The Broncos’ defense has been the backbone of this team for years, and 2026 looks like another season where that side of the ball carries plenty of the load. Denver has talent at every level, and when you start sorting out the stat leaders, three names rise to the top: Nik Bonitto in sacks, Ja’Quan McMillian in interceptions, and Alex Singleton in tackles.
Bonitto has already built a strong case as Denver’s premier edge threat. Over his first four seasons, he’s piled up 37 sacks, including 14 in 2025, and his game is built on the kind of speed that turns the edge into a problem for every quarterback on the schedule.
He’s taken a clear step forward each year as a pass rusher, and he’s been in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation the past two seasons. With another year under Vance Joseph, Bonitto looks poised to keep climbing, and a finish north of 18 sacks would put him right back in the mix for the Broncos’ sack lead.
McMillian is a different kind of playmaker, but he might be the most versatile defender on the roster. Coverage has been a challenge at times, yet he keeps showing up when the game is on the line.
In four years with Denver, he has six interceptions, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and seven sacks. That’s a long list of disruption for a nickel corner, and his most memorable moment remains that late-game interception against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs.
He should have a real shot to pace the Broncos in picks in 2026. Patrick Surtain II doesn’t see many throws his way, and Riley Moss has not brought much ball production even while being targeted heavily. McMillian also has the added incentive of playing for a new deal, and four interceptions this season would only strengthen his case for an extension in Denver.
Then there’s Singleton, who has been the steady force in the middle of the defense. He has led the Broncos in combined tackles in three of his four seasons with the team, and there’s every reason to expect that trend to continue. He’s totaled 506 tackles in four years with Denver, and his style is exactly what you want from a middle linebacker: physical, relentless, and always around the football.
That presence matters, especially for a defense that prides itself on setting the tone early. The Broncos rewarded Singleton with a new contract in March, and even with his age at 32 and some recent injury history, he still projects to finish with 160-plus tackles in 2026.
Denver’s defense has the continuity and leadership to stay among the league’s best while helping support a new-look offense. Bonitto, McMillian, and Singleton are the headliners, and all three should be major reasons the Broncos remain a top-5 unit next season.
In Other News...
Riley Moss Is Forcing A Broncos Decision They Cant Ignore
Riley Moss has gone from promising depth piece to one of the Broncos most important defensive answers since earning a starting job in 2024. His play on the outside has given Denver something it has long needed, a reliable No. 2 corner who can hold up against NFL receivers and create the kind of disruptive moments that change games.
That kind of production does not stay cheap for long, especially at a premium position, and Moss is already moving into the class of corners who can force a front office to think ahead. Denver has to weigh what it wants the secondary to look like beyond this season, with Moss not set to reach free agency until 2027 and the future shape of the room tied to how the younger pieces behind him develop. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Just Got Dragged Into A Wild NFL Scenario Again
CBS Sports writer Carter Bahns took a World Cup-style swing at the NFL calendar, dividing the league into groups and then running a full knockout bracket through the season. In that alternate setup, the Broncos came out of group play on top, handled a Round of 16 game, and kept themselves in the mix long enough to make the format feel a little too real for comfort.
Denvers path in the simulation included a tight knockout win over the 49ers before the run ended in the quarterfinals, which is exactly the sort of what-if that can make a fan think twice about how much a single matchup can change in a tournament setting. Bahns exercise ultimately had the Rams lifting the trophy, but the Broncos place in the bracket was enough to make the whole idea feel like more than a gimmick. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Waddle Just Sent A Strong Message About Denver's Receivers
Jaylen Waddles arrival in Denver has already started to change the conversation around the Broncos passing game. During offseason practices, the former Dolphins receiver has been upbeat about what he has seen from the wideout room, and that matters for a team trying to build more than just a deeper rotation. A receiver of Waddles caliber does not just add speed and separation, he also raises the standard for everyone lining up around him.
Courtland Sutton is part of the appeal, too, because the Broncos now have the kind of top-end talent that can make a defense pick its poison. Waddle has clearly noticed the chemistry in the room, and the early signs suggest Denvers offense may be getting a much cleaner fit than most outside observers expected. The real question now is how quickly that connection turns from offseason optimism into something the Broncos can lean on when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]