In Week 3, the Denver Broncos discovered a successful strategy against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They started strong with aggressive playcalling that prominently featured rookie quarterback Bo Nix, then shifted to a reliance on their running game as the game progressed.
The statistics indicate a change at running back, with Tyler Badie outperforming starter Javonte Williams—70 rushing yards to Williams’ 12. Despite this, Williams still played the majority of snaps. It seems the Broncos may need to consider an upgrade.
According to Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department, the team should reach out to the Houston Texans. They noted that while Bo Nix has had a tough start to the season, the struggling running game is partly to blame. Williams lacks his usual explosiveness, and with Audric Estime on injured reserve, Jaleel McLaughlin doesn’t fit the traditional running back mold.
With limited options on the free-agent market, a trade could be the best solution to boost the backfield. While Dameon Pierce is recovering from a hamstring injury, ESPN’s Dan Graziano highlighted that Cam Akers might see increased playing time with Joe Mixon unavailable.
Dameon Pierce, a fourth-round pick in 2022, had a strong rookie season with 939 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, adding another 165 yards through the air. However, his second season was less impressive, finishing with just 416 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, partly due to a backup role following Mixon’s signing. He’s missed the last two games with a “mild” hamstring issue but is reportedly close to returning.
Despite his injuries potentially making him an affordable trade target, the Broncos aren’t in dire need of additional players. In their recent game, Williams had 35 snaps compared to Badie’s 13, yet Badie had more carries (9) than Williams (5), who also caught four passes.
A trade might not be on the Broncos’ agenda. Badie, at 5-foot-8 and 197 pounds, contrasts with the larger Williams, who is over 220 pounds. Coach Sean Payton expressed a desire to reward Badie for his performance, explaining that while it’s easier to manage two backs, integrating three is more challenging. He noted that Badie had specific plays designed for him, which contributed to the team’s effective running game.
