The Broncos' 2025 season was a defensive masterclass paired with the legitimate arrival of Bo Nix as a franchise cornerstone. While the season ended in heartbreak—a 10-7 loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship after Nix went down with a late ankle injury—they finished a franchise-best 14-3 and secured the AFC’s #1 seed.

After a shaky first month, Bo Nix became a "league winner" for fantasy managers. He finished the season as the QB9 overall, totaling 3,931 passing yards and 30 total touchdowns (25 passing, 5 rushing). His 356 rushing yards and ability to find the end zone on the ground gave him a high weekly floor. He finished with a 63.4% completion rate and limited turnovers (11 INTs), showing high-level processing in Sean Payton's system. WR Courtland Sutton posted a 1,017-yard season with 7 touchdowns. He remained a contested-catch beast and developed elite chemistry with Nix. Troy Franklin (WR2/Sleeper): ended with 709 yards and 6 TDs, flashing as a legitimate vertical threat. The RB Committee was the biggest headache for fantasy owners. JK. Dobbins (772 yards) and rookie RJ Harvey (540 yards, 12 total TDs) split the workload. Harvey became a "red zone vulture" superstar, but the split capped both players' ceilings. TE Evan Engram was a disappointment averaging just 28.8 yards per game as he was used more as a "Joker" blocker than a primary target Denver’s defense was the best in the AFC. They led the league with 4.0 sacks per game (68 total) and allowed only 18.3 points per game. Nik Bonitto broke out with 14.0 sacks, making the Broncos D/ST a top-3 weekly start.

To get to the next level in 2026, the Broncos need to surround Nix with more explosive play makers while maintaining their defensive identity. The current WR corps (Sutton, Franklin, Mims, Bryant) is good but lacks a consistent yards-after-catch (YAC) specialist. They need to find a free agent or a high-end slot receiver to give Nix the easy "layup" throws that Sean Payton’s offense thrives on. With Dobbins and Jaleel McLaughlin hitting free agency, the Broncos need to decide if RJ Harvey is the true workhorse. But they still need to bring in a reliable veteran on a team-friendly deal to complement Harvey. LB Alex Singleton and CB Ja'Quan McMillian are looking for new deals. Maintaining the linebacker depth is crucial, especially with Dre Greenlaw’s injury history. Evan Engram was quiet in 2025. Denver needs to either better integrate him into the passing game or find a younger, more athletic vertical threat to stretch the middle of the field.

Historically, HC Sean Payton leans toward the "aggressive" end of things when it comes to his roster-building approach, while GM George Payton likes more draft darts to throw. But they have settled into a must have, needs, and wants approach to the draft and free agency. They have both stated they will be aggressive this off season. However, CEO Greg Penner put a qualifier on it He wants the Broncos to be "opportunistically aggressive." Penner: "In terms of free agency, I get a little worried about just the pure phrase of ‘aggressive,’ because you can be aggressive, but you want to do it in a smart way."

Warnings for 2026: 1. Close wins often become close losses the next year. 2. Defenses can vary hugely from year to year. 3. Denver’s poor 2025 point differential could lead to missed play offs in 2026.

Florida’s Caleb Banks, DL

Utah’s Logan Fano, DE

Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter, DT

Iowa’s Max Llewellyn, DE

Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez, LB

Coaches: Fired OC Joe Lombardi; lost defensive coach Jim Leonhard; fired WR coach Keary Colbert.; fired CB coach Addison lynch. Lost Pete Carmichael, jr.; Promoted Davis Webb to OC; promoted Logan Kilgore to QB coach.

Future contracts: Offense: Deuce Vaughn (RB); Cody Schrader (RB); Caleb Lohner (TE); Michael Deiter ©; Marques Cox (OT); Nash Jones (G) Calvin Throckmorton (OL) Defense: Levelle Bailey (LB); Garrett Nelson (LB); Jordan Miller (DT): Kristian Williams (DT) Jaden Robinson (CB)

Denver’s LT Garett Bolles was named the Alan Page Community Award winner.

Free Agents of interest (fit scheme) Offense: WR George Pickens (would mean moving on from Sutton); RB Kennith Walker III ( fits Payton’s gap and zone run scheme); TE Dallas Goedert (complete "in-line" tight end); High risk/high reward "Joker" WR Debo Samuel (heavy incentive deal only). Defense: ILB Devin Lloyd (expensive modern LB replacement for Singletary); Edge: Odafe Oweh (right price only/would need to move youngster); S Andre Cisco (Locke and Jones potential losses)

Too Early 2026 Broncos First Three Picks

Denver had a good season and the hype for the Super Bowl will be huge in 2026. However, the same things that plagued the Broncos during the season doomed then in the AFC championship game: inconsistent run game, dropped passes and lack of explosive play makers. They lived by winning close games, but KC’s fall shows what can happen when living on the edge, Denver led the league in dropped passes and their wide receivers coach was fired. The three picks above could lift the Broncos offense. HC Sean Payton is likely to keep calling the offense which is his strong suit. New OC Davis Webb should provide him with a new, younger perspective and he knows Bo Nix well. DC Vance Joseph’s remaining in Denver is a big plus for the defense. However, there are key players who need to be retained, but may prefer to move on to bigger roles. GM George Paton will have his work cutout trying to keep the defense in place and upgrading the offense amid rumors of Minneapolis wanting him back in the twin cities. A Payton New Orleans cohort at GM would be disastrous. Part of the reason Greg Penner and the Walton-Penner Family Ownership group have been so successful owning the Broncos is hiring the right people and then letting them do their jobs. "Obviously had a lot of conversation about the different changes with the coaches and we’re really excited for Davis and Logan," Greg Penner said. "For a lot of these guys it’s a fresh start and fresh thinking and we’re looking forward to it." So is Broncos country!

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