The Broncos are walking into training camp with something most teams would love to have: a roster packed with difference-makers at premium spots. Denver doesn’t just have talent. It has talent that shows up in all the right places - on the edge, in the secondary, along the offensive line, and under center.
That’s what makes this group so intriguing heading toward the 2026 NFL season. With a front office that has built through the draft, free agency, and trades, the Broncos have assembled one of the league’s strongest collections of players. Here’s a look at the 10 best on the roster as camp gets underway.
Patrick Surtain II lands at No. 1, and it’s easy to see why. He’s now a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, with a streak of four straight Pro Bowl selections.
Over his career, he has 12 interceptions and 59 passes defended. Pro Football Reference says Surtain was targeted just 61 times in 2025, the lowest total of his career.
He missed three games, but quarterbacks still didn’t challenge him much, which says plenty about the kind of player he is.
Just behind him is Quinn Meinerz, who has become one of the sport’s elite guards. He’s a first-team All-Pro in back-to-back seasons and added a Pro Bowl nod in 2025.
Meinerz hasn’t missed a start over the past three seasons, and his value as a run blocker jumps off the screen. PFF gave him a 90.9 overall grade, the best among guards, and his 92.1 run-blocking grade also led the position.
Zach Allen checks in at No. 3 after a monster 2025 season that brought him Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. He led the NFL with 47 quarterback hits and has now led the league in that category over the past two seasons. Allen also became just the second player in NFL history to post multiple seasons with at least 40 quarterback hits, joining his former teammate JJ Watt.
Garett Bolles comes in at No. 4 after the best season of his career in 2025, when he earned first-team All-Pro recognition. He has developed into one of the league’s best pass protectors at any position and has only gotten better with age. Durability has been a big part of that rise, too, since he hasn’t missed a start over the past three seasons after a shortened 2022.
Nik Bonitto rounds out the top five. He’s one of the fastest and most productive edge rushers in football, with 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
Bonitto is now a two-time Pro Bowler and a one-time second-team All-Pro, and he has also piled up 52 quarterback hits over the last two seasons. He’s done at least 20 quarterback hits in three straight years.
Bo Nix lands at No. 6 after an excellent start to his career. He’s 24-10 as a regular-season starter, and while quarterback wins aren’t the whole story, the best ones usually find ways to stack them.
Nix’s clutch gene showed up in 2025, and he’s also got better athleticism than many people give him credit for. He can operate a high-volume passing offense, and he passes the eye test as one of the Broncos’ top players.
Jaylen Waddle is next at No. 7, bringing a speed element Denver has not had before. One of the fastest players in the league and at wide receiver, Waddle should give the Broncos the explosive presence they’ve been missing. He’s been a 1,000-yard receiver three times in five seasons, and his ability to separate and win against defensive backs should change the way the offense looks.
Talanoa Hufanga comes in at No. 8 after earning second-team All-Pro honors this past season. He finished with a career-high 106 tackles and 11 passes defended, and while he did drop several interceptions, his impact was still strong enough to earn recognition. He also played every game, which was a major plus for the secondary.
J.K. Dobbins is No. 9, and the production is easy to see when he’s healthy.
If he had played a full 17 games for the Broncos in 2025, he would have rushed for more than 1,300 yards. Injuries have been the major obstacle in his career, and that has made his overall reputation look smaller than the player he actually is.
Ja’Quan McMillian closes the list at No. 10, even though he may not be a full-time starter. He’s been involved in plenty of big plays during his time with the team and has a real feel for the football and for timely moments. In 2025, he improved in coverage and also showed a pass-rushing edge, finishing with four sacks and four quarterback hits.
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Broncos Fans Are Suddenly Watching Caleb Lohner Much More Closely
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Lohner also enters training camp with a little catching up to do after missing part of the offseason while recovering from a procedure, but he is expected to be back in the mix when the competition heats up. The Broncos have some stability at tight end already, which makes the battle for the remaining spots a tricky one, but it also gives a player like Lohner a clear path if the progress Payton has seen carries over once the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]
