Sean Payton improved the Saints by seven games in a single season. Payton has surrounded himself with hard-nosed football players who aren't afraid to do some heavy lifting. The Broncos have a solid roster, and when Payton gets more out of Wilson, it won't be unreasonable to expect five additional wins. Payton will be looking at every position group hoping to find: 1) good trustworthy players on the No. 1 unit; 2) at least one backup with starting experience; and, 3) another ascending reserve with a viable path to the first team.

Who Steps Up at: D-line depth; kicker; and, edge rusher? Can OC Joe Lombardi be successful in his first year in command of Denver’s offense? Can first year coach (quarterbacks) Davis Webb get Wilson back to feeling comfortable at quarterback again? Can the outside linebackers stay healthy and meet their potential? Who will win the returner job? Can FB Michael Burton handle Payton’s serious approach to fullbacks and special teams? Can the Broncos handle the culture shock of Sean Paton? Can high blitzing Vance Johnson handle blitz busters, Mahomes and Herbert, without blitzing?

1. WRs Sutton, Jeudy and Patrick for who the passing game will flow through. 2. Tony Jones Jr vs. Tyler Badie vs. Jaleel McLaughlin for number three running back. 3. Mike Purcell vs. Matt Henningsen vs. Eyioma Uwazurike for interior defensive lineman three. 4. Lloyd Cushenberry vs. Kyle Fuller vs. Alex Forsyth for number one center. 5. Nik Bonitto vs. Jonathon Cooper vs. Thomas Incoom vs. Chris Allen vs. Aaron Patrick for outside linebackers four, five, and six. 6. Essang Bassey vs. Tremon Smith vs. Ja'Quan McMillian vs. Faion Hicks for number two nickel back. 7. Caden Sterns vs. Kareem Jackson vs. J.L. Skinner vs. P.J. Locke for safety two and three. 8. Albert Okwuegbunam vs. Nate Adkins vs. Tommy Hundson for tight end four (if the Broncos decide to roster four). 9. KJ Hamler vs. Jalen Virgil vs. Kendall Hinton vs. Marquez Callaway vs. Montrell Washington vs. Brandon Johnson for wide receivers five and six. (Mims is number four). 10. Quinn Bailey vs. Isaiah Prince vs. Demontrey Jacobs vs. Christian DiLauro vs. Alex Palczewski, for tackle number four (if they roster four). 11. P Riley Dixon vs every available punter. 12. Elliott Fry vs every available kicker.

Payton, Lombardi and Webb are asking Wilson to relearn some "muscle memory," which suggests that his reclamation is likely to be intensive rather than simple.

The Broncos have a unique combination of wide receivers with: speed (Mims, Hamler), tremendous size (Sutton, Patrick, Callaway) and arguably the best route runner in the NFL -- Jerry Jeudy. Sutton’s burst out of a break will enable him produce beyond what some are expecting. WR Marvin Mims Jr. speed and the ‘my ball’ mentality gives him a shot in 2023.

Denver is really solid at the top two running back position when both Javonte Williams (cleared for contact) and Samaje Perine are healthy. Javonte Williams, a true RB1, who can handle a full workload, pass protect, and do everything you want modern running backs to do, he is ready for the start of training camp as a full participant. Payton’s plan for Williams is to have days on, limited days, and days off.

In the preseason, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Williams be limited or a non-participant in the exhibition games. Veteran Samaje Perine, excels on all three downs. Unless the Broncos sign another running back, I expect RB Tyler Badie to be the number three running back with FB Michael Burton completing the running back room. On special teams, drastic change was required. None of the three specialists are the same as they were at the end of 2022. Ks Elliott Fry and Brett Maher, get the first shots, but they are competing with any other kicker who is/becomes available. If LS Mitchell Fraboni continues faring well, expect a multi-year run for the former USFL standout. Resigned P Riley Dixon has improved since being drafted (by Denver) in 2016 and should have nothing to worry about. The return possibilities are harder with Marvin Mims, Tremon Smith, Montrell Washington, Jaleel McLaughlin, Pat Surtain II, and Jalen Virgil all in the mix. The Broncos are going to emphasize running the ball and need to improve their physicality in the trenches. The interior offensive line is the key to the Broncos success in 2023 Starters: LG Ben Powers, C Lloyd Cushenberry, RG Quinn Meinerz.

Both Tackles, Garret Bolles and Mike McGlinchey will have to watch the holding penalties. C Lloyd Cushenberry will have to hold off solid competition.

Transactions Signed PK Brett Maher (kicked for Payton/ Saints in 2021). Waived QB Jarrett Guarantano. Signed WR Nick Williams. DL Eyioma Uwazurike suspended indefinitely. Put OLB Baron Browning and WR Kendall Hinton on the PUP list. Put WR KJ Hamler and DL Mike Purcell will on the NFI list. Signed WR Michael Bandy. Activated WR Kendall Hinton from PUP. Signed G Yasir Durant; Waived T Christian DiLauro.

Players making an early impression: Riley Moss, CB; PJ Mustipher DL; Elijah Garcia DL; Tyler Badie RB; Jaleel McLaughlin RB. Wilson is making a high/low read, not scanning the entire football field with a collapsing pocket. Javonte Williams has looked recovered with his explosiveness and cutting. Payton’s power I formation, along with counters and fullbacks, are being implemented. WR Tim Patrick is out for the season with a torn Achilles. WR KJ Hamler has pericarditis and was released.

Fantasy Outlook The Broncos had three comeback players of year candidates: QB Russell Wilson, RB Javonte Williams, and WR Tim Patrick. But the Broncos have lost their number 3 (Patrick) and 4 (Hamler) wide receivers on day two of camp. Patrick had good chemistry with Wilson. The question is, will they bring in a veteran? They have two receivers with speed in Virgil and Washington, but they are inexperienced.

When the regular season begins, expect Williams to be the starter. RBs Williams (ideal fit in Payton's smashmouth offensive scheme) and Perine will do the heavy lifting, the defense will be aggressive and Wilson will play good, efficient football. Expect the offense to be more steady than explosive and for the running and good defense to limit Wilson’s fantasy value. Williams’ cost is too high, while Samaje Perine is draftable at his present cost.

TEs Greg Dulcich and Albert Okwuegbunam are tough match ups with their size and speed combination (too fast for linebackers/too big for safeties, particularly in the red zone) if they can catch in traffic. However, Albert O is not guaranteed a roster spot. The Broncos' pass rushers need to stay healthy and their backups need to be ready to step up if they don’t. Otherwise, the pass rush game will be a weakness for Joseph’s aggressive play calls, particularly his all out blitzes. The thin D line has already lost Eyioma Uwazurike (indefinitely) and Mike Purcell (until ?). Henningsen, Mustipher, and Garcia need to take advantage of their and step up.

More to come later this month!

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