The Denver Broncos holds the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but they still haven’t added a running back, and the midday show says it’s time to pay up, even if that means a first-round pick for Jonathan Taylor.
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, November 10, at 2 p.m. Mountain time. The Broncos are 6-2 and lead the AFC West after Sunday’s comeback win over Kansas City. Their running back room still has the same problems it has had all season, and they haven’t made a move to fix them.
Jonah Coleman has played his way into the lead role and has been especially useful as a receiver. RJ Harvey is on injured reserve. J.K. Dobbins has 306 yards on 94 carries through eight games, and Cecil Lammey said this week he’s “done” relying on him. Jonathan Taylor and Tony Pollard have both been reported as available, and Denver hasn’t landed either one.
On a recent edition of “Dover and Cecil” on 104.3 The Fan, Josh Dover asked what the Broncos are waiting for.
“What else do you need to see? How close do you have to be, to be aggressive at the trade deadline? If not now when?” Dover said.
That gets at the real issue. Contending teams don’t often lead their conference at midseason with a quarterback on a rookie contract and a defense this good. Bo Nix’s deal won’t stay this cheap forever, and the defense won’t keep all its key players together indefinitely. The Broncos may be hoping the price for Taylor comes down as Tuesday gets closer. Lammey thinks waiting too long is the bigger risk.
“Don’t overpay, but kind of overpay, I don’t care. You’re not done yet. Do something to get done,” Lammey said.
Dover has already decided what he’d pay for Taylor.
“I still stand by my statement. I’ll give up a first-round pick for Jonathan Taylor. I’m not gonna go in that route for Tony Pollard ’cause you don’t have to, but I will for Jonathan Taylor,” Dover said.
A first-round pick for a running back is usually hard to justify, but the math looks different for a team in Denver’s position. If the Broncos trade for Taylor, it’s because they expect to win the Super Bowl. If they win it, that first-rounder becomes the 32nd overall pick, which is only one spot ahead of the start of the second round. Giving that up for a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro who could carry the running game through January is a much easier call.
Taylor would also help the quarterback. Joel Klatt said recently that Nix plays best when the offense can run play-action, bootlegs and RPOs, and those plays only work when defenses respect the run. Taylor next to Coleman would force them to.
Lammey pointed out that the Broncos have a cheaper option, too.
“Tony Pollard’s like a fifth rounder,” Lammey said.
Dover agreed that Pollard’s price shouldn’t stand in the way.
“If you gotta win to get a deal done today for a fourth, give him a fourth,” Dover said.
Pollard isn’t Taylor, but he’s a proven, durable back who would give Denver a dependable runner on early downs and protection if Coleman gets hurt. Lammey said that might be enough.
“And even something like Tony Pollard can help put this team over the top. It doesn’t have to be Jonathan Taylor,” Lammey said.
Both hosts landed in the same place. Taylor is the better player and worth a first-round pick if that’s the cost. Pollard is the cheaper fallback and worth a Day 3 pick without much debate. The option neither of them wants is the Broncos heading into the second half with the same backfield they have now.
The Broncos have until 2 p.m. Tuesday to decide. Dover and Lammey think they’ve already seen enough to make a move.
