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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/Sparkee58 on 2025-03-10 14:30:58+00:00.

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Team : Denver Broncos

Division : AFC West

Record : 10-7, 3rd in division

Play offs : Lost Wild Card round

Teams Stats :

Offense:

Points for : 425 (10th) EPA/play : 0.011 (16th) EPA/pass : 0.061 EPA/rush : -0.075

Defense : Points against : 311 (3rd) EPA/play : -0.100 (1st) EPA/pass : -0.061 EPA/run : -0.176

Free Agency Additions :

Name Postion Contract
Brandon Jones S $20M, $11M guaranteed
Malcolm Roach DT 2 years, $7M, $3M guaranteed
Cody Barton ILB 1 year, $2.5M, $2.3M guaranteed
Josh Reynolds WR 2 years, $9M, $4.2M guaranteed
John Franklin-Myers* DL 2 years, $15M, $10M guaranteed

*Acquired from the New York Jets for a 2026 6th round draft pick

2024 Draft Class :

Round (Pick) Postion Name School
1 (12) QB Bo Nix Oregon
3 (76) Edge Jonah Elliss Utah
4 (102) WR Troy Franklin Oregon
5 (145) CB Kris Abrais-Draine Missouri
5 (147) RB Audric Estime Notre Dame
7 (235) WR DeVaughn Vele Utah
7 (256) iOL Nick Gargiulo South Carolina

Individual Accolades :

All-Pro 1st Team

Patrick Surtain II, CB (DPOY)

Marvin Mims Jr, PR

Quinn Meinerz, RG

All-Pro 2nd Team

Zach Allen, DL

Nik Bonitto, Edge

Off-Season Recap :

After an off-season with a bit of turmoil, to say the least, much wasn’t expected of the Broncos heading into the 2024 season. Heading into the season, they were tied with 3 other teams for the 4th worst SB odds, and they were tied with the Carolina Panthers with a 2nd worst W/L OU of 5.5 wins. Though most viewed moving on from Russell Wilson as a necessity, Sean Payton faced some criticism for his handling of the situation, and their selection of Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick, after 5 other quarterbacks were taken, was met with a mixed reception. Though the Broncos defense finished fairly well in 2023 after an abysmal 70 point showing vs. the Miami Dolphins, they moved on from long time stand out safety, Justin Simmons, who helped cover for some talent deficiencies they had at the cornerback position - outside of Patrick Surtain II, of course.

After cutting Russell Wilson led to a NFL record $85M - including $48M in 2024 - the Broncos had to be smart in free agency and make signings at key positions of need, with 2nd tier FAs. Their most notable of which was S Brandon Jones, signed from the Miami Dolphins, who had a break out year for the Broncos with 3 INTs and a FF, and finishing with PFFs 5th highest grade by a safety. The Denver Saints also once again borrowed from their New Orleans pipeline, signing Malcolm Roach to a relatively cheap two year deal to address their inadequate depth on the DL - helping to address possibly their biggest weakness on defense in 2023 - run defense.

Cody Barton was signed from the Seattle Seahawks on a veteran one year deal to help replace the loss of long time starting ILB Josey Jewell - who was signed away by the Carolina Panthers after earning himself a contract the Broncos couldn’t match at the current time. After Jewell’s running mate, Alex Singleton, tore his ACL early on in the 2024 season, Barton wore the green dot for the remainder of the season, playing over 1000 snaps. Finally, while the 2024 draft was under way, the Broncos traded for the perpetually underrated Jonathan Franklin-Myers for a 2026 late rounder from the Jets. JFM was a key member of a ferocious Denver pass rush that led the league with 63 sacks (a franchise record), recording 7 sacks of his own while being named the Broncos secret superstar of 2024 by PFF.

Entering the draft, everyone knew the Broncos would be looking for a quarterback with their 1st round pick - though whether they’d trade up to secure JJ McCarthy, or stay put and take Bo Nix was up for much debate. The Broncos, who were perhaps hire on Bo Nix’s ability than most, went with the latter option, in a move some called a reach at 12 overall. There would be no 2nd round pick, as it was sent to the New Orleans Saints as a part of the Sean Payton deal. The Broncos favored value over need when they took edge Jonah Elliss, who was coming off a great pre-draft process, posting a 8.59 RAS including a record breaking 3-cone drill, and keeping a Broncos tradition of going after undersized, twitchy edge rushers alive.

The Broncos began day 3 by taking WR Troy Franklin, one of Bo Nix’s favorite targets, at Oregon with their 4th round pick. Franklin, who had just turned 21 when drafted, was Oregon’s field stretcher with fantastic speed, though his size - just 176 pounds - pushed him down draft boards. With their 5th round pick, they took CB Kris Abraims-Draine out of Missouri to add much needed competition to the CB room. Just two picks later they took stand out Notre Dame RB Audric Estime, a 227 pound power back who excelled running between the tackles at ND. DeVaughn Vele out of Utah was an interesting pick in the 6th round - he tested phenomenally at the combine, with a 9.53 RAS though he served on a LDS mission out of High School, and was 26 entering his rookie season. At 6’4” and 203 pounds, he drew comparisons to at the time teammate and also former Utah Ute, WR Tim Patrick. Finally, they took iOL Nick Gargiulo from South Carolina, who did not make the final 53 man roster and is currently on a reserve/future contract.

Season Review :

Those skeptical of the Sean Payton/Bo Nix duo certainly weren’t silenced after the Broncos offense got off to a rocky start in the first month of the season. The Broncos and Payton quickly asked a lot of Nix early on - attempting 37 passes per game in the first 3 games, trying to make up for a run game that was clearly struggling. Though they lost their first two games to the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Broncos defense was able to keep the games competitive, including a week one performance where they forced two safeties and multiple turnovers. The Broncos lost another one possession game the following week at home vs. the Steelers, where Nix threw in an end zone INT that could have tied up the game. Listen to the in-depth break down of the play here.

After two losses and facing a strong looking Tampa Bay Buccaneers team on the road in week 3, many were ready to throw in the towel, looking like yet it’d be yet another disappointing post-Superbowl 50 Broncos teams. However, all hope was not lost, as the Broncos were able to travel to Tampa Bay and deliver a shocking 26-7 beatdown of the heavily favored Bucs, scoring on an impressive opening drive and eventually going up 17-0 early in the 2nd quarter. Next week was an ugly dog fight at the New York Jets, where both teams struggled to move the ball in heavy winds and downpour. The Broncos defense once again proved key, as they were able to stifle Aaron Rodgers just enough for Bo Nix’s 1 TD (his 1st of the season), 60 yard performance to win Denver the game and improve to 2-2.

The Broncos got off to an ugly start vs. rival team Las Vegas Raiders at home the following week, as the Raiders scored an opening drive TD and looked to go up 17-3 in the 2nd quarter. Eventual DPOY winner, Patrick Surtain, was able to pick off Garner Minshew at the goaline and return it 100 yards to the house, kicking off the beginning of 31 unanswered points, as the Broncos were dominated the Raiders in the 2nd half, winning 34-18. Now sitting at 3-2 and looking like a wild card contender, the Broncos had another AFCW match up vs the LA Chargers at home the following week, who were also off to a strong start. PS2 suffered a concussion breaking up the Chargers’ first attempted pass of the game, and the Chargers were in control the rest of the day, though not without Nix making some impressive plays to bring the game two one possession - though ultimately falling short, 23-16.

Coach Sean Payton returned home the following week, and the Broncos were able to take advantage of a depleted New Orleans Saints roster, giving them a 33-10 drubbing on Thursday Night Football. Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler made his 2nd start, and the results were not pretty as the blitz happy Vance Joseph welcomed him to the NFL. Payton was happy to see another familiar NFC South face the following week in the Carolina Panthers - in a game that I consider to be Bo Nix’s real “arrival” game. Though he had made some impressive plays early on in the season - including on the run - this was the 1st game where Nix’s jittery pocket mechanics seemed to relax, and he spent the day dissecting the Panthers defense, throwing for 284 yards and 3 TDs with 0 INTs.

Now sitting at 5-3, the Broncos had a tough challenge on the road vs. the red hot Lamar Jackson led Baltimore Ravens. Ultimately, Denver’s 89M dead money handicap proved fatal here, as they lost 41-10, in a game that was only competitive for roughly 25 minutes. HOWEVER, Bo Nix was able to make probably the most impressive catch on a QB trick play we’ve ever seen, so that’s pretty cool! The Broncos entered next week at their rivals’, the Kansas City Chiefs, home, facing the defending SB and much disliked ri…

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