The Denver Broncos hold the ability to keep running back Jaleel McLaughlin on their roster as they approach the upcoming season. At 25 years old and in his third NFL year, McLaughlin currently operates under a three-year deal worth $2.71 million. Known for his reliability, he has consistently contributed to the Broncos’ rushing attack and stands out as a candidate for retention amid contract decisions.
Over his career, McLaughlin has averaged 4.8 yards per carry, never dropping below 4.4 yards in any season. His performance in 2025 led the team with 5.1 yards per rushing attempt. Notably, he has secured the ball effectively, committing just one fumble over 297 touches, including postseason appearances, and achieved a career-high 59.5 percent success rate last season.
Factors Supporting McLaughlin’s Return to Denver
Since Sean Payton arrived as the Broncos’ head coach, running backs such as Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Blake Watson, and Audric Estimé have come and gone, but McLaughlin has remained a steady presence. Remarkably, he made the 53-player roster as a rookie and has kept his place in the lineup each season thereafter.
While the Broncos might expect him to create more missed tackles, McLaughlin’s broken-tackle rate—one every 16.1 attempts—is superior to rookie RJ Harvey’s rate of one every 20.7 attempts and J.K. Dobbins’ one every 17.1 attempts last year, according to SportRadar. Despite Tyler Badie’s rise as a pass protector, which initially displaced McLaughlin from the active roster, injuries opened opportunities for both to contribute during the 2025 season.
When given playing time, McLaughlin delivered as anticipated. His success rate of 59.5 percent marked an improvement, and his rate of securing first downs held steady with previous seasons—one every 4.6 carries in 2025 compared to one every 4.8 in 2023 and 4.5 in 2024. He is dependable, quick to hit running lanes, and safeguards possession, having missed only one game due to injury on a short week. Though not an RB1, his capability to approach a 5.0 yards-per-carry average makes him a valuable asset in any backfield.
Reasons the Broncos Might Decide to Move On
The possibility exists that another team could present McLaughlin with a surprising offer, but such a scenario is considered unlikely at this time. With his role mostly limited to situational use rather than full-time carry volume, his market value does not expectedly command large interest from other franchises.
Projected Next Steps for McLaughlin and the Broncos
McLaughlin’s steady production on a per-carry basis has placed a ceiling on his league-wide appeal, as he has yet to evolve into an every-down back through three seasons. As a restricted free agent, the Broncos retain the right of first refusal, which positions them well to secure him again. The non-guaranteed nature of the RFA tender also removes significant financial risk, making it sensible for the Broncos to tender McLaughlin and keep him in Denver’s backfield for the near future.
