Make way for Audric Estimé.
The Denver Broncos' 5-foot-11, 227-pound second-year running back has the potential to wear down defenses if he gets the chance.
Head coach Sean Payton is ready to give Estimé that chance.
"He's a back that requires enough touches," Payton said Thursday, via team transcript. "He's going to get those opportunities."
Denver's 2024 offense finished with a middling 16th-ranked rushing attack. Last season's leading rusher, Javonte Williams, had just 513 yards and he's moved on to join the Dallas Cowboys.
Estimé, a 2024 fifth-round pick, was fourth on the squad in carries (76) and yards (310). Thus, Payton wants to see more and believes Estimé needs to have more touches to truly show what he's got.
"Year 2 for him," Payton said when asked what he wants to see from the Notre Dame product. "Just running style and his physicality, the things that got him drafted. The things that we saw. [It was] a little bit harder for him last year -- for a handful of these guys. I don't want to say the grade was incomplete, but they just didn't have enough [touches]."
A brutish back who produced 1,341 yards and 18 rushing scores in 2023 for the Fighting Irish, Estimé averaged 17.5 carries per game in his junior campaign with Notre Dame.
As a rookie in Denver, he averaged only 5.8, which trailed Williams, quarterback Bo Nix and Jaleel McLaughlin, with the latter two still with the squad.
If Estimé is to get a bona fide shot at being a true contributor for the Broncos, he'll need some run, and Payton seems keen on that.
One question arising from that would be the addition of RJ Harvey, the team's second-round selection out of Central Florida.
Bolstering the rushing attack was a priority this offseason for the Broncos and it's fair to surmise Harvey would get a chance at being a lead back, as well, considering his draft status. However, Harvey portends to be a complementary back, perhaps offering some burst to Estimé's bruising.
Harvey's also 24, with Estimé turning 22 at the season's onset.
So, there's little reason to think Estimé's opportunities would or should be limited with Harvey's arrival. And there's ample reason to forecast the two working in tandem to lift the Mile High running attack.
If nothing less, Estimé's going to get his fair shake to prove himself, according to his head coach.
