Denver Broncos 2024 Season Preview: Low Expectations, Potential for a Turnaround
ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Welcome to the season of the Russell Wilson Fallout.
Everything about the 2024 Denver Broncos revolves around the team’s unprecedented decision to pay $37.9 million in cash and $53 million in dead cap space for Wilson to depart.
The old addition by subtraction strategy.
The Broncos gave up two first-round draft picks, two second-rounders, and $123 million in salary to acquire Wilson, resulting in a disappointing 11-19 record over two years. This fallout has led to the lowest expectations for the Broncos in over 50 years, since John Ralston’s first season as head coach in 1972. Oddsmakers have set the Broncos’ over/under win total at 5.5, meaning a 6-11 season would be considered better than expected. This pessimism is compounded by the team’s seven consecutive losing seasons.
“Every year you never know what’s going to happen,’’ returning defensive lineman Zach Allen told 9NEWS last month. “The difference in talent across the NFL is so small. It’s all about culture. Last year, if you looked at the preseason stuff, it was all over the place. There’s always teams that no one expected to be good. All that stuff, you just can’t listen to it. You have to just control your own thing. The reason why sometimes teams with the worst record beat teams with the best record is the talent is pretty similar across the board.’’
This fallout has also led the Broncos to part ways with several longtime core players like Justin Simmons, Josey Jewell, Jerry Jeudy, and Lloyd Cushenberry. With 21% of the Broncos’ payroll tied to a quarterback they no longer have, the team made minimal impact in free agency, opting for fringe starters with potential, such as safety Brandon Jones, defensive linemen Malcolm Roach and John Franklin-Meyers, receiver Josh Reynolds, and inside linebacker Cody Barton.
Yet, this season, more than last — with Sean Payton in his second year as head coach and Wilson gone — the team is closer to Payton’s vision.
“I think the players that we signed, drafted, or signed in free agency — man, the new faces we felt really good about,’’ Payton said in mid-June. “You can root for them, but you don’t always know. Defensively, there are a handful of free agents that we signed that are going to contribute. They are going to be valuable pieces and good teammates.’’
The draft brought the next great quarterback hope in Bo Nix, a five-year college starter at Auburn and Oregon. Nix was the sixth quarterback taken in the NFL Draft and the 12th player selected overall. He will compete with returning Jarrett Stidham and newcomer Zach Wilson for the Broncos’ No. 1 QB job. The consensus was that Stidham was the better quarterback during the offseason practices, but Nix is expected to become the starter at some point during the regular season, possibly as early as week 1 against Seattle.
As the full squad reports Tuesday for training camp and the first practice on Friday at Broncos Park, here’s a quick look at the three phases of the 2024 Broncos:
Offense
Last season: Given Payton’s long run of offensive success with the New Orleans Saints, the Broncos’ offense was disappointing last season, ranking 26th in total yards (298.4 per game) and 19th in scoring (21.0 points per game). The scoring would have been worse if not for a record-setting, four-game run of 15 takeaways by the Denver defense.
Key newcomers: Bo Nix, QB; Audric Estime’, RB; Josh Reynolds, WR; Troy Franklin, WR; Zach Wilson, QB; Devaughn Vele, WR.
Key departures: Russell Wilson, QB; Jerry Jeudy, WR; Lloyd Cushenberry, C.
Top competitions: QB (Nix, Stidham, Wilson); RB (Javonte Williams, Estime’); C (Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Sam Mustipher).
Summary: The hope is that the offense will improve with a new quarterback, whether Nix or Stidham, who will execute Payton’s play calls correctly and on time. The Broncos should have one of the league’s best offensive lines with Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Mike McGlinchey, and Quinn Meinerz, which should boost the running game. The passing game should benefit from the return of Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, and Tim Patrick, along with newcomers Reynolds, Franklin, and Vele. Tight end Adam Trautman returns as the starter, with Lucas Krull and Greg Dulcich competing for the receiving TE spot.
Defense
Last season: A horrendous start left the Denver defense ranked 29th in yards allowed (370.8) and 27th in points allowed (24.3). However, during the Broncos’ midseason, five-game winning streak, the defense gathered 16 takeaways.
Key newcomers: Brandon Jones, S; John Franklin-Myers, DL; Malcolm Roach, DL; Jonah Elliss, OLB; Kris Abrams-Draine, CB; Levi Wallace, CB; Cody Barton, ILB.
Key departures: Justin Simmons, S; Josey Jewell, ILB; Mike Purcell, NT; Fabian Moreau, CB; Kareem Jackson, S; Jonathan Harris, DL.
Top competitions: CB (Riley Moss, Damarri Mathis, Wallace); ILB (Barton, Jonas Griffith); NT (Roach, D.J. Jones); No. 3 safety (Caden Sterns, JL Skinner, Omar Brown).
Summary: The defensive line, strengthened by the additions of Franklin-Myers and Roach, should improve the pass rush and run defense. Pat Surtain II remains a top cornerback, with Moss, Mathis, and Wallace competing for the other corner spot. The safety duo of Jones and Locke provides speed, though less experience than Simmons and Jackson. Finding an inside linebacker to pair with Alex Singleton will be a priority.
Special Teams
Last season: Thanks to Marvin Mims, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie returner, the Broncos ranked first in punt returns (16.3 yards per return) and eighth in kickoff returns (24.9 yards per return). Wil Lutz was 13th in field goals (30 of 34, 88.2 percent), and Riley Dixon was 14th in net punting (42.3). Overall, the Broncos had the seventh-best special teams unit last year.
Key newcomers: Vele, returner; Trenton Gill, punter; Andre Smith, LB.
Key departures: None, with linebacker Justin Strnad re-signed.
Top competitions: The punting job will be a major competition between Dixon and Gill. The returner spot next to Mims on kickoffs is also a priority.
Summary: The new kickoff rule could help the Broncos win a game or two, given they have an elite returner in Mims and one of the league’s best special teams coaching staffs in Mike Westhoff, Ben Kotwica, and Chris Banjo.
