There Are Four Problems That Could Buck the Broncos

With the 2025-26 season rapidly approaching, hopes are high for the Broncos. However, while the organization is certainly moving in the right direction, there are still a few potential issues that could prevent Broncos country from riding back into the playoffs.

Sophomore Slump

Bo Nix had a fantastic rookie season tossing the pigskin. He finished twelfth in passing yards and sixth in passing touchdowns among all quarterbacks, while finishing first in both categories among rookies. With his rocket of an arm and exceptional mobility, it looks like the sky is the limit for him.

However, while many believe it to be nothing more than a superstition, sophomore year quarterback regressions have been known to happen.

After an incredible rookie season in 2023, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud saw his passing yards, passing touchdowns, and average yards per passing attempt decrease while his interceptions more than doubled. Additionally, former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones saw his yardages and averages take a considerable hit in his second season. His touchdowns went from 22 all the way down to 14.

Nix last year was passing much more than he likely will this upcoming year. In the previous season, Nix was sixth in the league in attempts, likely because the Denver running backs combined for a mere seven touchdowns and did not have a single member of the backfield committee rank in the top 32 of running back carries.

With more opportunities likely going to the replenished backfield of J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey, Nix may underperform or get off to a cold start. Though Bo Nix had a terrific first season, a sophomore slump could be in play as his second year nears.

Running Game Reservations

Last season, the Broncos’ running game was atrocious. Their leading rusher, Javonte Williams, rumbled for a mere 503 yards, four touchdowns, and an average of only 3.7 yards per carry despite running behind one of the best offensive lines in football. For perspective, Williams had fewer yards than backups like Jerome Ford and Antonio Gibson, the same number of touchdowns as third stringers like Jeremy McNichols and Isaac Guerendo, and a lower average than any other starting running back in the league.

Though the Denver media believes that former Ravens and Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins and UCF running back R.J. Harvey will solve the problem, that may not be the case.

Dobbins has had a long history of injuries. He has only played more than half a season in two out of his five campaigns, so he is far from trustworthy. Additionally, though many feel that Harvey can shoulder the burden of a true RB1, his undersized build of 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds could easily prevent him from being a proper bell cow back.

To make matters worse, the other running backs on the Broncos’ depth chart, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie, are even shorter and smaller. If Dobbins were to get injured again, the Broncos would undoubtedly struggle in goal-line and short-yardage situations.

Getting rid of Javonte Williams was a great move, and Dobbins and Harvey could prove to be a very effective one-two punch. However, their respective concerns could come back to haunt the team.

Wide Receiver Worries

A large aspect of the Broncos’ success last season came from their solid receiving core, which many underestimated. Star receiver Courtland Sutton had an amazing year that saw him hauling in 81 receptions. Seventh round pick Devaughn Vele went from an unknown to a consistent starting caliber receiver. And 2023 second-rounder Marvin Mims demonstrated his talent by increasing his receptions by 17 and touchdowns by six.

Even though the receiving room was able to produce a respectable season, they were by no means elite. Now, many of the concerns fans had going into last season are still present.

Courtland Sutton, fresh off a four-year, $92 million extension, is already 29 years old, so a regression at some point in the near future seems inevitable. Marvin Mims, despite showing tremendous strides last season, has still been mostly a gadget guy and less so a consistent complementary receiver alongside Courtland Sutton. And second-year wideout Troy Franklin, though he is still very young, had a concerning number of drops last season.

As for Vele, he was traded away with the hopes that Pat Bryant, the unproven third-round rookie, could fill his place.

The Broncos did get some valuable draft assets for Vele, and there is still a lot of talent and untapped potential in their receiving room. However, the age of Sutton and the inexperience and inconsistencies from the rest could potentially be cause for concern.

New Addition Nightmares

After having one of the best defenses in the league last year, the Broncos decided to be proactive in free agency to continue their defensive dominance.

On paper, Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga are great additions for the Broncos. Greenlaw fills a huge need at interior linebacker while Hufanga fills the free safety role that had still been left by the beloved Justin Simmons.

However, their inside linebacker room already features Alex Singleton and Drew Sanders, two victims of ACL tears in 2024. This makes the addition of Dre Greenlaw, who tore his ACL in the 2024 Super Bowl, a bit more questionable.

Since that injury, Greenlaw has only played in two games, notching no more than a singular assisted tackle in the most recent one. At a position full of instability, bringing in another recently injured player could certainly hurt the team.

As for Hufanga, he had an incredible 2022 season. He accumulated four interceptions and nearly 100 tackles, launching himself into elite safety status. However, since that season, it has all been downhill. His numbers have taken serious hits.

In 2024, he put up only 38 tackles and zero interceptions, a far cry from the Hufanga of old. Additionally, Hufanga missed 17 games over the last two seasons, which provides yet another cause for concern.

While Greenlaw and Hufanga were great players not too long ago, their recent battles with injuries should have Broncos fans a bit on edge going into the 2025 season.

So How Will the Season Turn Out?

The Broncos will likely have a very strong season. Their defense is elite, their offensive line is just as good as it was last year, and Bo Nix should only be getting better. However, there is plenty of parity in the NFL, and every year, there are several teams with disappointing seasons that leave fans utterly baffled.

These potential concerns will make or break Denver’s entire season. While the Broncos are poised for success, Denver fans must remember that there is always the possibility of disappointment. With these four potential problems in mind, they can prevent themselves from getting blindsided.