The Denver Broncos were a surprising team this season. Despite the egregious cap hit from Russell Wilson’s contract, the team put together a quality season and made the postseason under rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
However, in that playoff game, it became clear that the offense needed some upgrades before the team could truly take the next step. Head coach Sean Payton had made it clear that filling the “joker” position is one of his targets. The position requires a top receiving threat at running back, and one analyst predicts Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson could be the right fit.
Broncos Predicted To Pick Kaleb Johnson To Play As ‘Joker’ in Sean Payton’s Offense
Sean Payton’s genius was on full display on the defensive end. Not only did Denver have the Defensive Player of the Year in Pat Surtain II, but it also managed to finish with the best defense in the league by PFSN’s Defense+ metric.
On the other hand, the offense left a lot to be desired. Nix was an incredible long-ball threat with impressive athleticism, but his snap-to-snap game wasn’t fully refined. As a result, he ranked 18th on PFSN’s QB+ metric.
That took a toll on the offense, which relied heavily on making plays through the air. Denver finished exactly in the middle, ranking 16th on PFSN’s Offense+ metric in 2024. Establishing a ground game is the priority, and Johnson could help them there.
That’s why PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft by Ben Rolfe projects Denver to draft Johnson in Round 2 as the No. 51 overall pick.
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“Kaleb Johnson is another player who could fit the ‘joker’ role for the Broncos. While he is never going to dominate as a receiver, he demonstrated he was more than capable in 2024 with 22 receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He added 1,537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, finishing as a consensus All-American alongside Jeanty.”
Rolfe further argues that regardless of Johnson’s dual-threat abilities, Denver should draft him as the second running back. He has a higher ceiling than Audric Estimé, who only had 310 rushing yards in 13 games last season.
“Regardless of the joker element, the Broncos should look to add another back, having been underwhelming with their run game last year despite their impressive offensive line. They may believe that Audric Estimé can step up into that role, but Johnson profiles as a more versatile back with a higher ceiling.”
2024 was a breakthrough year for Johnson as he crossed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time and was named a Doak Walker Award finalist. He has 32 career touchdowns, including two receiving touchdowns, along with 2,779 rushing and 240 receiving yards in three seasons at Iowa.
Johnson is ranked No. 80 in PFSN’s top 100 prospects to watch for the college football season. Here’s what Ian Cummings wrote about him:
“Quietly, the Iowa Hawkeyes have a future NFL running back in Kaleb Johnson. At 6’0″, 225 pounds, Johnson is built like a power back, but he has the quickness, flexibility, and powerful long-striding frame to make the most of the space he’s afforded.”
While the 21-year-old might not immediately meet the same lofty standards with Denver, he would alleviate some of the pressure from Nix and give the Broncos and Payton a dynamic edge to work with.
