Sean Payton’s former team upended Broncos’ initial free agency plan originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Denver Broncos had a hole at the running back position entering free agency and the thought by many was that the team would look outside the organization for one of the top options on the market. Instead, the team chose to re-sign oft-injured running back J.K. Dobbins.
The Broncos will paint that as an important move, but regardless of what they say publicly, it was not their first plan of attack, at least according to one league executive.
Mike Sando of The Athletic put out an unfiltered look at free agency from some executives around the league, and one source noted that the Broncos had Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne in their sights, only to see him go to the New Orleans Saints.
“Another exec said the Broncos thought they were going to sign former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, only to have the Saints land him instead.
“They were shocked,” this exec said.
Denver later re-signed running back J.K. Dobbins”, wrote Sando.
Etienne signed a hefty four-year deal with the Saints worth up to $52 million. The Broncos either found that to be too expensive or they were simply outbid. With Etienne being born in Louisiana, the Saints had that factor working in their favor as well.
The Broncos may have also been interested in New York Jets running back Breece Hall, but the Jets’ putting the franchise tag on him made that all but impossible.
The Broncos seem happy to have Dobbins back in the fold and he will take on a critical role in 2026 as the failure in the running game was a big factor in the Broncos falling short of reaching the Super Bowl last season.
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To the fans who wish the Broncos had done more at the running back position, it does appear that was the intention, but the Saints were willing to pay a pretty penny to make sure they got their guy.
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