After finishing with their best record since their Super Bowl 50 victory, the Denver Broncos are clearly on the rise. The team ended the 2024 NFL season at 10-7, with rookie quarterback Bo Nix leading the way. Starting all 17 games, Nix threw for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns, showing impressive poise and the ability to manage the game.
With Nix looking like the future face of the franchise, the Broncos could be on the verge of something special. However, before they can truly start contending, they’ll need to strengthen the supporting cast around him, particularly at the running back position, and one NFL analyst predicts they would add the Minnesota Vikings’ Aaron Jones.
Denver Broncos Predicted To Sign Aaron Jones in Free Agency
The Broncos’ offense had issues in 2024, finishing the year with a PFSN Offensive+ regular-season grade of 75.3 (C). Their leading rusher, Javonte Williams, totaled just 513 rushing yards and averaged 3.7 yards per attempt.
Denver ranked 28th in rushing touchdown percentage (25%), 24th in rushing touchdowns per game (0.7), and 20th in rush yards per attempt (4.2). These numbers indicate that the team would greatly benefit from an RB upgrade.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen believes Jones could be the perfect solution to Denver’s rushing woes. After thriving on a one-year deal with the Vikings in 2024, Jones is ready to find a more permanent home, and Bowen argues he would be a perfect RB1 for Denver.
“Jones has the traits that Denver coach Sean Payton wants at running back. He’s a slasher in the run game and has the dual-threat traits to catch the ball out of the backfield and produce on screens. Javonte Williams is also a free agent, and the Broncos need a true RB1 to take this offense to another level.”
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With decent 2024 numbers, Jones is ranked No. 61 overall in PFSN’s Top 100 Free Agent rankings. He ranked 23rd in rush success rate (40.4%) and 19th in pass success rate (56.5%). His numbers in the receiving game were also solid, finishing with 1,546 yards from scrimmage overall at an average of 5.1 yards per touch.
Still, there were some red flags in Jones’ 2024 season. The biggest of them being a drop in his elusive rate to a career-low 32.9%. His rush success rate was also at a career-low 40.4%, and his yards after contact dropped to an average of three per rush for the first time since 2018.
Jones is still a more-than-solid veteran option and can be the leader of a backfield, but there is very little evidence that anyone should give him a long-term deal at this point in his career.
However, if the Broncos are serious about their offense, they could sign him on a one-year deal. In addition to being affordable, Jones would give Denver’s running a perfect infusion of talent and, as Bowen said, take them to another level.
