The Broncos are sitting on a decision that could shape the rest of their season, and a win in Week 7 would only sharpen the question.
Denver already made its move in the offseason, landing wide receiver Jaylen Waddle after standing pat at last year’s NFL Trade Deadline. So far, that addition has not produced the kind of return the Broncos wanted, but the offense as a whole has been uneven too. Outside of Garett Bolles and Quinn Meiners, Denver’s two All-Pro offensive linemen, the unit has not delivered much consistency.
Even so, the Broncos have pushed through a brutal opening stretch. A six-game run that many expected to be the toughest in football has left Denver at 4-2, and with the Arizona Cardinals coming to town in Week 7 after a major upset in Week 6, the Broncos have a real shot to move to 5-2.
On paper, Denver is the better team from top to bottom and should handle Arizona. If that happens, the conversation should turn toward whether the Broncos ought to get aggressive ahead of the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline.
There is a clear case against buying. If a team keeps winning, the thinking goes, why disrupt a good thing? The coaching staff and front office could decide the current roster is already doing enough most weeks.
But winning does not erase the roster issues. The Broncos dealt with problems last season too and still found a way to win 14 games, even with the run game taking a hit after J.K. Dobbins went down.
That is why a Week 7 win should not just be filed away as another notch in the standings. It should also push Denver to look hard at what still needs fixing and what it can realistically add. No one is suggesting the Broncos should beat the Cardinals and immediately go after Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson, but the team already showed this offseason that it is willing to make a major splash for the right player.
That matters because the Broncos would not have traded for Waddle if they did not believe they could win the Super Bowl this year. There is no reason to think that mindset has changed.
A single win over Arizona will not transform the deadline picture by itself, but it would move Denver one game closer to November 10th and further reinforce the idea that this team knows how to keep stacking victories. Last year’s 11-game win streak already showed that side of the Broncos.
The AFC may be wide open, but it is also crowded with plenty of strong, well-run teams. Denver belongs in that group, and it also has clear personnel questions. A trade for someone like Taylor would represent close to the ideal outcome.
More players will be moved before November 10th, and if the Broncos beat the Cardinals in Week 7, the front office should be forced to think seriously about making an aggressive move. If this is not the time to go all in, then when is?
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Later in the game, defensive tackle Zach Allen also went down with a hamstring strain, adding to the uneasy finish. Allen was able to walk off on his own, and he said he would be fine, but Denver will still be watching closely as it sorts through the health of two players who matter to both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Just Raised The Stakes For Their Showdown With Kansas City
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Kansas Citys loss to Seattle only added to the intrigue, while Las Vegas and Los Angeles continue to search for steadier footing. With the standings tightening and the race at the top taking shape, Denvers next trip into the spotlight arrives with real division consequences hanging over it. [Read more 🡒]