Denver Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman is poised to turn heads and shatter bodies as he enters his first training camp in the NFL. A bruising running back who runs the ball with physicality and purpose, the 2026 NFL Draft fourth round pick is prized to give the reigning AFC West champions a three-headed monster in the backfield.
Coming off an impactful final season at the University of Washington, Coleman was the fourth running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. His blend of power, patience and vision could make him one of the biggest value picks at the position. At 5’8”, 220 pounds, Coleman is small in height, but his power cannot be underestimated, as he consistently showcased during his final season with the Huskies.
Broncos rookie could become a key piece of Denver's backfield
The true definition of a human bowling ball, Coleman rushed for 758 yards with 15 rushing touchdowns in his final season at the University of Washington. But what really stood out and could make him an underrated first-year player is his production and energy as a receiver out of the backfield as he hauled in 31 receptions for 354 yards and 2 touchdowns. You can bet on Broncos head coach Sean Payton utilizing that dual-threat ability within the Broncos’ offense.
Payton has already been impressed with what he's seen from Coleman during offseason work and is eager to evaluate him once the pads come on.
"He had a good rookie camp," Payton said of Coleman. "He’s put together well. There are some positions I think that are a little bit more difficult to evaluate [without pads]. Ultimately, with him as a runner, they have to tackle you, but he’s all football.”
Jonah Coleman's complete skill set fits Sean Payton's offense
In joining starter J.K. Dobbins and second-year running back R.J. Harvey in the running back room, Coleman has a great opportunity to be more than just a third-down or short-yardage option for the Broncos in the 2026 NFL season. Along with his power and pass-catching ability, Coleman runs the ball with outstanding energy, has excellent ball security and despite his lack of breakaway speed, waits for holes to open and hits those openings with authority.
Another underrated aspect of Coleman's game is his elite pass protection, an aspect of his game already praised by Payton and a quality that could see him on the field more to add protection for Bo Nix in the pocket. In all, Coleman’s overall package and production with the Huskies are a main reason NFL Mocks highlighted him as one of the most important rookies in the AFC West.
Selected to a team that was on the brink of making the Super Bowl, the force of power known as Coleman helps give the Broncos a more balanced offensive attack.
With the addition of star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Payton has surrounded Bo Nix with another elite playmaker while also strengthening the running game with Coleman. If the rookie develops as expected, Denver could feature one of the NFL's deepest and most versatile backfields, giving Payton another offensive weapon capable of impacting games in multiple ways.
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