The Denver Broncos, and especially head coach Sean Payton, understand the value of pairing a potentially elite running back with a young and developing quarterback.
With that backdrop, it isn’t surprising that the Broncos nabbed R.J. Harvey with the No. 60 overall pick, in the second round of April’s NFL Draft, months after Nix helped guide Denver to the postseason during a rookie season he steadily improved each week.
As the 2025 season nears, Harvey has the potential to make an instant impact on Nix’s development and the Broncos’ chances of taking the next step and a lengthy playoff run.
Will R.J. Harvey Open The Season as the Denver Broncos’ No. 1 Running Back?
ESPN NFL analyst Mike Clay put together a list of each running back chosen in this year’s draft, with projections for their rookie season output, including placing Harvey as one of the backs poised to be part of a committee this season.
“Harvey is on the smaller side (5-foot-8, 205 pounds),” Clay writes for ESPN. “But, he was productive in college. He ran for 10-plus yards on a class-best 23% of his carries in 2024. Size and age (24) concerns aside, he had the fourth-fastest 40 at the combine out of all RBs (4.40) and landed in a great spot. His top competition in Denver is Jaleel McLaughlin, who is also undersized at 5-foot-7. Harvey is all but locked in as the lead back in a Sean Payton offense that likes to lean on running backs in the passing game.”
Despite his smallish frame, Hervey’s speed and versatility as a pass catcher could make him an ideal fit for Payton’s system and as a security blanket for Nix.
Clay suggests Harvey could rush for 841 yards with five touchdowns along with 46 catches for 357 yards and two more touchdowns.
In an offseason, and a draft, where the Broncos threw all their chips into the middle of the table bolstering what might become the NFL’s most dominant defense, Harvey is a big piece for the offense and could make an even bigger impact as a rookie.
