Three burning questions for 2025 Broncos

During the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos snapped an eight-year playoff drought, but it's fair to wonder whether they'll continue progressing this upcoming season.

With that in mind, here are three burning questions for the Broncos heading into the 2025 season:

How can QB Bo Nix make a second-year leap? 

Nix — the 12th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft — shattered expectations during his rookie season. In 17 starts, he completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdown passes, finishing third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels.

Still, the 25-year-old must continue fine-tuning his game to become an elite QB. Improving his accuracy on intermediate throws could help him do that.

Pro Football Focus defines intermediate throws as attempts that travel 10-19 yards through the air from the line of scrimmage. Per PFF, Nix completed 51.8% of his intermediate throws last season, 34th among 43 eligible QBs (min. 30 attempts). 

In a story published February 27, Nix's personal coach, David Morris, told The Athletic's Nick Kosmider they're prioritizing improving his "rotational strength" this offseason, which should help him throw with more power and accuracy. 

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen has focused on his rotational strength throughout his career. It's smart for Nix to take a cue from the 2024 MVP.

Will signing tight end Evan Engram pay off? 

In free agency, the Broncos signed two-time Pro Bowler Engram to a two-year, $23M contract. 

When healthy, he's a valuable weapon for a passing attack. In 17 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023, Engram finished with 114 receptions for 963 yards and four TD catches. Last season, the 30-year-old played in just nine games because of a torn labrum in his left shoulder. 

Engram could become the "joker" head coach Sean Payton needs if he avoids another significant injury. The "joker" is a versatile TE or RB who creates mismatches in the passing game in the coach's offense.

"The vision [Payton] has for that is that 'joker' role. I love the narrative of the superhero, the supervillains, I love superhero stuff ... I love creating that narrative for myself to put a little bit of healthy pressure on me too," Engram told DNVR Sports' Bennie Fowler on April 10. "That's something I'm going to fully embrace."

Did their elite defense get even better? 

The Broncos ranked third in the league in points allowed (18.3) last season, but they still focused on bolstering the unit in free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. 

In March, the Broncos signed linebacker Dre Greenlaw (three years, $31.5M) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (three years, $39M), who helped the San Francisco 49ers make Super Bowl LVIII during the 2023 season. 

With pick No. 20, Denver selected Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron, the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the best DB in college football. He and Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II — 2024 Defensive Player of the Year — could form a formidable duo.

Investing in the defense instead of the offense — which ranked 19th in the league in yards per game (324.6) in 2024 — seems counterintuitive. In a predraft news conference, however, Payton explained how it could put the Broncos in a position to win their first playoff game since Super Bowl 50.

"When you help your defense, you help your quarterback as well," Payton said. "Let's not bypass the crystal for a blender if we need a blender."