Broncos draft preview: A three-down RB could launch Sean Payton’s offense toward elite. Can Denver find one in a deep class?

Editor s note Second of a series of NFL draft previews as it relates to the Broncos Monday Quarterbacks The present day Running backs Broncos in-house offseason moves None Under contract Audric Estime three years Jaleel McLaughlin two years Tyler Badie three years Blake Watson three years Need scale - This is really the position of the draft for the Broncos They ll be after several others but if they land a difference-maker at running back they haven t had that since before Javonte Williams knee injury they can unlock a new dimension to the offense help Bo Nix and make everybody else more dangerous too Denver has options on the roster Useful ones even But they don t have the guy That s what they re after Not just a back But a three-down top-of-the-room dude Top five Ashton Jeanty Boise State The Heisman Trophy runner-up is among the very best prospects in this draft class He racked up yards and TDs rushing and is a tackle-breaking explosive play-making ball-carrier His highlights are the stuff of legend and he won t have to wait long to hear his name called in the first round Could he end up in the AFC West to Las Vegas at No Omarion Hampton North Carolina In a running back class a mile deep and a mile wide Hampton is out to prove he s closer to Jeanty than to the rest Over the past two years at UNC he rushed for and yards respectively and had rushing TDs each year He also combined for catches in that span and is a big physical back who ran seconds in the -yard dash at pounds A likely first-rounder and a prospective Broncos pick at No TreVeyon Henderson Ohio State Particular years Henderson could challenge to be the top back drafted He draws comparisons to Jahmyr Gibbs and Alvin Kamara for his combination of big-play ability and receiving acumen Henderson was pounds at the combine and ran in the He s a home-run hitter and capable of playing all three downs Kaleb Johnson Iowa Johnson was prolific in Iowa s zone rushing attack He s a great fit in an outside zone-based offense at the next level and might adjust well to just about any scheme His time didn t wow at seconds but the production yards and total TDs in speaks for itself Quinshon Judkins Ohio State The thunder to Henderson s lightning in OSU s backfield during their national title run Judkins is pounds and ran in the He s rugged and was remarkably consistent through two years at Ole Miss and one at OSU More Broncos options Cam Skattebo Arizona State Opinions vary widely on Skattebo but he s a freight train who is tough to tackle and is a good receiver too Coaches will love him even with a time in the mid- range DJ Giddens Kansas State A Broncos visitor Giddens put up impressive testing numbers at the combine in the and a -inch vertical jump at pounds after major production at KSU He rushed for yards per carry last fall and had catches over the past two years Related Articles Renck vs Keeler If Omarion Hampton isn t available in NFL draft which running back fits Broncos best Broncos draft preview Denver could look for late flier to fill out QB room Broncos Journal Thanks Bo Nix too for Denver s free-agent haul Renck File Any NFL mock draft that doesn t have Broncos picking running back in first round necessities to go Broncos need a late-round WR Three sleepers lie up Path at CU Bhayshul Tuten Virginia Tech Great name with big-time battle Tuten put on a show at the combine He ran in the with a blistering -yard split and had a -inch vertical Averaged yards per carry Not big but might have enough mass at pounds RJ Harvey UCF Racked up yards on per carry last fall Produced throughout his career averaging overall at UCF Harvey has chosen receiving chops too and is yet another -second guy in the class Brashard Smith SMU A Senior Bowl standout who flourished after leaving Miami for SMU last fall He rushed for yards and touchdowns Has perpetually been a good receiver averaging catches per season over the past three Ran in the at pounds Jaydon Blue Texas Another Broncos visitor Blue is a blur He ran at the combine and is a true home-run threat Not only that but he s a terrific receiver catches in He s on the smaller side pounds but is intriguing as a change-of-pace option Want more Broncos news Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis