With the 2024 Denver Broncos season in the books, let’s take a look at the needs they need to address this off-season.
With the 2024 Denver Broncos season in the books after their wildcard round loss to the Buffalo Bills, it is already time to start looking forward to next season. The Broncos overachieved this past year, found their quarterback, and saw several players step up and improve their play and help the Broncos make the playoffs. However, the team still has multiple holes on the roster that they will need to address this offseason. They will look to address these needs during free agency, via trades, and during the draft.
The Broncos will have a significant amount of cap space at their disposal this offseason after shedding a good chunk of Russell Wilson’s dead cap hit. They will also have a full cupboard of draft picks to use for the first time since they traded for Russell Wilson back in 2022. They will use this cap space and draft picks to improve this roster with the hopes of having an even better 2025 season.
With all that said, let us take a look at the top 5 Denver Broncos needs as they head into the offseason.
1. Running Back
The Broncos running game really struggled this season and we saw that continue into the postseason. Javonte Williams led the team with 513 yards rushing on the ground and only averaged 3.7 yards per carry. He is a pending free agent and is unlikely to be back with the team. Jaleel McLaughlin flashed at times this season but at 5’7”, 187 pounds, he is likely best utilized as a change-of-pace guy. Then you have 2025 fifth-round pick Audric Estime who did not live up to expectations this season and was inactive for the Broncos wildcard game which makes his future with the team a little more murky. Tyler Badie and Blake Watson are just depth pieces and will be fighting for a roster spot once again this offseason.
Overall, the Broncos run game and running backs were simply not good enough this season and will need to be improved on this offseason. We saw the importance of a strong running game this season as your top teams in the league all have strong run games they can lean on. The Lions have Montgomery and Gibbs, the Eagles have Barkley, the Ravens have Lamar Jackson and Henry, and the Bills have Josh Allen and James Cook. The Broncos have a rushing threat in quarterback Bo Nix but lack any threat at running back and that NEEDS to change this offseason.
This angle of Ashton Jeanty’s TD run is @BroncoSportsFB pic.twitter.com/cKhBpuhVB1
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 7, 2024
The top name on most of Broncos Country’s wishlist will be Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. He rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Boise State Broncos and figures to be the top back off the board in the draft. If he’s available for the Broncos, he will be an immediate and huge upgrade for them. This draft is loaded with backs so it’s far from Jeanty or bust and they could look to address this need in the later rounds. Some other running backs the Broncos may consider are Omarion Hampton, Kaleb Johnson, TreVeyon Henderson, Cam Skattebo, Devin Neal, and others.
Unfortunately, the running back free agent class is nowhere near as talented or loaded as last season, but there are still some names who could interest the Broncos. You have 31-year-old Aaron Jones at the top of the list followed by Najee Harris, Rico Dowdle, and J.K. Dobbins.
Either way, the Broncos need some new life, more talent, and playmakers in their running back room. You need to help your young quarterback and I think they will this offseason by upgrading their running game.
2. Playmakers
I touched on running back already, but the Broncos offense as a whole is lacking playmakers. Despite their success this season, their wide receiver and tight end rooms both rank near the bottom in the NFL. There just isn’t much there and the Broncos need to build this passing attack around quarterback, Bo Nix.
Courtland Sutton had another solid year for the Broncos, but what is his future with the team? Last season, Sutton skipped some of the offseason workouts/practices in hopes of getting a contract extension from the Broncos. That did not happen, but he did get a pay raise for this season. Now, with Sutton turning 30 years old and in the final year of his contract, could we see him involved in more trade rumors this offseason?
Then, you have second-year wide receiver Marvin Mims having a breakout second half of the season for the Broncos. Sure, he is an All-Pro and Pro Bowl return man, but his play at receiver carried the Broncos offense during the postseason run. With that said, his route tree remained limited as he did most of his damage on deep balls and passes behind the line of scrimmage, but he proved he can be a versatile weapon for them on offense.
3 touchdowns
131 receiving yardsTee Higgins WENT OFF pic.twitter.com/GxieYIxjrx
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 29, 2024
After that, you have Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin entering their second year with the team. Both had their moments during their rookie season with the Broncos and will be part of this receiving room, but how big of a role will they have? I don’t think either should be penciled in as a starter next season without seeing a second-year jump from one or both of them. Hopefully, we see that growth this offseason but them being on the roster should not stop you from significantly improving your wide receiving room.
The big free agent name to keep an eye on is Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. If he hits the market, he will be one of the top free agents available and one that should interest the Broncos. He has proven to be one of the better wide receivers in the league and showcased his talent vs. the Broncos when he had a 100+ yard game and found the end zone three different times, including the game-winner. He would cost A LOT of money, but he is by far the top free-agent receiver available. We’ll see if any top receivers become available via trade, but I don’t think the Broncos should give up premium draft picks for a receiver right now.
Names like Luther Burden, Emeka Egbuka, Isaiah Bond, and others are prospects to keep an eye on in the draft. The Broncos already have a young receiver room so we’ll see if they decide to go that route again early in the draft.
As for tight ends, the Broncos need something to improve this room. Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins are fine in-line blockers, but neither are receiving threats. Former third-round pick Greg Dulcich but he was waived by the team during the season. Lucas Krull had some offseason hype as well, but the big tight end never lived up to those expectations.
TYLER WARREN’S SECOND TD OF THE DAY
He extends the lead for the Nittany Lions pic.twitter.com/kulMW52CNb
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2025
When looking at the draft, Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland are your top prospects in a good tight-end class. I expect the Broncos to draft at least one tight end during April’s draft. As for free agents, Saints tight end Juwan Johnson could be a target considering his connection with Payton while Bengals’ Mike Gesicki would give the team a receiving threat at the position. It seems like Payton values blocking, so I don’t know if he’ll have any interest in Gesicki who basically just a big wide receiver.
Like running back, the Broncos NEED to invest in playmakers this offseason. I expect them to make a big splash in free agency and use one of their top draft picks to add to this offense and build around Bo Nix.
3. Linebacker
The Broncos had a top-ranked defense this past year but their linebackers were a weak link. It was already a weak room on paper but a season-ending ACL injury to leading tackler Alex Singleton was a blow to their defense. The 31-year-old veteran is now entering the final year of his deal and could be a pending cap cut this offseason.
With Singleton out for the year, the Broncos’ defense turned to Cody Barton and special teamer Justin Strnad. The two would go on to start the remainder of the year but have their struggles. Both would get picked on in the passing game, especially in the final month of the season and ended up being a liability in coverage. Both players are pending free agents which could leave the Broncos linebacker room looking rather thin.
OOF! Nick Bolton brings down the hammer
: #CINvsKC on CBS/Paramount
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/vjESfeAjFT— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
This isn’t a great draft for linebackers, but free agency does have a few linebackers who would instantly improve the defense. One name that stands out to me is Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. He would give the Broncos a leader in the middle of their defense, a talented run defender, and a linebacker with some coverage ability. Other players who the Broncos may consider free agency include Zack Baun, Tyrel Dodson, Dre Greenlaw, Lavonte David, and others.
The Broncos linebackers have been a weakness for a few years now and hopefully, the team will finally address this need this upcoming offseason.
4. Safety
Like the linebacker position, the Broncos’ safety position also became a weak link in their top-ranked defense. The team overhauled their safety room this past offseason when they signed Brandon Jones to a multi-year deal and re-signing P.J. Locke to a two-year deal. Jones would go on to have a good year for the Broncos but the same cannot be said for Locke. He was picked on throughout the year and had arguably his worst game of the season for the Broncos during their wildcard loss to the Bills. I believe the team should look to replace Locke this offseason, or at the very least, add some competition for him via free agency or the draft.
The Broncos can free up $4.1 million dollars in cap space if they release Locke this offseason while only eating $1 million in dead cap. I think he is a fine depth player but ended up being a bit of a liability in the secondary this season.
Georgia’s Malaki Starks, South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori, and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts are prospects who could improve the Broncos safety room. As for free agents, Chiefs safety Justin Reid and Dolphins safety Jevon Holland highlight the top safeties available this offseason.
5. Depth/Competition
After the Broncos traded away multiple premium draft picks for Russell Wilson and Sean Payton and ate Wilson’s historic dead cap hit, the team has been lacking depth up and down the roster. Now, with plenty of cap space and a cupboard full of picks, the Broncos could look to fill these holes and add depth and competition to some needed areas of their roster.
Would love for the #Broncos to target soon-to-be FA C Drew Dalman pic.twitter.com/rMEsSoDHCE
— Ross (@Ross_MHR) January 12, 2025
I already touched on running back, tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, and safety, but the entire roster could use depth. One area of the team that could be addressed is the center position. Sean Payton stresses the importance of the offensive line and you can argue that Wattenberg is the weak link of the five starters. I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought in some competition for him this offseason. Swing tackle is another area the Broncos should address. They haven’t drafted a tackle since Garett Bolles and could use a developmental guy who serves as their swing tackle and could potentially replace Bolles down the road.
Another area that could see added depth and competition is the Broncos defensive line. Veteran nose tackle D.J. Jones is a pending free agent and the Broncos lack depth behind starters Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers. Adding some youth and potentially a starting nose tackle could be areas the Broncos decide to address this offseason.
The cornerback and edge rooms are fine, but you can never have enough talented corners or edge rushers so I wouldn’t rule out any additions there.