The Denver Broncos picked up quite a player in the NFL Draft in defensive end Bradley Chubb, who is expected to make a significant impact right away. However, he might not be the only Broncos rookie who could end up playing a key role on the team this season.

According to Jeff Legwold of ESPN, running back Royce Freeman, who was taken in the third round (No. 71 overall), has a legitimate shot at becoming the team’s top running back by the start of the season.

Two months later, Freeman, with his combination of size and speed, made it fairly clear that he’s going to push Devontae Booker to be at the top of the running back depth chart. Asked just before the Broncos finished minicamp if he believed Freeman could put himself in the conversation to be the team’s lead back, Broncos coach Vance Joseph said “absolutely.”

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The Broncos’ lead back spot is up for grabs after they decided to move on from C.J. Anderson even after a 1,000-yard season. The expectation was that incoming third-year back Booker had the inside track for the job, but it looks as though Freeman will provide some stiff competition.

Freeman was a highly-productive workhorse for Oregon as he set numerous school records－5,621 career rushing yards on 947 carries and 384 points to name just three－over his four-year college career. If he can consistently show that type of high-level play with the Broncos during training camp and preseason, that spot atop Denver’s running back depth chart should be as good as his.