The Denver Broncos have chosen not to sign a running back in free agency this offseason and while they still could, the team will almost certainly be searching for one in next month’s draft.
Many fans are hoping that Ashton Jeanty can somehow fall to the Broncos and several mock drafts are starting to link North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton to the team. But in the same draft where he has the Broncos trading up in the first round for Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, Chad Reuter of NFL.com has the Broncos grabbing Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo in the fourth round.
Skattebo is a player who was all but unheard of prior to last season but burst onto the scene with a huge season for the Sun Devils, that included a trip to the College Football Playoffs. He rushed for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns while also catching 45 passes for 605 yards and three more touchdowns.
Still, he hasn’t gotten much respect in terms of his NFL potential with most analysts seeing him as a late-day-three prospect. Here, the Broncos take him on day three, but in the early portion of the round. Looking at what Skattebo can do on the field, he is a Sean Payton kind of player.
Cam Skattebo on what he brings to an NFL team:
“I’m physical. People don’t think I’m as fast as I am, but I am fast. Punish the defender because they don’t want to do it for four quarters…My objective at the end of the day is to get to the end zone.”@FOX10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/Uya342ti7u
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) February 28, 2025
Skattebo has a non-stop motor and as a downhill runner, he almost seeks out contact. He is like a bowling ball at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, and his low center of gravity allows him to carry tacklers for extra yards. Difficult to bring down, Skattebo can also be a major weapon in the passing game.
He is not a No.1 running back, but he can be an incredible force in the right committee, an approach we know that Payton will be taking.
Adding Skattebo to the current Broncos’ running back room may look like the team still doesn’t have enough and most fans would like to see the team address the position earlier in the draft. In Reuter’s scenario, the Broncos trade away their second-round pick in the move up to get Warren.
That said, a Broncos offense that includes Warren and Skattebo? Yes, please.
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