Denver Broncos 2026 NFL Season Preview

Offense

The Broncos won 15 games last season (including playoffs) with an offense that was easier to appreciate than explain. Unwatchable for stretches against the Eagles, Jets, Raiders, Chargers and Chiefs, the Broncos found ways to win, as Nix became better in the clutch than Mr. Goodwrench. He delivered an NFL-best seven game-winning drives as Denver posted a 12-3 record in one-score contests.

There is no reason to believe that will happen again. Payton acknowledged that by acquiring Waddle, the only significant addition to an offense that has not ranked higher than 10th in points since Payton arrived in Denver. Waddle is a versatile receiver, capable of lining up in the slot or out wide and coming out of breaks more quickly than anyone on the roster. More importantly for Nix, Waddle provides yards after the catch on quick slants and should draw coverage away from third-down security blanket Courtland Sutton. The onus is on Webb, the promoted offensive coordinator, to maximize Waddle.

Webb has microwaved Nix’s development. The question is whether his inclination for tempo and added tight end routes for Evan Engram will meet Payton’s approval. Payton gave up calling plays because he was consistently taking too long to relay the information to Nix.

Regardless of who is really in charge of the offense, the Broncos aim to improve their running game. They rolled the dice on J.K. Dobbins, giving him a $5.25 million raise despite his absence for the final nine games with a foot injury. Dobbins ranked as a top-five rusher before getting sidelined. Rookie RJ Harvey proved effective as a goal-line runner and a receiver out of the backfield, but he struggled between the tackles and crashed out in the AFC Championship Game. Denver remains hopeful that rookie Jonah Coleman will provide protection in the run game with his physicality if Dobbins gets hurt again.

The offensive line returns all five starters. Pass protection is not a problem, as tackles Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey are coming off career-best seasons. Right guard Quinn Meinerz is a road-grader. The metrics say that the Broncos win in run-blocking, but it did not translate over the second half of the season. Better work on the ground will open up play-action strikes in the middle of the field — a deficiency in Nix’s career — to Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr. and Engram, the latter of whom was a disappointment in his first season in Denver.

Nix, who is not expected to adjust his style after ankle surgery, has proved that he is a franchise quarterback. His next assignment is clear: a championship.

Defense

The Broncos’ defense lives for a crisis and relishes pressure. Last season, the group operated with little margin for error, and it was the reason Denver reached the AFC Championship Game.

Coordinator Vance Joseph incorporated hard-hitting safety Talanoa Hufanga into a secondary that already blends man and zone concepts as well as any unit in the NFL. Pat Surtain II is the linchpin, but as Surtain fought through a torn pectoral injury, nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian proved to be a playmaker. Riley Moss experienced a roller-coaster ride opposite Surtain. He plays without fear but must shave his penalties — his handsy approach led him to practice with boxing gloves late last season. Last year’s first-round pick, Jahdae Barron, failed to carve out a role last season but could be the reason the Broncos see improvement. There is a chance he pushes McMillian or Moss for playing time, though some believe his future is at safety.

The Broncos’ defense works because the coverage syncs with the pressure. Denver set a franchise record for sacks for the second straight season, posting 68. Oddly, it did not result in takeaways, as the Broncos’ 14 were one shy of the fewest in franchise history. Improvement in this area remains a top priority.

Edge rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive end Zach Allen are game-wreckers, capable of producing more takeaways. They play off each other, aided by Allen’s unselfishness in taking on double teams. Even with the return of wildly underrated Malcolm Roach, a proven run-stuffer, there is hand-wringing over the loss of defensive end John Franklin-Myers, who had to leave to get paid. It is the one starting position open, leaving Eyioma Uwazurike and rookie Tyler Onyedim to compete for snaps.

In a surprise, the Broncos brought back both starting inside linebackers, Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. Singleton is an inspirational leader, but teams single him out in pass coverage. Strnad has ascended from role player, excelling as a starter. But if either regresses, there will be questions about why the Broncos did not sign Devin Lloyd in free agency.

Specialists

Darren Rizzi took over as special teams coordinator last season and ran face-first into criticism over the first few months. Between a leverage penalty on a field goal against the Colts, poor tackling on kickoff returns and an unnecessary concussion that Mims sustained in a blowout win, the special teams underwhelmed. But the group settled down as the Broncos went on an 11-game winning streak.

Kicker Wil Lutz remained clutch, converting 28-of-32 field goals. Mims is nails on punt returns, remaining productive despite injuries. After an alarmingly inconsistent training camp, punter Jeremy Crawshaw lived up to expectations. He punted 75 times, landing 40% inside the 20-yard line. He became a force, which cannot be overlooked for a team that leans heavily on winning hidden yards in close games. 

Final analysis

The conversation around the Broncos has changed dramatically over the past two seasons — from are they any good to are they good enough? The Broncos do not seem the least bit concerned about relying so heavily on continuity while facing a brutal first-place schedule.

Payton did not want to disrupt the locker room culture, confident that improvement would come from within. There is reason to think some players will get better, like Moss, Barron and Engram.

The reality is that a Super Bowl bid hinges on the offense making strides. Counting on Dobbins’ health is a risk, but the Broncos are more equipped to handle his absence with the addition of Coleman.

Ultimately, the Broncos’ ability to reach their goal will come down to this question: Can Webb take Nix to the next level?