After agreeing to sign former Chargers running back Melvin Gordon to a two-year deal, the Broncos will have two Pro Bowl running backs in 2020: Gordon and Phillip Lindsay, who started all 16 games last season.
Gordon and Lindsay will now form a one-two punch. What does that mean for Royce Freeman, who was a third-round draft pick in 2018?
Freeman will undoubtedly see his role in the offense decreased but unless he demands a trade, Denver will have little reason to move on.
Freeman is still playing on his rookie contract so he has very reasonable salary cap hits of $1,081,255 and $1,219,255 over the next two years, according to Spotrac.com. That kind of contract might have more value than acquiring an extra late-round draft pick (Denver already has 10 picks).
Freeman probably won’t get as many touches this year as he has in the previous two seasons, but the Broncos should keep him around to provide more depth in the backfield. Gordon has only played a full 16 games once in his career and Lindsay missed the team’s season finale in 2018.
Denver’s backfield might now be one of the deepest squads in the NFL.
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