The Denver Broncos picked up a massive win over the Kansas City Chiefs, preventing the season sweep and vaulting themselves into first place in the AFC West. That’s a huge statement for a team with real Super Bowl aspirations. However, a big win shouldn’t stop Denver from making an even bigger move, and I’m talking about Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Seattle Seahawks are all interested in trading for Taylor. Most of the teams on that list are pretty darn good, just like Denver. So this is about going all in, and it’s about the Broncos taking the next step.

Why the Broncos need a lead back like Jonathan Taylor

In my opinion, that next step for Denver is becoming a dominant rushing attack.

To be fair to the current backfield, Jonah Coleman had a great game against the Chiefs. He caught four passes for 63 yards and was also the Broncos’ leading rusher with a touchdown. But look a little closer at the box score and the numbers on the ground tell a different story.

Coleman led the team on the ground, but he only averaged 3.7 yards per carry. Behind him, J.K. Dobbins managed just 13 yards on seven carries, good for 1.9 yards per attempt. Then you had quarterback Bo Nix contributing with his legs.

That isn’t the profile of a rushing attack that can carry a team through January. Denver won the game, but the run game didn’t do much to help.

With a player like Taylor, the Broncos could lean fully into becoming an unstoppable rushing offense. Coleman, Dobbins, and R.J. Harvey wouldn’t disappear, either. They would complement Taylor, and Denver would finally have the lead back who takes this offense to the next level.

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The price for Taylor isn’t as steep as you might think

Here’s the best part: this deal isn’t that expensive.

All you have to do is head over to the A to Z Sports NFL trade simulator. In the deal I ran, the Colts get a 2027 second-round pick, and the Broncos get Taylor, and the simulator considers that a fair trade.

So the immediate question becomes, why in the world would the Broncos not trade a second-rounder in 2027 for arguably the best pure runner in the NFL?

Think about where Denver sits right now. The Broncos just took first place in the AFC West. They have Super Bowl aspirations. They also know they might be limited in the downfield passing game, with Nix still coming along as the season progresses.

Denver’s defense makes the case for going all in

The other piece of this equation is on the other side of the ball. The Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL, if not the best. Pair that kind of defense with a run game that can grind out first downs, control the clock, and wear opponents down, and Denver has a formula that travels well into the postseason.

It also takes pressure off Nix. Instead of asking a young quarterback to win games with his arm, the Broncos could lean on Taylor and let Nix work off play-action and favorable down-and-distance situations.

Teams in first place with an elite defense don’t come around every season. A future second-round pick is a small price to pay for a player of Taylor’s caliber.

Denver already proved it can beat the Chiefs. Now the Broncos need to prove they can finish the job. Going all in on the run game with a big-time trade for Jonathan Taylor would be the clearest way to show they are serious about it.