Denver Broncos Offseason Grade: Bo Nix’s Breakout, Defensive Upgrades Fuel Mile High Hopes
Surrounding Bo Nix to Close The Gap in the AFC
To put it bluntly, the Denver Broncos understood the assignment.
After selecting quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12 overall pick last spring, then proceeding to watch him steadily improve throughout his rookie season under the watchful eye of Sean Payton while leading the Broncos to an insurgent run to the NFL Playoffs, Denver didn’t waste any time building around him this offseason.
Already boasting one of the premier defenses in the sport, led by reigning Defensive Player of The Year, cornerback Patrick Surtain, the Broncos continued to fortify that side of the ball to alleviate some of the pressure on their young passer while also investing premium resources in weapons they hope elevates him and the offense to the next level.
Payton’s Broncos are hitched to Nix, who, if he continues down the strong trajectory of his 2024 campaign, could have Denver primed to stampede into the Super Bowl conversation in the AFC.
What I liked about the Denver Broncos’ Offseason
There’s a legitimate possibility that the Broncos’ Evan Engram signing winds up among the most impactful across the league from this offseason.
For a young quarterback, few positions matter more to their development than a reliable pass-catching tight end. Matt Ryan had Tony Gonzalez, Carson Wentz and Jayden Daniels’ security blanket was Zach Ertz, Mark Andrews has been a favorite target of Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce has grown into one of the elite batteries across the NFL.
While there is some injury risk that comes with signing Engram, he only dropped one pass during his last fully-healthy season and there’s a reason Trevor Lawrence and last season’s merry band of medicore Jaguars quarterbacks posted identical 95.3 passer ratings when targeting him. Engram should feast in the space underneath created by Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims.
Similarly, running back R.J. Harvey is an explosive dynamo who immediately vaults to the top of the depth chart on the heels of averaging 6.8 yards per play last season at UCF while posting 32 explosive runs of 15 yards or more.
Those two moves could set Nix up to make a meteoric rise.
Meanwhile, there might not be a rookie set up to succeed immediately than Denver’s first-round pick Jahdae Barron, who gets to line up opposite the black hole known as Surtain after spending last season holding opposing quarterbacks to a 34.2 passer rating when throwing to his side of the field. You read that correctly.
Where are quarterbacks throwing on this defense? How much easier is life for a quarterback with some suped-up weapons and a defense capable of being among the stingiest? We’re about to find out.
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What Worries Me About the Denver Broncos’ Offseason, 2025 Outlook
The moves made this offseason were very clearly with the mindset of slowing the fireworks factory in Missouri, and the artillery based in Western New York.
Denver clearly got better in the offensive weapons department, in the secondary, and dropping Dre Greenlaw next to Alex Singleton loads up on big-game experience and big-play ability.
However, as much as cornerbacks have become a premium position and the onus so often is on the secondary, it’s fair to wonder if the Broncos have done enough along the defensive line and in bolstering the pass rush, specifically, to slow Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, C.J. Stroud, and on, and on, who they’ll need to get through if the Lombardi Trophy is to return to Mile High.
There’s a lot of pressure on third-round pick Sa’vion Jones to deliver pressures—and sacks, immediately.
In a world where the Philadelphia Eagles and, this offseason, the Buffalo Bills, have quadrupled down on winning along the line of scrimmage, specifically up front on defense, the Broncos are running counter to the narrative and adding playmakers on the perimeter. Time will tell if it’s a winning gamble or is considered cutting against the grain for a reason.
Denver Broncos Offseason Grade: A
This offseason clearly had two objectives for general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton: ease the pressure on Nix to put the entire weight of the franchise and its outlook on his shoulders, and add veteran experience with upside on defense.
While we won’t know for sure how things play out until September, or more honestly, January. There’s not much more that the Broncos could have done.
Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga have transformational upside on an already loaded defense. Keeping D.J. Jones provides continuity up front. Offensively, Pat Bryant almost gets lost in the shuffle, but he averaged 18.2 yards per reception and caught 10 touchdowns last season as the focal point of the University of Illinois’ vertical passing game. Bryant should fit in nicely with the collection of weapons around Nix.
Denver did all it could to close the gap on the AFC heavyweights, now it’s up to Nix to do his part and the defense to live up to the expectations that come with the kind of reinforcements the Broncos have added in recent months to do their part in proving this is a team that can win and win big.
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