The Broncos head into training camp with a starting offense that looks loaded on paper, even if the NFL has a way of making those projections feel fragile fast. Denver made real changes this offseason in the name of chasing something bigger, and the result is a unit with star power, youth, and a few obvious contract questions hanging over it.
At the center of it all is Bo Nix, who is entering his third year in Denver and becomes eligible for a contract extension after the 2026 season. He’s already viewed by many as a top-10 quarterback, and the next step is clear: unlock more as a passer. That’s the piece still keeping him from the elite tier.
The backfield brings a different kind of uncertainty. J.K.
Dobbins signed a two-year deal that can reach $20 million, but it can also end up looking like a one-year, $8 million agreement if he can’t stay on the field. Denver also drafted Jonah Coleman in 2026, so another injury-filled year would almost certainly push the Broncos toward moving on.
Out wide, the Broncos made their biggest swing of the offseason by trading a first- and third-round pick to Miami for Jaylen Waddle. That kind of investment makes the role obvious: Waddle is supposed to be a centerpiece. He’s already posted three 1,000-yard seasons in his five years with Denver, and there’s every reason to expect that number to climb again in 2026.
Courtland Sutton may be the player most affected by that move. He’s coming off 1,000-yard seasons in 2024 and 2025, but a shift toward a WR2 role could end that streak. Sutton is also turning 31, and with his cap hit set to balloon in 2027, the Broncos could be looking at the final year of his run with the team, especially with Pat Bryant now in the mix as another X receiver.
Troy Franklin is in a much different spot. After a quiet rookie year in 2024, his production took off in 2025, and now he enters his age-23 season with a chance to settle into a WR3 role. The volume may not be huge, but the matchups should be better, which could make him a more efficient target.
Tight end remains a pretty plain part of the picture. Adam Trautman got most of the starts there and is back on a three-year deal, which at least means he knows the offense and Sean Payton’s expectations. But he doesn’t bring much as a receiver and doesn’t really stand out as a blocker, either.
Up front, Garett Bolles keeps doing something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. He’s coming off a first-team All-Pro season, is entering his age-34 year, and hasn’t missed a game in the last three seasons. There’s no sign the Broncos are even thinking about replacing him anytime soon.
Ben Powers is a different story. He’s the only projected starting offensive lineman not under contract after 2026, and Denver has already prepared for that possibility by drafting Kage Casey in the fourth round and bringing back Alex Palczewski, who filled in well when Powers missed time with a biceps injury in 2025. For now, though, Powers is still the starter and likely entering his final year in Denver.
Luke Wattenberg is set to begin his third season as the starting center, which is a little surprising given how important he’s become. He’s an elite pass blocker and a smart player, though he has missed time in each of his starting seasons. Contractually, the Broncos can get out of his deal after 2027, so he should be in place for at least the next two years.
Quinn Meinerz is the easy one. Back-to-back All-Pro seasons have made him the best guard in the league, and if he keeps rolling in 2026, he’ll keep piling up honors. He looks like a fixture on this offensive line for the next decade.
Mike McGlinchey rounds out the group on the right side, where he has brought the stability Denver had been chasing for years. He still has two years left on the five-year deal he signed with the Broncos, and while he’s not perfect, he’s been a major reason this line has become the league’s best.
In Other News...
Broncos Super Bowl Push Could Hinge On One Risky New Addition
As training camp nears, the Broncos are carrying the kind of expectations that come with a team that thinks it can push into the Super Bowl conversation. Bo Nix is at the center of that pressure after Denver loaded him up with more offensive help, while J.K. Dobbins and Riley Moss are also entering seasons where their roles could say plenty about how high this roster can climb. If the quarterback takes the next step, the offense should look the part. If he doesnt, the questions about whether he is the long-term answer will only get louder.
Dobbins brings a different kind of uncertainty, since his availability has already been a concern and Denver has built in some protection with Jonah Coleman waiting as a possible fallback. Moss, meanwhile, is set to keep living on an island opposite Patrick Surtain II, which means every week can turn into a stress test. For a team trying to turn promise into a real January run, the margin for error is thin, and the Broncos know these are the kinds of players who can swing the season in either direction. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Backfield Overhaul Just Put One Familiar Role In Jeopardy
The Broncos spent last season trying to find a running game that could hold up week to week, and this offseason has brought a clear effort to reshape the backfield around a different identity. New running back Jonah Coleman called it a three-headed monster, a phrase that fits a group being asked to do more than just fill carries. Under new offensive coordinator Davis Webb, Denver is expected to lean into a more committed outside-zone approach, which would ask the backs to be more versatile and more decisive than the unit was a year ago.
That shift has put a familiar set of names under the microscope, especially Jaleel McLaughlin and Jaleel Badie, who are both trying to carve out space in a crowded room. McLaughlin has focused on getting stronger in the weight room so he can handle more between-the-tackles work, while Badie continues to offer value in pass protection, a trait coaches tend to trust when roster decisions get tight. With training camp approaching, the Broncos backfield looks less like a settled depth chart and more like a competition that could reshape how they want to run the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Camp Could Force One More All-In Move
As the Broncos move toward 2026 training camp, the roster has been reshaped in a few important spots, but one area still stands out as a potential problem: inside linebacker. Denver has been active elsewhere this offseason, yet it has not made a major investment there, leaving a clear question about whether the current group is enough for a team trying to keep climbing.
That is why the speculation around a possible all-in trade has picked up steam, especially with Miami in the conversation after the two teams already did business earlier this offseason in the Jaylen Waddle deal. If Denver decides it needs a bigger swing before camp, it would not be hard to see why it would look toward a proven linebacker solution rather than hope the position sorts itself out on its own. [Read more 🡒]