ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — In baseball, pitch count can be a deterrent. Too many fastballs and a pitcher is at risk of injury, if not worse.



Logic would think the same applies to NFL players. Too many reps, too much wear and tear and a player is damaged goods. But as the Broncos sought to bolster their running backs room in the draft this year after releasing veteran C.J. Anderson, they disregarded the pitch-count theory.



And perhaps wisely so.



In the third round, at No. 71, the Broncos drafted Royce Freeman, a 229-pound back who amassed 947 carries in four years at Oregon. At the culmination of the draft, the Broncos signed free agent Phillip Lindsay, a former Colorado standout who led the nation with 301 carries last season.



The two, of different size and style, ranked No. 4 and 6, respectively, in FBS in total attempts over the past three seasons.



“I feel like all of that durability and all of those carries just reflected my...