Broncos Re-Sign RB Jaleel McLaughlin to Low-Level Deal

The undrafted running back returns to Denver on a one-year contract.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:37pm

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The Denver Broncos have re-signed free-agent running back Jaleel McLaughlin to a one-year, $1.145 million contract that includes a $125,000 signing bonus. McLaughlin, who went undrafted in 2023, is coming off his third season with the Broncos, where he saw limited action behind the team's top running backs.

Why it matters

The re-signing of McLaughlin is a low-risk move for the Broncos as they look to solidify their running back depth heading into the 2026 season. While he has not seen significant playing time, the team sees potential in the 25-year-old and wants to keep him in the mix as they evaluate their options at the position.

The details

McLaughlin's new contract with the Broncos is a one-year deal worth $1.145 million, including a $125,000 signing bonus. In 2025, he appeared in 8 games for the Broncos, recording 214 yards from scrimmage and 1 touchdown on 41 touches. He saw increased playing time after the season-ending injury to JK Dobbins, but remains buried on the depth chart behind Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and Tyler Badie.

  • McLaughlin re-signed with the Broncos on March 13, 2026.
  • In 2025, McLaughlin appeared in 8 games for the Broncos.

The players

Jaleel McLaughlin

A 25-year-old running back who has spent the last three seasons with the Denver Broncos after going undrafted in 2023.

Sean Payton

The head coach of the Denver Broncos, who praised McLaughlin's football intelligence and ability to overcome adversity.

JK Dobbins

The Broncos' top running back who suffered a season-ending foot injury in 2025, leading to increased playing time for McLaughlin.

RJ Harvey

A running back on the Broncos' depth chart who is ahead of McLaughlin in the rotation.

Tyler Badie

Another running back on the Broncos' depth chart who is ahead of McLaughlin in the rotation.

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What they’re saying

“It's not film, it's all the other digging relative to football intelligence, make-up and adversity. Now, we didn't draft Jaleel, but I heard the report on how he arrived at being a candidate to be in the NFL. Then the question was, is he good enough? That question has been answered. I think that requires a lot of digging. That's the on-field scout, that's the player visits, that's the visit with, not the trainer, but the assistant trainer. You've got to do some digging on that now. You can see that sometimes in his play, but I think that requires a lot of scouting.”

— Sean Payton, Head Coach

What’s next

The Broncos are expected to address the running back position further in the upcoming NFL Draft, where they hold the 30th overall selection.

The takeaway

While the re-signing of Jaleel McLaughlin is a low-risk move for the Broncos, it is clear the team is still evaluating their options at running back and may look to add more talent to the position through the draft or free agency.