The Broncos are willing to be active in the post-draft free-agency market, and one of the biggest unsigned names is running back Brian Westbrook. The Broncos are interested, but does the move make much sense?

Westrbook was a fantastic player through last decade, a dynamic playmaker who wasn’t a traditional back (only two 1,00-yard seasons) but a wonderful all-purpose playmaker whose receiving skills made him a great threat. He has 3,790 yards receiving in his career, with 29 receiving touchdowns. Sounds like the kind of playmaker the Broncos could use.

Here are the problems: Westbrook will be 31 on Sept. 2, had major issues with concussions and a balky knee last year, probably won’t be cheap (not with multiple suitors) and he could cut into Knowshon Moreno’s playing time.

Here’s the significant catch-22 of the situation. If Westbrook can’t stay healthy (and a 31-year-old back with more than 1,700 career touches coming off an injury-plagued season has to be in that category) then he makes little sense for a Broncos team that is a little light on running back depth. But if he does stay healthy, what would his role be? Westbrook isn’t signing with the Broncos in hopes of getting two or three carries a game. He would either take work away from Correll Buckhalter – who looked fresh last year as he averaged 5.4 yards per carry – or from second-year back Knowshon Moreno. The latter possibility should worry Broncos fans.

When the Broncos took Moreno with the 12th overall pick last year, it was to be a headliner on the team. While last year wasn’t as great as Moreno or anyone hoped, he needs a chance to prove he can be Denver’s workhorse back. Buckhalter is a good second back. J.J. Arrington, who has his own health issues, provides more depth if his knee is right. Westbrook seems like much more of a luxury than a need, and if signing the former Eagle cuts significantly into Moreno’s playing time, I don’t see how that makes much sense for the Broncos, especially in the long term.

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