J.K. Dobbins is staying in the AFC West in 2025.
The former Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers running back is signing a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Denver Broncos, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday. The team announced Dobbins' signing on Wednesday.
Dobbins traveled to Denver for a visit with the Broncos on Wednesday and had dinner with coaches before touring the team's facility on Thursday. Evidently, he liked what he saw enough to switch sides in the Chargers-Broncos rivalry, becoming the second free agent (the other being tight end Evan Engram) to explore options with both teams before signing with Denver in 2025.
Dobbins joins a committee backfield that welcomed another new addition in 2025 in UCF standout RJ Harvey but lacks a clear lead back. Notre Dame's Audric Estimé proved to be a solid short-yardage power back in his rookie season of 2024 and is poised to get more carries, while scatback Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie remain on the roster, setting up for an intriguing competition during camp that guarantees at least one (if not more) will be cut when rosters are trimmed to 53 in August.
Dobbins began his NFL career as a second-round pick of the Ravens in 2020, rushing for 805 yards and nine scores in his first season. Injuries plagued him throughout his time in Baltimore, limiting Dobbins to nine games from 2021 through 2023 before he left for Los Angeles via free agency in 2024.
Dobbins played in 13 games in his lone season with the Chargers, gaining a career-best 905 yards and scoring nine touchdowns while playing under Jim Harbaugh. He emerged as Los Angeles' best back but dealt with yet another knee injury (MCL sprain) late in the season, adding to the list of health issues he's endured in his NFL career. Once his one-year contract expired, the Chargers opted to replace him with free agent Najee Harris and 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton.
Dobbins' departure included an interesting detail. Los Angeles placed an unrestricted free agent tender on the back, granting them exclusive negotiating rights with Dobbins if he did not sign with another team by July 22. With roughly six weeks between now and then, the Broncos decided it was best to secure the services of the former Ohio State star before their time to do so ran out.
