Cody Schrader

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	YPC
Career		1	3	—	3.0
2025		1	—	—	—
2024		1	3	0	3.0

Updated May 23, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Denver Broncos landed exceptional value with Cody Schrader's $1.1M deal, earning an A- CVI that represents one of the better steals at the running back position this cycle. While Schrader profiles as a rotational player rather than a featured back, securing that level of production at barely above minimum wage creates immediate roster flexibility and upside potential that far exceeds the financial commitment. The undrafted rookie out of Missouri brings enough versatility and special teams value to justify his spot, and at this price point, the Broncos essentially have a lottery ticket with zero downside risk. The contract structure heavily favors Denver — if Schrader develops into anything more than a rotational piece, they'll have a productive contributor on one of the most team-friendly deals in the league. Even if he maxes out as depth, the investment is so minimal that it won't impact their salary cap flexibility or ability to address other positional needs. This is exactly the type of low-cost, high-upside bet that championship rosters are built on.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the A band — a quick read on where Cody's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Per-game impact for Cody Schrader pencils out to a D performance grade. He's operating well below the threshold of a productive NFL depth piece at the position, let alone a legitimate rotation option in Denver's backfield. With just one game played in the 2025 season, there's minimal counting data to evaluate, but the limited opportunities signal his position on the depth chart: organizational depth with replacement-level upside. The mediaFraming — undrafted grind story, practice squad bouncing, marginal NFL talent level — aligns cleanly with the D grade; he's the kind of camp body teams cycle through annually, appreciated for the hustle narrative but not depended upon for meaningful production. At 26 and in his second year, Schrader's runway is narrowing fast, especially with Denver's recent flurry of roster additions and cuts that suggest the Broncos are tightening their competitive window rather than carving out snaps for developmental backs. Unless injuries create unexpected opportunity, he'll remain a fringe roster candidate fighting to stick on the practice squad come September — a feel-good underdog story that rarely translates into regular-season relevance on a team built to contend.

How Cody Compares at the Position

Cody Schrader ranks 72nd of 181 graded running backs by performance. That slots Cody between Jawhar Jordan (D+) just ahead and Kendall Milton (D) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Cody Schrader's public perception sits at a measured C — engaged enough to generate a handful of headlines, but firmly in the "inspirational depth piece" category rather than legitimate roster conversation. The dominant media framing around the 26-year-old undrafted back centers on his underdog journey — the practice squad bouncing, the waiver claims, the grind — and while that narrative earns him genuine fan affection, it also telegraphs the ceiling: organizational depth with replacement-level upside, not a backfield threat. That story tracks directly with a D+ performance grade, which confirms the gap between the character arc fans are rooting for and the on-field production that actually moves the needle in an NFL backfield. Denver's recent activity only tightens the squeeze around Schrader — the Broncos signed RB Jaleel McLaughlin earlier this offseason and have been active adding bodies at multiple positions, making the depth chart competition steeper and the path to a 53-man roster spot narrower. The sentiment trend cooling from its initial A+ warmth down to a C reflects exactly what usually happens with these stories: the feel-good wave breaks on the shore of roster reality, and with the regular season still 125 days out and a 14-3 Broncos team built to win, there's little room for sentimentality over production.