Denver, CO
Ranking the top offseason needs for the Broncos defense
While the offensive needs were headlined by the same position every time, there was some disagreement on where we think the top needs are on defense. But really the disagreement was on priority, not the position groups included.
The Denver Broncos defense is also a hard one to figure out. You can basically split their 2023 season into three parts. The first part being the horrific ‘worse defense ever’ type start, then the insane record-setting run of turnovers that catapulted them to a five-game win streak. The last part was just a completely average defense that couldn’t do enough to help an equally average offense win many important games down the stretch.
So given that context, here’s where the rest of our Mile High Report staff landed on this list for top defensive needs this offseason.
Scotty Payne:
- EDGE
- IDL
- Secondary
- Depth
The Broncos have some pieces at edge rusher but no difference-makers. I think they need to continue to add to that position and hopefully add someone who can be a consistent threat off the edge.
IDL from to bottom needs work. Zach Allen was solid this year but after him? It’s all up in the air. D.J. Jones is a cap cut candidate, and the depth in general behind these two is suspect at best. We saw the run defense struggle all season and this unit provided very little pass rush outside of Allen. Depth and pieces are needed here badly.
Secondary could move up this list depending on what happens this offseason. Will Justin Simmons be traded? Will P.J. Locke be re-signed? Can Caden Sterns stay healthy? Could the Broncos use Surtain as a trade chip? Then we need to see how the team feels about Riley Moss, JL Skinner, and Damarri Mathis. Three young players who played very little this season. Will they be big parts? or will they continue to add?
Depth and talent are needed at every positional group.
Taylor Kothe:
- IDL
- EDGE
- LCB/Secondary Depth
EDGE is a problem that needs addressing, with pieces but no difference-makers as Scotty said. But there are at least some pieces there. Denver’s run defense was atrocious this year. On a yards-per-carry basis, it was the worst in the NFL by a full 0.3 yards. For perspective, the three teams sitting at 29th-31st worst YPC allowed all sit nearly tied at a rounded 4.7 yards per carry allowed while Denver allowed 5.0. Zach Allen should be safe, but every other guy on the IDL should be on notice that he’s very replaceable. And adding the right pieces on the IDL can also help our EDGE guys get home to the QB.
Despite some hiccups late, McMillian should be a shoo-in at SCB (Slot CB), and of course Surtain’s name is engraved in titanium at RCB. But Moreau, Mathis, & Ross did not combine to give us any solidity across from Surtain. That’s a hole that needs to be filled, and some depth pieces need to be added.
Ross Allen:
- Edge
- Interior defensive line
- Inside linebacker
We can agree that Baron Browning is a solid pass rusher. And so is Jonathan Cooper and Nick Bonitto. But it felt like there was a lack of consistency and a true pass rushing attack.
When it comes to the defensive line, Zach Allen was a very pleasant surprise and a bright spot, but he was about all Denver had. There is no true run-stopper on the line and that consistently hurt the defense. And the inside linebacker unit needs a step up in talent when it comes to pass coverage.
Chris Hart:
- Defensive Line
- EDGE
- Defensive Back
The Broncos’ defensive line with the exception of Zach Allen was dreadful to watch this past season. The Broncos are in need of at least two quality players on their defensive front to help improve their defense against the run and help out their secondary on the back end. That number might go to three if they wind up cutting D.J. Jones to save over $12M on the cap for the 2024 season. It’s time for Denver to get serious about investing in the defensive trenches.
The Broncos have some talented edge rushers with Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and Baron Browning. That being said, the two Ohio State products are entering their contract years. Denver doesn’t have a true blue-chip pass rusher in the mix, so I wouldn’t be surprised if EDGE is one of the positions they target early in the draft if they decide a QB isn’t worth it at #12 overall.
Last but not least, we have to remember that Justin Simmons is entering the final year of his contract. Caden Sterns, who has been perpetually hurt, is also entering the final year of his deal. We don’t know if P.J. Locke will be back, and Delarrin Turner-Yell had an ACL tear at the end of the season. The Broncos needed to find a way to add someone to their defensive backfield who has starting potential at safety for the 2024 season. Even though they are short on picks, I’d add someone as competition besides JL Skinner moving forward.
Tim Lynch:
- Defensive Line
- Edge
- Inside Linebacker
It’s no secret that the front seven had issues last season. Add that to the fact that Denver is likely to face some tough roster decisions due to the salary cap. I have D.J. Jones as my top target for potential surprise cut this offseason and with him gone the Broncos will suddenly have a very suspect interior defensive line. For that reason alone, I put that position at the top of my list.
While I like the three main young edge rushers Denver has, they often disappeared at critical times. Edge depth is another primary concern I have and due to its vital importance in today’s NFL, it grabs the second highest priority on the list for me.
To round things out with the front seven concerns, I do not like Denver’s inside linebacker situation. Josey Jewell is likely gone in free agency and Alex Singleton racks up the tackles, but disappoints also. Nothing I saw from rookie Drew Sanders gave me confidence he is ready to step into a starting role. This ILB situation definitely concerns me heading into the offseason.
What are your top defensive needs for the Denver Broncos? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Factors such as declining birth rates and families moving out of the city are contributing to declining enrollment at Denver Public Schools. In turn, it’s reshaping the district’s future.
“I think we’re in a good position, but it’s responsible for us to always be looking in the future and knowing we have to make some adjustments,” said Chuck Carpenter, the district’s CFO.
In a two-year span between this past school year and next, DPS expects a decline in enrollment of around 1,700 students.
“We haven’t really seen anything like this,” said Carpenter in response to the consistent decline.
Because of this trend, the district is facing a $28 million structural deficit over the next five years.
“We have a balanced budget now, and we’re not predicting that we’ll have an unbalanced budget in three years,” said Carpenter. “We’re saying we need to make adjustments over the next three, four years, so that our budgets are balanced.”
DPS’s Director of Campus Planning, Andrew Huber, told CBS Colorado in an interview last month that those adjustments will likely include closing down more schools.
“Additional school closures will be necessary in the upcoming years. When exactly that would be is hard to forecast right now,” said Huber.
The district’s CFO says his biggest takeaway from a recent round of closures is to make sure to give families options for what’s next.
“No one wants their school closed, but the second-best option isn’t going to be the same for every family,” said Carpenter.
This issue could be one Denver faces for years to come.
“We sort of say, how many kids are born here? Because in five years, those kids will be kindergartners,” Carpenter added.
The city’s birth rate peaked in 2005, meaning those babies have already graduated high school. And, according to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, more young families move out of Denver and into surrounding counties than move into the city.
“I think school consolidation is very — I understand why people want to talk about it, but I think it’s more about, like, how do we make sure that the programs that are offered are rich programs,” said Carpenter.
Carpenter also says the district is closely monitoring some potential cuts to federal grants for students of poverty and language learners. He says those decisions will be made by October for the start of the new fiscal year, and cuts would have a “terrible” impact.
The Denver Broncos hosted eight tryout players at mandatory minicamp this week, including quarterback Sawyer Robertson. It sounds like the team has made decisions on those tryout players, and Robertson won’t be signed (at least not right now).
Instead, the Broncos are signing offensive lineman Reid Holskey (according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler) and cornerback Blake Cotton (according to the Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel). Holskey (6-6, 306 pounds) spent time on the Houston Texans’ practice squad in 2025 before joining the New York Giants in January. He was cut by New York last month. Cotton (6-2, 195 pounds) is a rookie who spent last fall at Utah, totaling 30 tackles and seven pass breakups in 13 games.
The two moves came one day after Denver wrapped up minicamp. The 91-man offseason roster was already full, so the Broncos will need to make corresponding moves to make room for Holskey and Cotton on the roster.
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Sean Payton has seen enough. The Denver Broncos’ third practice of mandatory minicamp, which was set to happen on Thursday, has been canceled.
“Just schedule-wise, today will be our last day,” Payton said after Wednesday’s practice. “I just finished telling them that. It’s unusual because there’s a lot of packing, a little bit more than normal when you’re moving into another facility. So when we’re back here, we’ll be in the new building.”
The Broncos are moving into their new state-of-the-art facility, but the decision to cancel the final practice of the offseason was motivated primarily by what Payton has seen thus far and how the team is shaping up.
Thus concludes the Broncos’ offseason training program, which featured eight total practices as a team, four of which were open to the media. There was more on-field activity than that, including walkthrough practices unseen by the press, but in essence, we’re talking about eight sessions.
Some players have already begun to separate themselves in their respective competitions. Others have really popped, while some have failed to really stand out in any meaningful way.
By way of a Broncos stock report, let’s get to the biggest winners and losers of mandatory minicamp.
Winner: Bo Nix | QB
Nix finally returned to the practice field on Tuesday, the first day of minicamp. He was limited to individual drills only, but it was still great to see him out there.
On Day 2, though, Nix took another big step forward, participating in a 7-on-7 drill that included a highlight-reel touchdown pass to RJ Harvey. Just getting Nix back on the field was a big win for the Broncos, but seeing him progress over two days and look overall very sharp was more than a little encouraging.
Winner: Jaylen Waddle | WR
Waddle has been a lightning rod since the practices were opened to the media. He just looks different. That speed and explosiveness really add an element to the Broncos’ offense that has been lacking.
It’s been palpable. But arguably just as exciting is what Waddle’s teammates and coaches have been saying about him. Payton has called him a “force multiplier,” which is another way of saying that he makes everyone around him better.
Not that we really had reason to doubt it, but Waddle has been as advertised thus far, and then some.
Loser: Marvin Mims Jr. | WR
Mims is not listed as a loser because of any specific negative plays, like a dropped pass or a mental miscue. It’s just that, with other receivers, including Waddle, shining, generating buzz, and earning plaudits from Payton, Mims didn’t really.
Mims is a similar receiver type as Waddle, but the newcomer made it clear how much separation exists between them in practice. Now, Mims is still important to the Broncos, especially as a returner, and Payton did compliment his clutch gene and contributions in big games, but you have to wonder how he fits into the game plan on offense. That question still hasn’t been answered.
Winner: J.K. Dobbins | RB
Dobbins was his usually talkative self at minicamp, but the fact that he was healthy and out there doing his thing is a major win for the Broncos. It’s good to have him part of the daily process at Broncos HQ again because he’s one of those veterans that takes players under his wing, and elevates them.
Winner: Que Robinson | OLB
With the recent off-the-field drama the Broncos have dealt with, some extra attention was paid to the Broncos’ outside linebackers. Robinson, in particular, separated himself during minicamp.
His get-off is something else, and he was dispruptive during the Broncos’ team periods. Vance Joseph has said he views Robinson as a “future starter.” Pending Cooper’s situation, the future could be now, though Elliss will also have something to say about that.
Robinson had one heck of an offseason. I’m really looking forward to his second year.
Loser: Jonathon Cooper | OLB
After being arrested twice in the span of a week, the Broncos excused Cooper from mandatory minicamp. It would seem the Broncos want to create some distance from Cooper until his legal troubles are resolved, one way or another.
It’s a shame, in more ways than one. Beyond what legal ramifications might await Cooper, he’s very likely to be suspended by the NFL, and the Broncos releasing him at some point is not outside the bounds of the plausible. It’s a good thing that rush linebacker room is stacked.
Winner: Matt Henningsen | DL
None of these winners has been quite as surprising as Henningsen. He made a huge play on Day 1 of minicamp, tipping a Sam Ehlinger pass and returning it to the house.
Henningsen followed that up with another disruptive Day 2. He’s gone from being an after thought in the Broncos’ defensive line conversation to establishing himself as a bona fide threat for the roster.
Loser: Jahdae Barron | CB
Like Mims, Barron wasn’t bad during the offseason; he just didn’t pop, really, in any way. He broke up one pass on Day 2 of minicamp, but beyond that, there wasn’t much to see.
It will be interesting to see how Barron performs in training camp. We know the Broncos have high expectations for him, and a role on defense, even if as a depth piece, will be created for him, but I was hoping to see more signs of a Year-2 leap by now.
Winner: Jonah Coleman | RB
Another as-advertised player. Coleman has proven he’s ready for the NFL, which was partly what attracted the Broncos to him in the draft.
Coleman stood out in a major way at minicamp and made it clear that the Broncos have more than just a J.K. Dobbins insurance policy on their hands. Coleman is a force to be reckoned with.
Winner: Tyler Onyedim | DL
Like Coleman the Broncos’ first pick in the 2026 draft has looked NFL-ready. The Broncos still haven’t signed Onyedim, but that didn’t stop him from participating in the offseason program, which is a good harbinger.
Rocking the No. 98 jersey, it’s easy to mistake Onyedim for the guy he was drafted to replace: John Franklin-Myers. That’s especially true when the rookie is out there making plays like JFM. Onyedim has earned praise from his teammates, including the All-Pro Zach Allen.
Winner: Evan Engram | TE
Engram looked very good in minicamp this week. He looked like a big, athletic, smooth, explosive receiver, which is what he’s been in the NFL.
Engram wasn’t really all those things in his first year with the Broncos, but I’m hopeful that Year 2 will be different for the two-time Pro Bowler. He’s had a good summer.
Winner: Troy Franklin | WR
Franklin seems like the obvious No. 3 receiver in the pecking order. That doesn’t mean he’ll get the No. 3 snaps on an exclusive basis, though.
As the Broncos’ No. 2 last year, Franklin wasn’t able to fully live up to that, although he took some big steps forward in his second year. As the No. 3, it’s more his natural spot and that should allow him to continue to thrive in the offense, especially with the connection he has with Bo Nix dating back to Oregon.
Winner: Sam Ehlinger | QB
Ehlinger had a great offseason. He looked way more comfortable and far sharper in the offense in what is his second go-around in Payton’s offense.
Ehlinger was sharp this summer, and if he can continue to build on the foundation he’s created, it could create some uncomfortable conversations at Broncos HQ.
Loser: Jarrett Stidham | QB
Stidham has been less noteworthy this summer, but that doesn’t mean he’s been bad. In comparison to Ehlinger, though, Stidham wasn’t as good, which is curious, considering his standing as the team’s primary backup since 2023.
If Ehlinger ends up leapfrogging Stidham, what do the Broncos do? They’re holding a competition for QB2, and they have to be prepared for the possibility of Ehlinger winning it, especially after his strong summer.
If Ehlinger forces this issue, Stidham could become expendable. Stidham is very unlikely to be a cut candidate because of his contract, but as a trade piece? There’s a reason the rumor mill has been active on the Stidham topic this offseason. It’s something to watch.
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