham, and then Darren Sproles, then [Alvin] Kamara, then… I didn’t really appreciate it at the time, but in that stretch, we went through a stretch of 15 or 16 seasons with real, real high-end offenses that maybe didn’t have a receiver get to a Pro Bowl, but those other spots did.

“I think in our league when you look around and you reference… Just take some of the top teams… You’ll always remember [Travis] Kelce with the Chiefs. I don’t know that you’ll remember the receivers sometimes. Maybe through that Super Bowl run, maybe so. Do I think we have some candidates? Yes. That inner triangle of attacking a defense is really important.”

Jaleel McLaughlin might be the closest thing the Broncos currently have to a “Joker,” a versatile player who can line up at multiple spots and make an impact as a receiver, but he’s not at the level of the other players Payton mentioned. Denver could add one during the NFL draft this spring, perhaps with a dynamic running back or a tight end like Penn State’s Tyler Warren.

The Broncos need to add more juice to the offense in 2025, surrounding young quarterback Bo Nix with playmakers in his second season. Perhaps a “Joker” will be added to the squad this spring.

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Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt reflects on initiating talks with Andy Reid to return: ‘I want to come help’

Kansas City #Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt reflects on initiating talks with Andy Reid to return: ‘I want to come help’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has appreciated the second chance with the team that drafted him in 2017. During his Thursday press conference, he reflected on when he contacted the team about a return following Isiah Pacheco’s injury in Week 2.

“I saw the injury but didn’t think anything of it,” said Hunt. “I was like, ‘Oh, it probably won’t happen.’ But the next morning, my agent’s like, ‘Man, I don’t know, do you want to shoot those guys a text or something? Just to let them know?’ I was like, ‘That ain’t a bad idea. I’ll text Pat (Patrick Mahomes) and coach (Andy) Reid.’

Hunt had played the previous five seasons with the Cleveland Browns and was without a team to start the regular season. His decision to contact the Chiefs following Pacheco’s injury could have changed their current Super Bowl journey.

“I shot (Reid) a text, and I just was telling him, ‘I’ve been grinding, man. You know I’m hungry, and you know I want to come help y’all.“ said Hunt. “So, if y’all got a spot for me, I’ll come put in the work.’ He said he’d get back to me and ended up getting back to me one hour later. Two hours later, he told me to get ready for a flight.”

Hunt led the Chiefs in rushing during the regular season with 728 yards and seven touchdowns.

Saints met with 2025 draft sleeper running back from Boston College

The New Orleans Saints were one of ten teams to meet with Boston College running back Treshaun Ward at the Tropical Bowl:

The New Orleans Saints have had a few reported meetings so far this offseason with 2025 NFL draft prospects. One of the more recent meetings was with Boston College running back Treshaun Ward, who they met at the Tropical Bowl according to Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.

Ward is a six-year collegiate player, with 2019 being his redshirt freshman season and 2020 being an extra season of eligibility due to Covid. Ward started out his college career with Florida State, remaining there for four seasons and accruing 27 games played, with 188 rushes for 1,241 yards (6.6 yards per carry), 12 touchdowns, and 28 receptions for 210 yards (7.5 yards per catch) with a touchdown.

He would then move on to Kansas State for a season, playing in 11 games and putting together a quality season of 124 rushes for 643 yards (5.2 YPC), 5 touchdowns, 17 receptions for 129 yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns. Then he would move on to spend his final season with Boston College, as he would also play in 11 games there, with 77 rushes for 406 yards (5.3 YPC) and 2 touchdowns, as well as 15 receptions for 268 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.

He has some explosive plays here and there, and in one of his best games of the season against Michigan State, he showed that with a 36-yard rushing touchdown to take the lead. In that game he had 14 rushes for 102 yards (7.3 YPC) and a touchdown, as well as 2 receptions for 11 yards.

Ward is likely to be a mid to late day three pick, or a high-priority undrafted free agent at worst. With his capabilities on both the ground and in the receiving game, he may be worth looking at for the Saints who desperately need quality running backs behind Alvin Kamara.

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Broncos added 3 players after last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl

The Broncos signed three players who participated in last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl, including LB Levelle Bailey and RB Blake Watson.

The 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl will be played in Arlington, Texas tonight and the Denver Broncos will undoubtedly have scouts in attendance.

Last year’s all-star game included an impressive group of running backs headlined by Jonathon Brooks, Tyrone Tracy, Isaac Guerendo, Carson Steele, Frank Gore Jr. and Blake Watson.

Following the 2024 NFL draft, Denver signed Watson as a college free agent. He ended up dressing for two games as a rookie and rushed four times for 10 yards and two first downs.

The Broncos also signed linebacker Levelle Bailey after the draft. Bailey led the West team with four tackles in last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. He also broke up a pass. Bailey dressed for 10 games last fall and totaled five tackles while also playing 52% of the snaps on special teams.

Additionally, Denver signed safety Omar Brown last spring after he recorded two tackles in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Brown ended up not making the Broncos’ roster in a crowded safety room, but he now plays for the Green Bay Packers.

To view the rosters for the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, click here.

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Former fan-favorite Saints RB trying his hand in the spring-league UFL

Former fan-favorite Saints running back Jacob Kibodi has signed with the UFL’s Memphis Showboats to try and keep his career going:

The New Orleans Saints will have one of their 2024 undrafted free agents heading to the UFL, as running back Jacob Kibodi will be joining the Memphis Showboats, as first reported by James Larsen of UFL Newsroom. Kibodi has moved around a bit recently, as he would first sign on with the Cleveland Browns practice squad ahead of Week 16, before now signing with the Showboats ahead of their 2025 season.

Kibodi was solid in his preseason reps with the Saints, and had 12 rushes for 59 yards and 2 touchdowns in their third matchup of that span against the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately he was not a player the Saints kept around long, despite a brief stint on the practice squad he ultimately did not stick on the active roster at any point.

He will now have the opportunity to join the new-look UFL formed last spring, and work with some other quality players while hopefully getting substantial reps and having the chance to show what he can truly do.

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Broncos assistant coach will take a close look at Senior Bowl running backs

Broncos assistant coach Favian Upshaw will take a close look at Senior Bowl running backs this week, including Cameron Skattebo.

Denver Broncos offensive quality control coach Favian Upshaw is set to coach the National Team running backs at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama this week, the all-star game announced on Saturday.

Upshaw will now get a close look at NT running backs Cameron Skattebo (Arizona State), LeQuint Allen (Syracuse), Donovan Edwards (Michigan), Ollie Gordon (OSU), Jo’quavious Marks (USC), Damien Martinez (Miami), Kalel Mullings (Michigan) and Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech).

With Javonte Williams scheduled to become a free agent in March, the Broncos are expected to target running backs this offseason.

Skattebo (5-11, 216 pounds) is arguably the most notable RB that Upshaw will work with at the Senior Bowl. The 22-year-old senior is projected to be a third-round pick in the NFL draft.

Upshaw played quarterback at Georgia Southern before transitioning to coaching. After initially coaching at the high school level, he spent time at Tulane, Savannah State and Georgia Southern before jumping to the NFL with the Broncos in 2023.

The 2025 Senior Bowl will be played at 2:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. MT) on Saturday, Feb. 1. The game will be televised on NFL Network.

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Saquon Barkley chasing Terrell Davis for best rushing season in NFL history

Saquon Barkley is 147 yards away from Terrell Davis’ all-time NFL record for the most rushing yards in a season, playoffs included.

The two best rushing seasons in NFL history belong to Denver Broncos legend Terrell Davis.

Including the postseason, Davis rushed for 2,331 yards in 1997, setting a single-season NFL record on his way to a Super Bowl win. The following year, Davis broke his own record with 2,476 yards and another Super Bowl victory in 1998.

Davis was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1998 and he won Super Bowl MVP honors following the 1997 season. He had the best two-year run by a running back in the league’s history.

In terms of single-season success, though, Davis now has a challenger.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has rushed for 324 yards through two rounds of the playoffs, bringing his season-long total to 2,329 yards. He is now just two yards away from the second-best rushing season in NFL history and 147 yards away from the all-time record.

Most rushing yards in a season (playoffs included)

  1. 1998 Terrell Davis: 2,476 yards
  2. 1997 Terrell Davis: 2,331 yards
  3. 2024 Saquon Barkley: 2,329 yards
  4. 1984 Eric Dickerson: 2,212 yards
  5. 2012 Adrian Peterson: 2,196 yards

Hat tip to Scott Kacsmar for the stats.

If the Eagles defeat the Washington Commanders on Sunday and advance to the Super Bowl, Barkley could easily break TD’s record this season. Davis, a Hall of Famer, already welcomed Barkley to the 2,000-Yard Club earlier this season. He might soon welcome him to another prestigious club.

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Chiefs Isiah Pacheco welcomes the team effort at running back: ‘Get that trophy together’

Kansas City #Chiefs Isiah Pacheco welcomes the team effort at running back: ‘Get that trophy together’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco remains the starting running back in the postseason, although his role is spread out with Kareem Hunt and third-down back Samaje Perine. Since returning from injured reserve, the former seventh-round draft pick expressed his team-first mentality during his conversation with reporters earlier in the week.

“It’s a football team. It’s not about I. It’s gonna take all of us to get the job done, and whoever numbers call it, make the play, get up, celebrate with them,” said Pacheco. “It’s a team, and we’re all out there. At the end of the day, we’re going to get that trophy together.”

Pacheco finished the 2024 regular season with 310 yards rushing and a touchdown in seven games. He carried the ball five times last Saturday for 18 yards, mainly in the first half.

Hunt led the team in rushing during the divisional round victory over the Houston Texans after relieving Pacheco with carries in the second half. Both running backs respect each other highly and often pick each other up during games, as the coaching staff goes with the hot hand.