Getty

Sean Payton did not frame Jonah Coleman as a lottery ticket or a simple depth addition after the Denver Broncos selected the Washington running back in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft.

The Broncos head coach pointed to something more useful for a rookie trying to earn early trust: Coleman’s ability to play physical football and potentially stay on the field beyond early-down rushing situations.

“He can play on third down,” Payton told reporters after the draft. “Normally, you have to project that. A lot of these guys, in college, maybe the protection plan’s different or limited. So, you have to develop that and that’s fine. But his frame is such when you see him, that he does a really good job in blocking pressure looks. He’s smart, he’s tough. There was a lot to like with him.”

That matters because Coleman is entering a Broncos backfield that already includes J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. Denver did not need to draft Coleman at No. 108 overall just to add another camp body. The pick makes more sense if Payton sees a back who can handle contact, protect the quarterback and force his way into a defined role.

Sean Payton Says Jonah Coleman Can Help on Third Down

Payton’s third-down comment was the most revealing part of his evaluation.

Rookie running backs often struggle to earn immediate trust in pass protection. It is one thing to run through contact in college. It is another to diagnose pressure looks, square up blitzers and protect an NFL quarterback on passing downs.

Payton made it clear that Denver believes Coleman is further along than many college backs in that area.

That does not guarantee Coleman will be the Broncos’ third-down back as a rookie, but it gives him a path. A fourth-round running back who can run between the tackles, catch enough to stay honest and hold up in protection is easier to dress on game day than a runner with a narrower skill set.

The Broncos also listed Coleman at 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds on his team profile, a compact frame that matches the physical identity Payton emphasized. Coleman was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention selection and rushed for 758 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per carry in 12 games in 2025, according to the team’s announcement.

Broncos Wanted the Best Runner, Not a Gimmick Fit

Payton pushed back on the idea that Denver drafted Coleman mainly because of a pre-planned complementary role.

“We’re not getting too cute here,” Payton said. “We’re trying to find who’s the best runner and does it fit us. We felt strongly it did with him.”

That is a notable distinction.

The Broncos already had different body types and skill sets in the room. Dobbins has been a proven producer when healthy. Harvey gives Denver a younger, explosive option. Jaleel McLaughlin has change-of-pace ability. Audric Estime and Tyler Badie have also been part of the recent mix.

Coleman’s selling point is simpler: he gives Payton another sturdy, downhill option who may not have to come off the field immediately on passing downs.

Broncos general manager George Paton also said Denver had considered moving up because Coleman and offensive lineman Kage Casey were both graded highly enough that the team was unsure whether either would last to its fourth-round spot.

That gives the Coleman pick more weight. Denver did not merely take the next available running back. The Broncos waited through a long stretch of picks and came away with a player they had spent significant time with during the pre-draft process.

Jonah Coleman Adds Competition to Broncos’ Running Back Plan

The Coleman pick also says something about how the Broncos view their offense around Bo Nix.

Denver has added more speed and receiving help, but Payton’s best offenses have generally needed backs who can do more than carry the ball when the play call is obvious. A running back who can block pressure and function on third down helps keep the offense out of tells.

That is where Coleman has a chance to carve out value.

He does not need to beat out every back in the room to matter. He needs to prove he can be trusted in the parts of the job that coaches value most: ball security, pass protection, short-yardage toughness and reliability when the offense gets off schedule.

Payton also referenced Coleman’s physicality when discussing the evaluation process, saying the Broncos looked at production markers such as yards after contact and runs of 10-plus yards while sorting through the running back class.

The clearest takeaway is that Denver saw Coleman as more than a college production pick. The Broncos saw a runner whose style and frame could translate to the pro game.

For a Day 3 pick, that is the opportunity. Coleman enters a crowded room, but he also enters with the exact kind of coach endorsement that matters early: Payton believes he is tough, smart and capable of handling third-down responsibilities.

That gives Coleman a real chance to be part of the Broncos’ running back conversation before training camp even begins.