The 2025 NFL season is officially in the books, and while the Super Bowl may have gone chalk, the Denver Broncos head into the offseason with one of the most intriguing “what if” narratives in the league. Now, with free agency just a few weeks away, it’s time for one final round of power rankings before the next wave of roster reshuffling begins - and Denver is getting plenty of respect.
Despite falling short of the Super Bowl, the Broncos are being viewed not as a team that missed its window, but one that’s just getting started. With Bo Nix expected to be fully healthy and a strong core returning, there’s a real sense that 2026 could be the year everything clicks in Denver.
Let’s break down how the major outlets are sizing up the Broncos as we head into the offseason - and what that tells us about where this team stands in the league’s hierarchy.
ESPN: 4th Overall - “Find Some Pop”
ESPN’s ranking comes with a clear message: Denver needs more offensive firepower.
When the Broncos look back on 2025, they’ll see a season where the defense carried the load, but the offense never quite found its rhythm. Even with Bo Nix under center for most of the year, Denver finished just 14th in scoring.
More telling? They ranked 29th in percentage of drives that ended in a three-and-out - a stat that underscores how often the offense failed to sustain momentum.
And while explosive plays weren’t completely absent, they were certainly lacking compared to the league’s elite. The Broncos finished 15th in plays of 20 yards or more, while the other three teams in the conference championship round ranked 1st, 2nd, and 4th.
That gap in big-play ability was glaring, especially when you consider that J.K. Dobbins - who didn’t play a snap after November 6 - still led the team in explosive runs.
The takeaway? Denver’s offense doesn’t need a full overhaul, but it does need some juice. Whether that comes from a new wide receiver, a more dynamic ground game, or a leap from Nix in year two, the Broncos will need to find more ways to stretch the field and finish drives in 2026.
Fox Sports: 1st Overall - “Bo Nix Changes Everything”
Fox Sports isn’t mincing words - they believe the Broncos were a Bo Nix ankle away from the Super Bowl.
It’s a bold stance, but not without merit. Denver had the NFL’s top seed, a defense that showed up every week, and a head coach in Sean Payton who knows how to win in January. The injury to Nix in the Divisional Round changed everything, and Fox is betting that with him healthy, this team is the one to beat next season.
The formula is there: elite coaching, a defense that punishes opponents, and a young quarterback who’s already proven he can execute within a complex system. Add in another weapon on the outside, and the Broncos could be downright scary.
PFSN: 3rd Overall - “Defense Wins (Almost) Everything”
From a pure performance standpoint, Denver’s defense was the best in the league in 2025, according to PFSN’s metrics. They posted a 90.1 Defense Impact Score - the highest in the NFL - and were the only unit to earn an “A” grade across the board.
That elite play came from all levels: Patrick Surtain locking down receivers, Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto bringing pressure up front, and Talanoa Hufanga and Jonathon Cooper making plays all over the field. This wasn’t a defense that relied on one or two stars - it was a complete unit that consistently dictated the terms of the game.
That level of defensive dominance gives Denver a high floor heading into 2026. But the ceiling? That depends on Bo Nix.
The young quarterback showed he can run Payton’s offense effectively, but there’s still a question of whether he can take that next step and become a true difference-maker. If he does - if he becomes the kind of quarterback who elevates the players around him - then Denver’s path to the Super Bowl becomes a lot clearer.
CBS Sports: 4th Overall - “Still Underrated?”
CBS has the Broncos fourth as well, and they’re questioning why Denver isn’t getting more love - especially within their own division.
Despite earning the No. 1 seed and playing consistently strong football throughout the year, the Broncos aren’t the betting favorites in the AFC West. That might be due to the uncertainty around Nix’s health or the assumption that division rivals will bounce back. But CBS sees a team that’s built to win again, with a balanced roster and a quarterback who should be ready for a normal offseason after his ankle injury.
In short: there’s no reason this team can’t run it back - and maybe even go further.
Where the Broncos Stand Now
Across the board, the Broncos are being viewed as a team on the rise - not a fluke, not a one-year wonder. There’s a shared understanding that Denver’s 2025 campaign was real, and that their Super Bowl hopes were derailed by an untimely injury, not a lack of talent.
The defense is championship-caliber. The coaching is top-tier.
The roster is largely intact. And Bo Nix, if fully healthy, gives this team a legitimate shot to make noise deep into January.
Of course, there are still boxes to check. The offense needs more pop - more big plays, more consistency, more answers when the defense isn’t perfect.
But those are fixable issues. And with a full offseason to work, there’s every reason to believe Sean Payton and his staff can get this group where it needs to go.
2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Broncos. If Nix takes the next step and the offense finds its spark, this team won’t just be in the mix - they’ll be a real threat to bring another Lombardi Trophy back to Denver.