Jaleel McLaughlin: Everything you need to know

The Broncos have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with McLaughlin, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports. Though the Broncos initially declined to offer McLaughlin a contract tender ahead of free agency, the 25-year-old will return to the team after all. The core of Denver's backfield thus remains unchanged from 2025, with J.K. Dobbins having also been re-signed and RJ Harvey back for his second year as a pro. In eight regular-season outings in 2025, McLaughlin carried 37 times for 187 yards and a TD, while adding four catches for 27 yards. Now that he's back in the fold, McLaughlin will reprise his depth role behind Dobbins and Harvey in 2026.

The Broncos don't plan to offer McLaughlin a contract tender, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. As a result, the pending restricted free agent will be eligible to hit the open market, though Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post indicates that the Broncos are thought to be open to bringing the RB back. In eight regular-season contests with Denver in 2025, the 25-year-old carried 37 times (down from his career high 113 mark in 2024) for 187 yards and a TD, while adding four catches for 27 yards.

McLaughlin rushed four times for 11 yards and brought one of two targets for two yards in the Broncos' 10-7 loss to the Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. McLaughlin filled his usual complementary role behind RJ Harvey, who led the ground attack with 13 carries. The third-year pro wasn't able to break into the open field on any of this four totes, and weather conditions that included significant second-half snowfall made offense difficult to come by as a whole. McLaughlin will be a restricted free agent this offseason, and it appears unlikely he'll draw any interest from other teams under that classification.