Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton is always guarded about not revealing the team's plans leading up to the NFL draft and free agency each offseason. Once the events have passed, however, Payton has been forthcoming about some of his favorite prospects.

Payton said after the 2024 draft that the Broncos were impressed by Oregon running back Bucky Irving at quarterback Bo Nix's pro day (he went off the board in the fourth round, 23 spots before Denver picked Audric Estime in the fifth).

Earlier this year, Payton seemed to hint that the Broncos liked Texas running back Jaydon Blue in the 2025 NFL draft, but history suggested he might struggle to reverse his fumbling woes in the NFL, and Denver didn't draft him.

This year, the Broncos used a fourth-round pick to select Washington running back Jonah Coleman. One round earlier, Indiana's Kaelon Black went off the board in the third round, and Nebraska's Emmett Johnson was picked in the fifth round. After Coleman and Johnson combined for 247 yards from scrimmage during Denver's 28-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Payton was asked if those were two of his favorite running backs in this year's draft.

“Yes, that’s right," Payton said. "No, no, that’s right. Emmett was one [of them]. We just didn’t like two, but we loved Emmett. The 49ers drafted one [Kaelon Black] that we really liked. We felt this was a good running back draft and I’m not even talking about those guys that went early. The kid from Indiana [Black], the player that Kansas City took [Johnson], all of those guys have good tape and different type runners, right exciting backs that are going to play a long time in this league.”

Coleman impressed on Sunday, rushing 11 times for 41 yards and a touchdown while adding four receptions for 63 yards. After such an impressive performance, Coleman should be a strong candidate to lead the backfield in the second half of his rookie season. He was one of several running backs Payton liked in a strong 2026 class.