Broncos GM Wants to Bring Back Star RB J.K. Dobbins

George Paton says the team would like to re-sign the free agent running back after a strong 2025 season.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 11:22pm

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Denver Broncos general manager George Paton has expressed a desire to re-sign running back J.K. Dobbins, who is set to become a free agent this offseason. Dobbins had a productive 2025 season, rushing for 772 yards and 6 touchdowns in 10 games before landing on injured reserve. Paton praised Dobbins' performance and said the team would like to have him back, while also acknowledging the need to have a contingency plan in case they can't re-sign him.

Why it matters

Dobbins has emerged as a key part of the Broncos' offense, but his injury history makes his future uncertain. Retaining Dobbins would provide stability at the running back position, but the team may need to explore other options as well to ensure depth and reliability in the backfield.

The details

Dobbins is set to become a free agent on March 11, the start of the new league year. Paton told 9NEWS' Mike Klis at the NFL Combine that the team "would like to have him back" after Dobbins played well in 10 games last season, finishing as one of the team's leading rushers. However, Paton also acknowledged the need to be prepared in case they can't re-sign Dobbins, saying the team is "looking at the market" for other running back options.

  • Dobbins is set to become a free agent on March 11, the start of the new league year.
  • The legal tampering window opens on March 9, giving the Broncos a chance to negotiate with Dobbins' agent before free agency begins.

The players

George Paton

The general manager of the Denver Broncos, who has expressed a desire to re-sign running back J.K. Dobbins.

J.K. Dobbins

A running back for the Denver Broncos who is set to become a free agent this offseason after a productive 2025 season, rushing for 772 yards and 6 touchdowns in 10 games.

RJ Harvey

The only running back currently under contract for the Broncos in 2026, making it a priority for the team to address the position this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“We would. J.K. was really good for us. Played 10 games and he was the third or fifth leading rusher. Happy with J.K. He's a free agent, we'd like to have him back.”

— George Paton, Broncos General Manager (9NEWS)

“And RJ had a really good year, probably better than we anticipated for a rookie. So we'll look there and if we don't get J.K., we're looking at the market.”

— George Paton, Broncos General Manager (9NEWS)

What’s next

The Broncos will need to act quickly to try and re-sign Dobbins before the start of free agency on March 11. They may also explore other running back options on the free agent market or in the upcoming draft to ensure depth at the position.

The takeaway

Retaining J.K. Dobbins is a priority for the Broncos, but his injury history makes it a complex decision. The team will need to balance the desire to keep their productive running back with the need for reliability and depth at the position.