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Broncos at Raiders: The No Bull Review

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Broncos at Raiders: The No Bull Review


The optimist in me enjoys the positive gain of getting a better draft pick this offseason. But truly, I think a win would have sat better with me as a fan.

This season was up and down and all over the place. It would have been nice to see the first winning season since 2016 and for that, I think this team fell short. We went from chasing a playoff spot to chasing a winning record to losing once again.

I hope that this doesn’t sit well with the players…because it plainly has sat just fine with many of them for years. I certainly don’t think it is going to sit well with Sean Payton and I expect a lot of change this offseason in response to how this season went. We’ll dig into the roster next week and get some No Bull thoughts on where our players are and what upgrades we’ll likely see.

But for now, let’s spit some truth about this game.

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Offense

What a disappointment from this offense. We made a change at quarterback supposedly to get a better chance of winning. I’m not so sure if that is what we saw with Stidham behind center. Supposedly our run game was supposed to be a feature of this offense (we heard this mantra all year), but the team averaged 2.4 ypc.

Our receivers looked completely average and our line blocked poorly. There wasn’t much to lean on from an offensive standpoint. I’d say Sean Payton did a fairly good job of selling us swampland in Arizona with the quarterback change topic. It was about protecting the finances of the team first and foremost the whole time (which I don’t knock them for, I just would have loved to hear honesty about it instead of some nonsense about Stidham being a better quarterback than Russell Wilson).

Quarterbacks

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Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

Jarrett Stidham looks like a decent backup quarterback. I honestly think he has a place in the league in that role. We saw some more of the things he does better than Wilson in this game: throws to crossing routes over the middle, timing passes, and quick read ability. His accuracy sadly wasn’t up to snuff as he showed more of the problems we saw last week with him consistently throwing short and/or behind his targets.

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Line

Cam Flemming looked most of the part of a fence post at right tackle. Against an edge rusher with the jets to get to the outside his slow footwork really stood out. It was mentioned ad nauseam in the broadcast and they weren’t wrong. Fleming looked like a guard playing tackle with slow feet and no ability to engage with the wide rush angles that were used all game long to exploit his slowness.

Our guards had their own problems as well. Ben Powers got out to block for a screen and just didn’t engage at all. Quinn Meinerz on two occasions was blocking air as a guy split the gap between him and Lloyd Cushenberry.

Let’s put to rest the nonsense about Russell Wilson being the cause of all the sacks this season…our line wasn’t up to snuff regardless of which quarterback was behind center.

Running Backs

I can’t think of a team with a weaker backfield than the Denver Broncos. Javonte Williams is a plodder who rarely averages 3.5 ypc or more (he did exceed that by .1 yards this game due in large to one 11-yard gain). Jaleel McLaughlin looks like a guy who has skills but lacks the size to make a splash on his own with a weak line. Samaje Perine is honestly my favorite back on the team because he plays consistently and looks like a solid #3 RB, but he’s not lighting up the scoreboard either.

Receivers

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Denver Broncos v Las Vegas Raiders

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Jerry Jeudy easily had his best play of the year on a 2nd and 22 where he showed superb quickness, balance, and resolve to get to the end zone. We’re always wondering if that’s the kind of play we’d see if he had a more timing-based quarterback tossing him the rock. I do know that I like seeing him get more targets.

Brandon Johnson honestly set himself up for having a safe job next season. He played at a high level for a depth receiver on the roster. I loved his 36-yard crossing route in the first half. It was an explosive play that contributed to a touchdown drive.

Defense

For all the razzle-dazzle this defense brought us in the middle of the season, they just got worse and worse as the year marched on. Without the magic of consistent turnovers, their poor tackling, bad run blocking, and inability to rush the passer led to a bad Las Vegas Raiders team putting up 27 on the Broncos.

I’ve touted the job Vance Joseph did in the middle of the season, but as the year wraps up I can’t help but think his job is in jeopardy. There’s something to be said with how little talent he was working with, but a good coordinator should be able to get more out of his players against non-elite competition than our last three games were.

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Front 7

Denver Broncos v Las Vegas Raiders

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Baron Browning opens the game up with a sack with a beautiful delayed rush off the left side of the offense. He had a TFL on the game and another quarterback hit on the day which was the best defensive output you’ll see from our weak defensive front.

Secondary

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NFL: Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders

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Patrick Surtain II nearly had a pick on his 2nd play of the game. It was soon after that that the Raiders stopped throwing at him.

Fabian Moreau got flat-footed against the Raiders’ fastest receiver and paid for giving up a huge gain at the end of the first half. He had a rough game with only one pass defended to his name against several plays completed on him.

Special Teams

We have two good notes about our special teams:

  1. The coaching for this unit is doing exceptionally better than we’ve seen in the past few years
  2. We have a real returner in Marvin Mimms, Jr. who gets the most out of our returns consistently.

Final Thoughts

Largely this game was meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Another win doesn’t get us to the playoffs. Another loss helps us get better draft picks. I hate losing to the Raiders, but it isn’t like this game helped them at all either. They now have a worse draft pick from winning a meaningless game at the end of the season which never feels good a week or two after the season is over and you start looking at the draft.

The exciting thing is that we get to look forward to some positive changes for this roster this offseason. We’ll supposedly need to look for a new quarterback which will be exciting. I’m honestly more excited about upgrading some areas of this team that are woefully lacking (offensive line, defensive front, inside linebackers off the top of my head).

Let me finish the season by thanking all of you out there in Broncos Country for reading my reviews, commenting, etc. I’ve been doing this since about 2010 in some form or function and I’m thankful for every year getting to talk Broncos football with all of you.

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Denver Broncos Foundation launches extension of ‘ALL IN. ALL COVERED.’ emphasizing youth football participation

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Denver Broncos Foundation launches extension of ‘ALL IN. ALL COVERED.’ emphasizing youth football participation


DENVER (KKTV) – In extension of the Denver Broncos Foundation’s helmet distribution program, they have launched the “ALL IN. ALL COVERED.” Statewide Youth Football Participation Program, in partnership with Every Kid Sports and Good Sports.

Over the course of five years, the program will aim to reduce financial barriers to play by providing financial support and essential equipment to increase youth participation in tackle and flag football.

The Foundation will fund registration fees for underserved youth through Every Kid Sports, while increasing access to both individual and shared team equipment through Good Sports.

The program aims to serve more than 17,000 children across Colorado, using football as a pathway to drive equitable access and sustained participation in sport.

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“We’re excited to work with Every Kid Sports and Good Sports to grow youth football participation across Colorado and help open doors to the sport for both boys and girls,” said Bobby Mestas, Broncos Senior Director of Youth & High School Football.

Coaches and players from across the Pikes Peak Region had their first look at the new helmets they received for free from the Denver Broncos Foundation back last year.

Copyright 2026 KKTV. All rights reserved.



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Nuggets trade 26th pick in NBA Draft to Spurs, moving out of first round

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Nuggets trade 26th pick in NBA Draft to Spurs, moving out of first round


Draft day in Denver ended with a yawn.

But behind the scenes, the Nuggets were pleased by their anticlimactic outcome.

On the clock Tuesday night with the 26th pick in the NBA Draft, the Nuggets chose to trade out of the first round, beginning to replenish an asset pool that was drained by the previous front office regime. San Antonio moved up to No. 26 in exchange for giving Denver the No. 35 overall pick in Wednesday’s second round and two additional future second-round picks.

Denver now controls a 2028 Minnesota second-round pick and a 2031 Sacramento second-rounder, according to league sources. The Spurs selected Connecticut big man Tarris Reed Jr. at No. 26. The Nuggets will go into Wednesday with two picks — 35th and 49th. Multiple teams had already called them to inquire about No. 35 by the end of Tuesday night, one source told The Post.

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Co-general managers Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer have less than 24 hours to decide if they want to use that pick or parlay it into more future draft capital. Part of their rationale for trading back, multiple team sources told The Post, was that they felt the 2026 draft class had a substantial drop-off in talent around No. 20.

What the Nuggets eventually do with their new picks will determine how Tuesday’s trade is evaluated. Second-rounders are often used as trade assets rather than to select playable talent, and Denver’s shortage of them has inhibited its ability to get involved in trade conversations around the league recently. Wallace and Tenzer inherited the NBA’s most depleted war chest when they took over the front office in 2025, whereas adversaries like Oklahoma City and San Antonio are practiced in the art of asset accumulation.

If one first-round pick can slowly grow into a wider swath of lower-quality picks that can subsequently be put to good use in other trades to improve the roster, then No. 26 will have been a worthy sacrifice. That could take lots of time, hard work and negotiating tact.

But the Nuggets are also faced with awkward luxury tax decisions this offseason, and they’re tied to multiple contracts that are widely perceived as having negative value, namely Christian Braun and Zeke Nnaji. If they promptly use their new picks to dump either of those salaries without bringing back any helpful players, it would be a clear indicator that team ownership is prioritizing tax savings over roster improvement.

The front office’s challenge will be to balance and accomplish both goals, which tend to be at odds with each other. At least one salary-shedding move is essentially guaranteed to occur as Denver attempts to retain Peyton Watson in restricted free agency, as The Post reported in April.

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Wallace and Tenzer still have not made a draft pick yet in their tenure. For now, Denver will treat it as a win if they can stockpile future picks and right some old wrongs. A seemingly tedious trade elicited applause inside the Nuggets’ war room Tuesday, even as team president Josh Kroenke was caught on camera looking disgruntled by something. His bemusement, according to a source, was in response to some confusion on the other end of the line as Denver was trying to call in the 26th pick on behalf of the Spurs.

San Antonio walked away from the first round with two prospects secured in Reed and Jayden Quaintance. Oklahoma City snagged Aday Mara 12th and Bennett Stirtz 16th — sobering reminders that talent is going to keep on flowing into the two rosters that pose the biggest existential threats to Denver.

Nuggets recent draft history

The Nuggets haven’t drafted in the top 20 since 2018 — the cost of becoming a perennial playoff team as Nikola Jokic entered his prime. They’ve gotten mixed results from their late first-round picks since then, which is typical at that stage of the draft. Five of their six first-rounders this decade are still on the active roster, though only two of them were in the everyday rotation last season: Christian Braun (21st) and Peyton Watson (30th), both of whom were selected by former GM Calvin Booth in 2022.

Nnaji (22nd in 2020) is the third-longest tenured player on the team, but the four-year, $32 million contract extension he signed in 2023 has turned out to be a small-scale albatross on Denver’s cap sheet. Bones Hyland (26th in 2021) was shipped off to the Clippers at the 2023 trade deadline after he caused locker room frustration by walking off the bench during a game. He plays for Minnesota now.



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Nuggets 2026 NBA mock draft tracker 2.0: What national experts predict Denver will do

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Nuggets 2026 NBA mock draft tracker 2.0: What national experts predict Denver will do


The NBA Draft kicks off Tuesday night at the Barclays Center in New York.

The Nuggets, who own the 26th overall pick, are looking to improve a team that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

Here’s a look at who national draftniks are thinking will land in Denver.

The Athletic | Zach Harper | Updated June 23

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Italy’s Alessandro Pajola defends against Spain’s Sergio De Larrea , right, during the Eurobasket, European Basketball Championship Group C match between Spain and Italy at Spyros Kyprianou Arena, in Limassol, Cyprus, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Chara Savvidou)

Sergio de Larrea, guard, 6-6, Valencia

“It’s hard to say whether the Nuggets will have the roster flexibility to use this pick or if they kick it down the road by trading it. This team needs offensive creation outside of what Nikola Jokić does. Jamal Murray is more of a scorer than a creator, and they’ve been missing that guard off the bench to run some offense through. With de Larrea in the mix, they’ll have good size at the guard position and someone who can orchestrate more.” See the full mock draft.

Sports Illustrated | Kevin Sweeney | Updated June 23

Isaiah Evans #3 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against Rubén Prey #17 of the St. John's Red Storm during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Isaiah Evans #3 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against Rubén Prey #17 of the St. John’s Red Storm during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Isaiah Evans, F, Duke

“Evans is a polarizing prospect after two years at Duke. At his best, he’s one of the most dynamic shooters in this draft, capable of getting his shot off with next-to-no separation and regularly going on streaks of multiple threes in short spurts. His overall impact on the game can be muted at times though, especially when threes aren’t falling. He’s a below-average athlete and mediocre defensively.” See the full mock draft.

Other picks:

  • Second round, 49th overall pick: Aaron Nkrumah, G, Tennessee State

The Sporting News | Stephen Noh | Updated June 23

Isaiah Evans, F, Duke

“Denver has built a great offense without relying much on 3-pointers. What if they could take an even bigger step on that end of the floor?

“Evans could provide that extra oomph. He’s a good shooter who should be able to drill wide open looks while playing off Nikola Jokic. He has the size to defend capably. And he’s a decent athlete who can attack closeouts well.” See the full mock draft.

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CBS Sports | Adam Finkelstein | Updated June 22

Ebuka Okorie #1 of the Stanford Cardinal reacts after he made a three-point basket against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Maples Pavilion on Jan. 14, 2026 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Ebuka Okorie #1 of the Stanford Cardinal reacts after he made a three-point basket against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Maples Pavilion on Jan. 14, 2026 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford

“The Pistons, Grizzlies, and Wolves have done the most work on Okorie, but Denver has a real need for a paint touch point guard, especially as Nikola Jokic begins to age and they are forced to explore other ways of creating offense. Ejiofor has reportedly been to Denver as well. Veesaar would fit their system; Reed would be another potential backup five if he were available, and Isaiah Evans and Meleek Thomas could provide floor spacing.” See the full mock draft.

Yahoo Sports | Kevin O’Connor | Updated June 22

Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford

“The Nuggets need some variety to their half-court offense aside from having Nikola Jokić initiate everything. Well, here’s a guy who could help. Okorie is the best driving guard in the class, a 6-1 jitterbug who manipulates defenders with a tight handle, sudden changes of speed, and an advanced feel for the game. He’s not an above-the-rim athlete, though, and not long ago he was a kid from New Hampshire who ranked outside the top 100 and committed to Harvard. Then Stanford found him, he flipped his commitment, and he proceeded to lead the ACC in scoring with eight 30-point games and a habit for hitting clutch shots. NBA teams will have to decide whether what carved up the ACC will survive against bigger, longer defenders.” See the full mock draft.

Other picks: 

  • Second round, 49th overall pick: Tobe Awaka, F, Arizona

CBS Sports | Gary Parrish | Updated June 23

Koa Peat #10 of the Arizona Wildcats looks on against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Koa Peat #10 of the Arizona Wildcats looks on against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Koa Peat, F, Arizona

“Peat impacts winning in a variety of ways and was among the reasons Arizona won the Big 12’s regular-season championship before advancing to the Final Four. Good size. Good body. Intriguing prospect. The issue is that he’s a 6-7 wing who doesn’t really shoot, evidence being that Peat only took 20 3-pointers in 36 games with the Wildcats. That’s not ideal for the modern-NBA and why Peat’s draft-range seems vast.” See the full mock draft.

SB Nation | Ricky O’Donnell | Updated June 23

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Koa Peat, F, Arizona

No writeup available. See the full mock draft.

ESPN | Jeremy Woo | Updated June 23

Labaron Philon #0 of the Alabama Crimson Tide dribbles against Trey McKenney #1 of the Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Labaron Philon #0 of the Alabama Crimson Tide dribbles against Trey McKenney #1 of the Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama

“This would be quite a fall for Philon, who has interest in the late lottery from the Bucks if they opt for a guard at No. 13. But it seems likely that one of the point guards falls toward the back of the first round with the way the board has shaped up — particularly in this scenario, where the Pistons don’t take one.

“Philon’s range has seemed particularly wide of late, and teams have speculated that he could slip, with his recent workout for the Timberwolves (who have since traded out of the first round) raising some eyebrows.” See the full mock draft.

Other picks: 

  • Second round, 49th overall pick: Jaden Bradley, G, Arizona

Bleacher Report | Jonathan Wasserman | Updated June 22

Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies shoots the ball over Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of a game in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Tarris Reed Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies shoots the ball over Aday Mara #15 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half of a game in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn

“Tarris Reed Jr. has been receiving strong reviews from workouts after putting together a rare statistical season, posting a 9.0 block percentage, 13.0 offensive rebounding percentage and 15.0 assist percentage.

“His combination of strength, paint touch, passing and rim protection should put him in first-round conversations for teams that want bigs.” See the full mock draft.

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Other picks:

  • Second round, 49th overall pick: Dillon Mitchell, F, St. John’s

USA Today | Bryan Kalbrosky | Updated June 23

Meleek Thomas #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks dribbles the ball against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 26, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Meleek Thomas #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks dribbles the ball against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 26, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas



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