We hit the everything to know about DL Tyler Onyedim yesterday, so it only makes sense to move forward with complete coverage around their next selection in the 2026 NFL Draft: fourth-round pick Washington running back Jonah Coleman. Here is everything we did on Coleman over the weekend.
Denver Broncos post-draft depth chart MHR maps out the full roster landscape after seven draft picks and 13 UDFAs reshaped the 90-man roster. The biggest shakeups: Jonah Coleman immediately changes the RB room and could push for short-yardage and third-down reps, putting Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie officially on the hot seat. At tight end, fifth-rounder Justin Joly is expected to compete for playing time right away while seventh-rounder Dallen Bentley battles Nate Adkins and Lucas Krull for a roster spot. Seventh-round LB Red Murdock projects as a special teams monster with a knack for forcing fumbles, and safety Miles Scott adds depth to a room that includes Devon Key, Tycen Anderson, and JL Skinner. Notably, Denver didn’t draft or sign a quarterback — it’s Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Sam Ehlinger as-is.
Post-draft NFL power rankings: Denver Broncos a top contender The Broncos climbed to No. 3 in The Athletic’s post-draft power rankings, cementing their status as a legitimate Super Bowl contender heading into 2026. The reasoning: arguably the best defense in the NFL returns largely intact, the Jaylen Waddle trade gives Bo Nix a true No. 1 alongside Courtland Sutton, and fourth-round RB Jonah Coleman adds the short-yardage punch Denver lacked after losing Javonte Williams. The assessment boils down to one simple equation — continued improvement from Nix plus this roster equals a team nobody wants to see in January.
On if the two fourth-round picks, RB Jonah Coleman and OL Kage Casey, will define this draft class
Sean Payton: “I think as you go through the reads on the runner [Jonah Coleman] for instance, both Jonah and then there was one other back we kept thinking… They were graded early in the third, end of the second. That’s that tough scenario, ‘Will they make it to 108?’ It helped they were both available because we had discussed even climbing back. So Jonah came in for a visit. We spent a lot of time with him. I saw something that compared his running style, and I think the comparison was [RB] J.K. [Dobbins], and I think that’s a compliment obviously to the way Dobbins runs. He’s a physical runner. So we were real familiar with him.
On the evaluation of third-down traits in RB Jonah Coleman
SP: “Great question. So we felt like—and every team is different. We felt like certainly the front of the draft, there were two really good players, uniquely both from Notre Dame [Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love and Seahawks RB Jadarian Price]. Then when you start putting up the tale of the tape—I’m not talking about their measurables—but the four-box production, yards after contact, average 10-yard runs, all of those things, you get to see on tape. I would say, probably with a number of teams, there may have been six. Then what’s the order when you get to three, four, five, six? Going home yesterday, coming in today and then the long wait, I think the thing I would say is he’s very physical. He can play on third down. 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.”
On if he liked RB Jonah Coleman based off of complementary traits in the current running backs room
SP: “I think it still gets back to what George said earlier: We’re not getting too cute here. We’re trying to find… Who’s the best runner and does it fit us? We felt strongly it did with him. All the other stuff will take care of itself. But he’s put together. There are some positions that are more difficult, and I think this position is like, ‘Man, let’s just go look at it. What kind of scheme are they running?’ It was impressive.”
“It was amazing. We just hit it off right off the bat. As soon as I walked in the meeting, I felt the energy and really the love from the start. I went in there, and we just talked some ball and just crushed it. When I went up there on a [Top 30] visit, all I kept hearing was they were really impressed with my interview at the Combine. Who would have ever known that I would be in this position now. I’m just so grateful to be part of the team.”
“Well obviously just playing my role and doing what I do. The leadership that I bring to the locker room, the culture, how I can ultimately add to that culture that they have… Just being able to come in and be with guys like [RB] RJ Harvey, [RB] J.K. Dobbins and stuff like that. You ultimately have a three-headed monster in the run game. I believe that’s where it starts, in the trenches.”
“Well I was injured three games, really the whole back half of the season, so I wasn’t getting as many carries. I was just more so playing and doing whatever I could to help the team win, ultimately just do what I can to play my role. [Washington Head] Coach [Jedd] Fisch knew I was a Sunday player and ultimately it was about my future, so just being smart there.”
On his decision to transfer to Washington from Arizona
“I started this thing with [Washington Head] Coach [Jedd] Fisch. Coach Fisch, he recruited me out of high school and I was his first commit in the class of 2022 at Arizona. I believed in the plan and the vision that he had, and just the culture and how family oriented he was coming out of high school. When he left, it was a no brainer I was leaving.”
On his thoughts on pass protection and how he will carry that to Denver
“It’s really important. Now I get to go protect [QB] Bo Nix, and I take pride in that. I may not have all the exciting plays and all of that, but I do the dirty work. I do those things that not a lot of people pay attention to. Just being able to be well rounded. When I was a freshman, [former Arizona assistant coach/running backs] Coach [Scottie] Graham said, ‘The only way you’re going to get on this field is if you’re able to pick up blitzes.’ Just being able to be well rounded and not have to come off the field on third downs is what I bring. So just being able to be well rounded is something I take pride in. I can catch the ball, obviously pass pro is the big thing in my game and running the ball is what I do.”
“I always knew I was meant to be a Denver Bronco. Like right after the visit, I knew I was going to be a Denver Bronco. It was all in God’s plan, and it worked out how it was supposed to. When I woke up this morning and looked at the pick order and I saw that they were where they were at, it was no question in my mind, no doubt in my mind that I was going to be a Denver Bronco. I’m excited to be a part of Broncos Country, and do whatever I can to go win games and take things day-by-day and ultimately just be the best teammate ever.”
On being a 2025 finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and what he most enjoyed about academics
“Just being the first in my family to go to college, and then the first in my family to graduate is something that I take pride in. Just being able to walk around with that and know that I did that ultimately for my grandma, who I did make a promise to that I was going to graduate and get my college degree. Just being able to be the first in my family to do that is something that means a lot to me. Just going through that whole process, the academic staff and working with them and having a plan mapped out that ultimately helped me graduate early and stuff before I went to the NFL. That also did play a part in why I came back for my senior season at Washington.”
On his reaction to seeing the Broncos call him to draft him