The Broncos didn’t chase headlines this offseason. They didn’t tear anything down, either. Instead, Denver spent the spring leaning into continuity, keeping the core together and making only the kind of moves that fit a team that believes it’s already close.
That approach earned the Broncos a B+ from Matt Okada of NFL.com, which placed them third among AFC West teams in his offseason grades. For Denver, the story was less about reinvention and more about preserving what worked after a strong playoff run that, as Okada put it, might have been a sudden Bo Nix ankle injury and a Denver blizzard away from the Super Bowl.
The biggest swing came in mid-March, when Denver traded for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. That move was aimed squarely at a problem that showed up on offense last season: the lack of explosiveness. Waddle gives the passing game a dimension it was missing, and Okada noted he could even fit into Sean Payton’s vacant “Joker” role.
Most of Denver’s work, though, was about retention. The Broncos focused heavily on re-signing important assets rather than bringing in a wave of new faces, and that included keeping players deep on the roster - even second- and third-string reserves who didn’t see the field last year. The one notable loss was Franklin- Myers on the defensive line, though Denver tried to patch that hole by taking Tyler Onyedim with the 66th overall pick.
Okada summed up the Broncos’ offseason this way: " The Broncos' offseason has been predicated heavily on re-signing important assets, rather than adding new ones. Losing Franklin- Myers on the defensive line definitely hurt, though Denver added a potential replacement with its first pick in the draft -- Tyler Onyedim at 66th overall. But otherwise, the roster has remained largely the same after a strong playoff run that might have been a sudden Bo Nix ankle injury and a Denver blizzard away from the Super Bowl.
The one big add was Waddle, acquired in a mid-March trade. He provides an element to the passing attack that was largely lacking last year, and could even thrive in Sean Payton's vacant “Joker” role. Ultimately, Denver lost very little and gained just enough to pick up where its breakthrough 2025 campaign abruptly left off", wrote Okada.
Denver’s grade was solid, but it wasn’t the best in the division. Both the Raiders and Chargers landed A’s from Okada, a reminder that the AFC West could be a tight race in 2026.
The Raiders may still be a distant fourth in the division picture, but adding Klint Kubiak to the sideline and taking Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick were viewed as major steps forward.
The Chargers also drew praise, with Mike McDaniel’s arrival as offensive coordinator standing out as a strong move. Kansas City, meanwhile, received a B-, the lowest grade in the division, though the expectation remains that Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes will respond after the results of the 2025 season.
In Other News...
Overlooked Broncos Receiver Is Suddenly Forcing A Real Camp Conversation
Pat Bryant spent the latter part of the 2025 season earning more work in Denvers offense, and the second-year receiver now looks like one of the more interesting names to watch when camp opens again. Injuries slowed him before the year was over, but Broncos coach Sean Payton has already pointed to Bryants development and growing confidence as he heads into his second season.
For a player who entered the league without much fanfare, that kind of momentum matters. Bryants rise has been enough to make him a legitimate candidate for a bigger role in 2026, and if that progress carries over into training camp, he could turn from a depth piece into a real part of the conversation on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Nearly Landed A Wild Coaching Twist Nobody Saw Coming
Bill Belichick spent the 2024 season on the outside looking in after his departure from New England, and the unusual possibilities around his next stop briefly reached all the way to Denver. An ESPN report said Sean Payton and the Broncos at least kicked around the idea of a one-year setup that would have put Belichick in position to keep chasing NFL history, a reminder of how far teams will go when a coaching legend is suddenly available.
The idea never got past the concept stage, in part because of how many moving pieces it would have required, and Belichick ultimately moved on to a year off before his planned 2025 arrival at North Carolina. He also reportedly checked in with the Jets about their opening, which only adds to the sense that the coaching carousel around him was never going to be simple. For Denver, it remains one of those fascinating what-ifs that says plenty about both Paytons creativity and Belichicks lingering pull. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Puts Broncos In Top 10 And The AFC West Debate Will Rage
The Broncos head into the 2026 campaign with almost the same roster that helped them build real momentum a year ago, and that continuity is a big reason national evaluators are paying attention. ESPNs Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder each saw enough to place Denver eighth in their consensus roster rankings, a nod that reflects how far the group has come as it tries to push from promising to legitimate contender.
What makes the conversation around Denver so interesting is where the roster is strongest and where it still feels unfinished. ESPN pointed to the offensive line as a clear asset, but tight end remains the spot that could keep the Broncos from looking complete, with Evan Engram coming off a season in which his role never fully matched the expectations around him. For a team trying to chase a Super Bowl run in a loaded division, that kind of imbalance is exactly the sort of detail that will keep the AFC West debate going. [Read more 🡒]