With Broncos veterans due to report to training camp on July 28, Denver’s offseason is basically in the books, and the biggest takeaway is hard to miss: this team is built to win in the trenches.
The Broncos didn’t spend the offseason chasing a bunch of outside help. At one point, they were the only team that had not signed an external free agent, and even after that, the additions stayed limited.
Instead, Denver put its energy into keeping the core from a 2025 group that, by this account, was good enough to reach the Super Bowl. Had quarterback Bo Nix not gotten hurt, the Broncos would have made the big game.
That same backbone is back for 2026, and it starts up front on both sides of the ball.
Denver’s pass rush has been relentless. According to statmuse, the Broncos have led the NFL in total sacks over the last three seasons with 173, while the Baltimore Ravens are next at 144. That gap - nearly 30 sacks - says plenty about how dangerous Denver has been when it comes to collapsing pockets and finishing plays.
The defense doesn’t stop there. The Broncos have also been excellent against the run.
In 2024, they ranked third in rushing yards allowed per game and second in yards per carry allowed. In 2025, they moved up to second in both categories.
That kind of consistency is what gives a defense real staying power.
And in today’s NFL, that matters because everything runs through the quarterback. The formula is simple: protect your own guy, and make life miserable for the other one. Denver checks both boxes.
The Broncos do have the quarterback piece in place with third-year Nix, and the offensive line has been a major reason why he’s been able to operate cleanly. ESPN’s data had Denver first in pass block win rate and run block win rate in 2024.
In 2025, the Broncos were eighth in pass block win rate and fourth in run block win rate. That front has also kept Nix out of trouble - in 34 regular season games, he has been sacked just 46 times.
For comparison, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been sacked 81 times in 30 regular season games.
None of this looks accidental, either. When Sean Payton arrived in 2023, some of the first moves were to bring in guard Ben Powers, tackle Mike McGlinchey and defensive end Zach Allen. All three are still in Denver, and all three have been clear wins in free agency.
That’s the real story here. The Broncos have built their identity where games are actually decided. Sometimes other factors swing a result, sure, but long-term success in the NFL usually belongs to teams that can control the line of scrimmage.
Right now, Denver looks like it has the best collection of trench talent in the league. And as training camp opens, that strength could be the thing that carries the Broncos toward a Super Bowl run.
In Other News...
Broncos Could Have A Dream Defensive Upgrade Fall Into Place
A trade market for veteran defensive tackles can move fast, and Vita Vea has suddenly become one of the biggest names to watch after asking out of Tampa Bay following eight years with the Buccaneers and no movement on a contract extension. His preferred destinations are said to be a California team or the Raiders, but the ripple effect reaches beyond that list, especially for a Denver roster that has both cap flexibility and a clear need to keep adding force up front.
Denver has enough pieces to at least make the conversation interesting, which is why the Broncos keep coming up as a plausible fit if the Buccaneers decide to widen the search. The teams recent restructuring of Ben Powers contract only adds to the sense that bigger roster moves could still be coming, and any deal for a player of Veas caliber would likely require real creativity rather than a simple swap. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Finally Have The Kind Of Weapon Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Broncos spent the offseason looking for a pass-catching presence who could change the feel of their offense, and Jaylen Waddle gives them a very different kind of answer. After five seasons in Miami, he arrives in Denver with the speed, route polish and after-the-catch ability that can make a quarterbacks job easier, and his skill set looks tailor-made to help Bo Nix settle into the passing game with more confidence.
What makes this move especially interesting is how naturally Waddles strengths line up with what Denver wants to do through the air. Training camp will be the first real chance to see whether that fit shows up right away, with the Broncos watching closely to see if the timing, spacing and chemistry with Nix can turn a promising addition into the kind of weapon this offense has been missing. [Read more 🡒]