The Denver Broncos were excited to take Notre Dame running back Audric Estime in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and fans liked the pick too. It seemed the Broncos had a piece of their future for years to come, a bruising runner with athleticism.
But Estime quickly fell out of favor with the team, starting with fumbling issues that spilled over into what may have been some concerns about his attitude.
The Broncos added J.K. Dobbins in free agency this offseason after using their second-round pick on RJ Harvey. In practices and preseason games, he was clearly behind both Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin. The Broncos gave him a chance, but things just got worse and it became clear he was not going to make the team.
The Broncos waived him following the preseason and there were reports that he was not even going to be brought back to the practice squad. The Philadelphia Eagles, one of the best running teams in the league, scooped him up off waivers and signed him to their practice squad.
It seemed like a perfect fit for him, a place where he could regain his footing and have a second chance to prove himself. Well, just six games into the season and without ever playing in a regular-season game for the team, the Eagles have already seen enough, releasing him on Tuesday.
The obvious questions are where Estime goes from here and how he has fallen this far this quickly.
Estime recently turned just 22 years old and he has only 76 NFL carries, so there is plenty of tread left on his tires. Why are teams giving up on him so quickly? Is it a talent issue or a personality issue?
READ: Where do Broncos land in current power rankings?
Estime will likely get another shot from a team in the league, but there is no doubt that his chances are running out.
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