Denver Broncos Coach Sean Payton Compares Ex-UW RB Coleman to Dobbins

Although there were chances to move back in the 2026 NFL draft, the risk-reward wasn’t worth passing on former Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman.

The 5-foot-9, 229-pound two-year starter at UW came off the board in the fourth round on Saturday morning and instantly became a potential long-term replacement for J.K. Dobbins in the eyes of Broncos’ coach Sean Payton.

”Jonah came in for a visit, and we spent a lot of time with him,” Payton said. “I saw something that compared his running style, and I think the comparison was J.K. I think that is a compliment, obviously, to the way Dobbins runs. He’s a physical runner, so we were very familiar with him.”

Dobbins, 30, was a second-round pick in 2020 out of Ohio State and signed a two-year deal to remain in Denver last month after he rushed for 772 yards and 4 touchdowns in nine starts during his first season with the organization in 2025.

With a similar build—Coleman is listed one inch shorter and 14 pounds heavier than Dobbins—and running style, the natural succession plan makes sense on its surface.

The area the ex-Arizona and UW ball carrier can make an impact as a rookie could be as a pass-protector next to quarterback Bo Nix or on special teams while he soaks up the Broncos’ playbook.

In each of Coleman’s two seasons with the Huskies, he had at least one kickoff return of 26 yards, coincidentally in consecutive games in the Sun Bowl against Louisville and last season's opener against Colorado State, and made five total returns during his college career.

Denver selected RJ Harvey in the second round in 2025 out of UCF, which gives Payton a pair of young, long-term options at running back when paired with Coleman, and it could open the door for the former Husky star to potentially beat out Dobbins, who missed the final nine games of last season due to a foot injury.