Rookie minicamp is just one tiny step in a young NFL player’s career, but it’s a big moment, too.
For the Broncos’ newest group of players, this weekend represents their first time on the field as professionals. It’s also the first chance to make a first, very early impression.
Nearly all of them had interactions with Broncos scouts and coaches through the pre-draft process. They met at the combine, at an all-star game or on a 30 visit. They worked out at a pro day or a privately held session. They talked ball and showed how they learn on Zoom calls with assistant coaches.
But now they’ll be in their new meeting rooms and on the fields for the first time. That naturally leads to early clues, even if those clues aren’t determinative.
A year ago, head coach Sean Payton came away from rookie minicamp weekend particularly impressed with seventh-round receiver Devaughn Vele, saying, “He has good instincts, and he has really, really good ball skills. In these two practices, he’s looked better than I even thought for a guy his height.”
Vele, of course, became a key contributor during the regular season.
In that way, there’s perhaps no player who will make a first impression more interesting than second-round running back RJ Harvey.
The Broncos know he’s explosive. They thought he had perhaps the best vision in the class. But they’re projecting some on his pass-catching ability and a lot on how quickly he’ll pick up the pass protection schemes in the NFL.
“You don’t see a lot of college runners protecting at a high level,” general manager George Paton said before the draft. “So you have to dig into the player, the person, the build, the body type, his running style. Can you project him to be a good pass protector? … That’s what we dig into, our coaches dig into. A lot of it is the mental part of it, and do they have the build to withstand the pass protecting?”
Denver gets a first look at Harvey in that department this weekend. Then more through OTAs. Then minicamp. Then, finally, the contact ramps up in training camp and the preseason.
How quickly Harvey picks up what Payton is asking in that department will go a long way in determining how the running back room shapes up.
For all of Javonte Williams’ limitations since his devastating October 2022 knee injury, he always remained a terrific pass protector. When Paton left open the door for Williams returning ahead of free agency this winter, the thing he cited was Williams’ reputation as one of the best protecting backs in the NFL. He instead signed a one-year deal with Dallas.
The remaining Broncos group Harvey will compete against offers little proven production in the protection department.
Audric Estime was used almost exclusively as an early-down, power back. Jaleel McLaughlin is built like a third-down back but doesn’t profile like one. He’s shifty on early downs and surprisingly effective in the red zone, but pass-catching and pass-protecting are not his strong suits. Tyler Badie might have had a chance to show where he’s at in the progression, except a Week 4 back injury shelved him just as he started to break out and limited him to just 21 total regular-season snaps. Blake Watson enters his second pro season as an interesting young player, but one who saw just 11 snaps in his rookie year. Fullback Mike Burton is a trusted veteran, but won’t give any receiving game juice if he’s in there to protect quarterback Bo Nix.
All of the running backs, though, are still young. Paton and Payton have said throughout the spring they’re interested in seeing how that group progresses, too, and Payton reiterated that stance on the draft’s final day.
“When we’re talking about some of our younger players, Year 1, they get exposed to what we’re doing and we’ll see growth in Year 2,” Payton said. “We’re excited to see that with these guys, and that’s whether it’s Blake, Audric, Tyler Badie. I think a lot of times there’s this perception, ‘Oh, a player was drafted.’ …. Now, we understand there’s a need element and we always pay attention to that, but we look forward to seeing their development.”
Perhaps McLaughlin or someone else will take a big step forward in protection this summer. But even if they do, Harvey’s task is clear. If he proves to be a natural pass-catcher and able blocker, there’s no telling how big his role might be as a rookie. If it doesn’t come right away, the Broncos may have to look to the veteran running back market for more help or muddle through until they find an in-house answer.
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Originally Published: May 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM MDT
