Denver Broncos waiving second-year RB Audric Estime

The Denver Broncos are waiving second-year running back Audric Estime, per Mike Klis of 9NEWS KUSA in Denver. Estime, the 2024 fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, finds himself the odd man out in Denver’s revamped running back room.

The Broncos selected RJ Harvey in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft, and they later signed JK Dobbins in free agency. Blake Watson has also been waived, so it appears Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie have won the additional spots on the 53-man roster.

Estime, 21, appeared in 13 games during his rookie season. He rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 76 carries. He added five receptions for 27 yards. Head coach Sean Payton made Estime a healthy scratch for the AFC Wild Card Round defeat to the Buffalo Bills.

Estime is still young and full of potential, so he should find another team rather quickly. He was seen as an intriguing prospect coming out of Notre Dame, and after a 2023 season which saw him rush for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns on 6.4 yards per carry.

Audric Estime will look for new opportunity

Estime performed well in his last taste of action for the Broncos. In Saturday’s preseason tilt against the New Orleans Saints, Estime rushed eight times for 45 yards and a score.

“Pretty solid,” Payton said after the game when asked about Estime’s performance, via Jon Heath of Broncos Wire. “I thought we ran the ball better in the second half for [yards per] carry than the first [half]. I thought we ran the ball better. I thought Audric did a good job in general.”

Estime knew the competition inside the running back room would be fierce. He did all he could, but Payton and general manager George Paton had the final say.

“To make the team isn’t up to me, it’s up to the coaching staff, and it’s honestly up to God,” Estime said. “I feel like I did what I needed to do, to put myself in position to be on it. But [at the] end of the day, Sean knows what’s best for this team. And I’m putting my trust in God, and I feel like I did what I needed to do.

“I am proud of my progression; I definitely got better from last year to this year. I definitely have progressed a lot, and it’s all you can do, progress in this league.”