The Denver Broncos’ offseason didn’t come with much noise, and that may be exactly why ESPN’s Seth Walder settled on a B grade for the team’s work.
Coming off a 14-3 season that nearly ended with a trip to the Superbowl, Denver stayed fairly quiet while making a handful of decisions Walder evaluated one by one. His most notable criticism landed on the Broncos’ choice to re-sign RB J.K. Dobbins.
Walder also explained his view on the Waddle trade by saying, “It's a move I can understand more than most trades of this caliber, given the Broncos' limited window with Nix's rookie contract.”
He added that the Broncos’ receiver room needed help, though that point may not be fully settled until the new group takes the field. Denver has spent plenty of time talking up its younger receivers, and that side of the story got some fuel from the players themselves.
Marvin Mims Jr. was first to speak out, pushing for an extension he almost certainly knows he’s not getting, while Troy Franklin also acknowledged that opportunities will be fewer now that Waddle is in the mix. New offensive coordinator Davis Webb will have to manage that situation carefully.
Walder also noted that “Waddle is currently on a below-market deal in terms of the cash the Broncos need to pay him,” which is a detail that hasn’t gotten much attention.
There were also moves Walder viewed more favorably. He saw plenty to like in the Broncos’ decisions to re-sign Singleton and Strnad, especially since the team clearly values both players. He also pointed out that moving on from John Franklin-Myers made sense once the Tennessee Titans were willing to pay him an AAV of $21 million.
The Dobbins deal, though, drew the biggest objection. Walder called the two-year, $16 million contract with $8 million in guarantees an overpay because of the running back’s injury history.
That argument is hard to dismiss. Still, given how little excitement and value the free-agent running back market offered, Denver’s choice to stay with Dobbins makes more sense in that light.
For a team that didn’t do much in the way of splashy spending, the Broncos are still hard to pin down. Until Bo Nix gets on the field, there’s still plenty of uncertainty hanging over the evaluation.
In Other News...
Broncos Still Have One Roster Question They Cant Ignore Before Camp
The Broncos have spent much of the offseason building out a deeper, more versatile roster, but there is still a familiar summer task in front of them as camp approaches. Even with upgrades already in place, the defense could use more insurance at linebacker, safety and edge rusher, especially after a few roster changes have nudged those spots into the spotlight.
That is why the free-agent market still makes sense as a place to look, with veteran names like Bobby Okereke, Jabrill Peppers and Jadaveon Clowney standing out as possible fits. Each would bring a different kind of help, whether it is steadiness in the middle, experience on the back end or another proven body up front, and the Broncos may not want to let those options disappear before the first practice snaps arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos May Have Landed More Than Backfield Insurance In Jonah Coleman
Jonah Coleman may have arrived in Denver as a fourth-round pick, but there is already a case building that he is more than just extra depth behind the Broncos established backs. Some evaluators have treated him like a sleeper with starter upside, the kind of runner who could eventually handle more than a specialized role if his game translates the way they expect. For a team that has spent the offseason sorting out its backfield, that kind of projection gives the selection a little more weight than a simple insurance move.
Coleman enters a room that already includes RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins, so playing time will have to be earned, not assumed. Still, the Broncos have reason to think a committee setup can work in their favor, especially if Coleman can help lighten the load and keep everyone fresher over the long haul. If he settles in quickly, Denver may have found a back who can do more than wait in the wings. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Have One AFC West Edge That Could Change Everything
If the Broncos are going to make a serious push in the AFC West, it may start where games are often won and lost: up front. Denver has a case for owning the divisions best line play on both sides of the ball, and that kind of edge can travel in January if the rest of the roster keeps pace.
The 2025 numbers back up the argument. The Broncos were stout against the run, disruptive in the pass rush and steady in pass protection, a combination that gives them a foundation few rivals can match. Even with J.K. Dobbins part of the conversation before his injury, the larger picture is the same for Denver: if the trenches stay dominant, the path to the top of the division gets a lot clearer. [Read more 🡒]