2012 NFL Free Agents: Why the Denver Broncos Will Attract a Star Running Back

The Denver Broncos will have a hard time gathering interest from potential free agent wide receivers because of such a run-heavy offensive attack.

Lucky for Denver fans, it works the opposite way as well.

Boasting the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL, the Broncos under John Fox have developed a game plan that has allowed Willis McGahee and Lance Ball to flourish.

Despite injury trouble, McGahee has had a tremendous season and put up one shy of 1200 yards on the ground; numbers he hasn't seen since the 2007 season. The Broncos rush the ball just a shade over 34 times per game, which is good for a tie atop the league with the Houston Texans at 546 attempts total.

Assuming Tim Tebow is the starting quarterback at the beginning of next season, this trend will almost certainly continue and be an even bigger part of John Fox's offensive game plan in 2012.

This could be an extremely attractive scenario for any of the big-name running backs available this year in free agency. To play for a team where you are almost guaranteed such a high number of carries—and that garners as much national attention as the Denver Broncos do right now—would be an ideal situation for a featured back.

Could this draw the attention of such a high caliber player as Matt Forte? Could Ray Rice look to reunite with former teammate Willis McGahee? It's not far fetched to think that the Denver Broncos (regardless of what happens in this year's playoffs) have set themselves up to sign a running back that none of us would have ever anticipated. It's true.

If we're going to say that receivers will want to stay out of Denver, we have to say that running backs will be all ears when John Elway comes calling.