Jeff Legwold had an interesting write up on the possibility of Denver adding a running back via the draft.
Currently, the running back position is comprised of Travis Henry, Selvin Young, and Andre Hall. Henry--by far the oldest of the three--is the incumbent starter. As Legwold points out, barring a miraculous training camp, Henry's days as an every-down starter are probably over.
Second on the depth chart is Selvin Young. In fifteen games last season (only five starts), Young had a 20+ yard run or catch in eight of them. Receiving only 175 total touches, Young finished the year with close to 1000 total yards. Should Henry fall to injury or to old age, Young appears capable of carrying the rock.
Undrafted Andre Hall had a promising start to his career last season as well. In 5 games, Hall scored 2 touchdowns. In his lone start against Chicago, he totaled over 150 total yards and a touchdown.
In short, we are not wanting for depth at the running back position. Shanahan is undoubtedly scanning this year's draft class for a value pick; however, I think there is little reason to suspect that pick would come on the first day. I would be "okay" with Denver spending a pick on either Travis Mendenhall or East Carolina's Chris Johnson, but don't feel this is a critical need in this year's draft. Running backs have short careers and are more commodity-like than their popular perception indicates (see Clinton Portis). Players like Tomlinson or Dickerson are extremely rare exceptions; history tells us you don't need one of these guys to win a championship.
Far more important is the effectiveness of the offensive line. Adding a tackle via the draft wouldn't be imprudent; however, I think we are stronger at the position than the popular media seems to think. Drafting a pair of guards to replace the aging Montrae Holland and Ben Hamilton are a higher priority, in my opinion.
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I think Shanahan is still weary of incurring injuries to multiple RBs. Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson filled the role but Shanahan wasn't at all happy about having to put them into that role. As the running game goes so goes the Broncos, and having as much depth at RB is probabaly comforting to Shanahan.
Agreed. Still, I wouldn't be surprised to see us part with any of the RB's currently on our roster before September--even Henry. If we grab a Chris Johnson or Mendenhall in the draft, we probably don't have the roster slots to hang onto all of these guys. Is the running back of the future currently on our roster? Selvin Young is exciting but I view him as a third down back. Unless he metamorphosizes into an elite pass blocker and puts on 10 pounds, he's not an every down back in the NFL.
That said, Young is probably the only back on our roster with game-breaking ability. I think he had about a dozen 20+ yard pass/run plays last season.
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