The Broncos enter training camp with a real edge over the rest of the AFC West, and it starts with the simple fact that Denver already proved it could finish the job. The Broncos won the division in the 2025 NFL season with games to spare, and with the 2026 season approaching, there are plenty of reasons to think they can do it again.
That confidence isn’t built on one thing. It comes from a handful of advantages that separate Denver from the Chargers, Chiefs, and Raiders. Some are obvious, some are structural, and all of them matter.
The biggest one might be up front. Denver’s offensive line is still the class of the division, and the source of that edge is continuity.
For the third straight year, the projected starting five is the same, and for the fourth year in a row, all but Luke Wattenberg are expected to be in the starting lineup. That kind of stability is rare, and it has become part of the team’s identity.
There could be changes next offseason, with left guard Ben Powers set to be a free agent, but for now the Broncos could still have the other four starters in the mix.
The defensive front gives Denver another major advantage. The Broncos have led the NFL in sacks in each of the past two seasons, and they’ve also been strong against the run.
In 2025, they allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the league, trailing only the Jacksonville Jaguars. That means Denver isn’t just winning with pressure off the edge; it’s also controlling the ground game.
The Chargers and Chiefs were both in the top 10, but neither matched the Broncos in total yards allowed.
Then there’s the quarterback situation, which matters just as much in today’s NFL. Bo Nix is still on his rookie deal, and that gives Denver more financial flexibility than a lot of teams can dream about.
That window won’t stay open forever, which is exactly why it’s such a valuable edge. Even if Nix lands a massive extension next offseason, the biggest cap hits wouldn’t arrive until years later, leaving the Broncos with plenty of room to keep building.
When you zoom out, Denver’s advantage becomes even clearer: it has the best overall roster in the AFC West. The Raiders aren’t really in the mix for that discussion yet and still appear to be a couple of seasons away from standing near the top of the NFL.
The Chargers still have issues on the offensive line, no clear-cut WR1, and a roster full of “good not great” offensive pieces. Kansas City, meanwhile, saw its secondary get picked apart this offseason and is also lacking talent at wide receiver, tight end, and along the defensive line.
That leaves Denver sitting in the strongest position in the division, and arguably one of the best in the league.
The schedule also breaks in the Broncos’ favor. There’s a common belief that winning a division automatically means a brutal follow-up year, but that’s not the case here.
Based on opposing winning percentage from the previous season, Denver has the easiest schedule in the AFC West. It’s still a slightly tougher slate overall, but compared with the Chargers, Chiefs, and Raiders, the Broncos have the edge.
Even a small advantage counts when the margin in a division race is this thin.
In Other News...
George Paton May Have Left The Broncos One Season Defining Weakness
The Broncos offseason work at inside linebacker has been more about continuity than overhaul, with Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad both brought back after the team opted to keep its familiar core intact. Denver also added Red Murdock in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed Taurean York as an undrafted free agent, but those moves still leave the position group looking like one that will have to prove it can be more than a holdover from last season.
That matters because the middle of the defense was already the soft spot in 2025, and if it does not improve, the ripple effect could be felt across the entire unit. For a Broncos defense built to carry real expectations, the question is whether the current collection of linebackers can steady the run game, hold up in coverage and avoid forcing the rest of the roster to compensate for the same weakness again. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathon Cooper Issue Is Hanging Over Broncos At Worst Time
With Broncos veterans reporting to training camp Tuesday, Jonathon Coopers off-field situation is still hanging over the team at an awkward moment. The linebacker is scheduled to appear virtually in court over a June 4 domestic violence incident, and the timing adds another layer of uncertainty for a defense trying to settle in for the season.
Cooper recently completed an in-patient counseling and wellness program, but the legal process is still moving forward and the case remains unresolved. For Denver, it is the kind of issue that can linger well beyond the first day of camp, especially when a players status is tied to matters far bigger than football. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Suddenly Have A Camp Dilemma Panthers Could Exploit
Carolinas pass-rush plans took a hit in camp when Nic Scourton went down, and that kind of injury can quickly change the way a team looks at the trade market. If the Panthers decide they need outside help, Denver is one of the clubs that could come up in those conversations, because the Broncos have built real depth on the edge and have enough young rushers to at least listen if the right offer appears.
The tricky part for Denver is that any move involving that group is not a simple roster math exercise. The Broncos have several edge players in the mix, but before they even get to the question of who might be available, they may need clarity on Jonathon Coopers unresolved legal situation, a factor that could shape how aggressively the team approaches any potential deal. [Read more 🡒]