Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

The Denver Broncos reportedly nearly traded running back C.J. Anderson to the Miami Dolphins.

According to Troy E. Renck of ABC Denver, "the Broncos had a verbal agreement in place to send Anderson to Miami for right tackle Ja'Wuan James before Miami surprisingly nixed the deal."

Renck noted Anderson is set to make $4.5 million in 2018 but would not come with any dead cap money if he were moved, making him "vulnerable."

Renck also suggested Denver is still in a position to keep the California product if it so chooses after inking quarterback Case Keenum to an affordable two-year deal worth $25 million guaranteed.

Though Anderson averaged just 4.1 yards per carry in 2017 after posting 4.7 yards per attempt in 2014 and 2015, he turned in his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign. He finished with 1,007 rushing yards, 224 receiving yards and four total touchdowns last year, which represented a bounce-back effort from 2016 when he had just 437 yards on the ground.

Anderson hasn't developed into a game-changing presence at the running back position, but the Broncos are also short on proven playmakers in the backfield. Devontae Booker averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last year—his second in the NFL—and is likely the next man on the depth chart should Denver trade Anderson.

That could change, though, if the Broncos selected a running back in the NFL draft with the fifth overall pick or in the later rounds. Renck even said trading Anderson "remains a possibility depending on how the selections fall."

It is hard to ignore that possibility at this point, considering the team already had a deal in place to move the running back earlier this offseason.