ENGLEWOOD, Colo.-The Broncos walked into training camp with a new home that looks every bit the part of a modern NFL showcase. Sean Payton wanted a place where players would actually want to spend time, and the team’s $175 million practice facility seems to have checked every box, from the locker room and weight room to the training area, cafeteria, business offices, meeting rooms and coaches’ offices.
Inside that setting, the roster itself is starting to take shape in a way that should make Denver feel good about where it stands.
Bo Nix is coming back from the broken ankle he suffered in the AFC championship game after a 14-3 regular season, and those around camp believe he looks ready for another jump. His arm is being described as stronger, and that shows up in the off-platform throws he’s been making from awkward body positions.
That confidence has also helped Nix settle in as the Broncos’ leader. With Davis Webb now handling the play-calling after Payton turned over his playsheet because he believed it was best for the offense and the team, Denver has what amounts to a settled command structure heading into a difficult six-week stretch to open the season.
The passing game got another jolt with Jaylen Waddle, who has reportedly been everything Denver expected. The big difference-maker is the way he pairs top-end speed with the ability to stop and start in an instant, which gives Webb room to get creative.
Waddle has picked up the system quickly, and the Broncos believed that would happen after doing their homework on how much he loves football. Marvin Mims Jr. has also put together an excellent offseason alongside him, and the two of them should create plenty of explosive plays while helping Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant and Evan Engram find more space.
If there’s a spot that looks especially improved, it’s the backfield. J.K.
Dobbins’ health has always been a question, but he looks like himself. RJ Harvey is back as a real weapon in an Alvin Kamara-type way for Payton and Webb.
Rookie Jonah Coleman, who slipped to the fourth round because of a knee issue, has looked the part early. And Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie are going to make the final-cuts conversation on Aug. 30 a tough one.
The Broncos’ offensive line remains the foundation underneath it all, and Quinn Meinerz has settled into a bigger role as the tone-setter up front. That should give Denver a run game that can be both versatile and physical.
On defense, the depth at the premium spots has stood out. Behind Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and Jonah Elliss, linebacker Que Robinson looks bigger and stronger.
At corner, Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillan and Jahdae Barron give the Broncos a lot of flexibility both inside and outside. Barron, the former first-rounder, has made a move, but Moss may be the most improved player in the group, playing cleaner, showing a higher football IQ and using all the tools in coverage.
That gives the staff hope that his penalty issues are behind him.
The biggest lingering question seems to be how Denver fills in the middle of the defense after losing John Franklin-Myers, Dre Greenlaw and P.J. Locke.
That’s going to require young players to step up. Tyler Onyedim, a third-round pick, has shown encouraging signs in spring and early camp that he could help replace Franklin-Myers.
At linebacker, Vance Joseph has Red Murdock, Levelle Bailey and Jordan Turner competing behind Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton. At safety, JL Skinner and Devon Key will be watched closely behind Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga.
For now, though, the overall picture is pretty clear: this is a deep, balanced and well-coached Broncos roster with not a lot of obvious holes.
In Other News...
Broncos Camp Injury Is One Thing But Drew Sanders Looms Larger
Training camp is already thinned out in the Broncos secondary after undrafted rookie cornerback Blake Cotton went down with a hamstring injury and was waived with an injury settlement. Denver quickly filled the roster spot by signing veteran cornerback Sam Webb, a reminder of how fast the bottom of the depth chart can change once injuries start piling up.
The larger concern, though, sits elsewhere on the practice field. Linebacker Drew Sanders has been out of recent practices, and the team still has not offered an official update on his status, leaving one of the more interesting defensive pieces in limbo as camp moves along. For a Broncos defense trying to sort through roles and stay healthy, Sanders absence is the detail worth watching most closely. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos WR3 Battle Is Suddenly Bigger Than Fans Realize
Behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos No. 3 wide receiver spot has become one of the quieter but more important competitions on the roster. Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims Jr. are all in the mix, and the job is about more than just catching passes. It is shaping up as a role that could be decided by trust, usage and how each player fits into the offense on a week-to-week basis.
Bryant had been building real momentum before the season ended, helped by the way he handled the dirty work and earned more snaps as the year went on. The catch for Denver is that his availability is still part of the equation, and the Broncos have to weigh what he showed late against the health concerns that have followed him into this season. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have An Offensive Line Concern They Can't Ignore
The Broncos got their first real taste of camp contact and, with it, an early reminder of how fragile offensive-line plans can be. Starting center Luke Wattenberg left the first padded training camp practice early after getting hurt, a setback that immediately put attention on a spot Denver has little interest in having become unsettled. Since taking over as the Broncos starting center in 2024, Wattenberg has been a key part of the front, which makes any interruption there worth monitoring.
Head coach Sean Payton said Wattenberg will be evaluated and is expected to be fine, which offers some immediate relief. Still, the timing matters for a group trying to build cohesion in camp, especially when the center is the player tying the line together. Denver does not need an early scare at a position that matters so much to the offense, and it will be watching closely to see how Wattenberg responds once the team gets back on the field. [Read more 🡒]