The Denver Broncos brain trust is in Florida for the NFL Annual Meeting, and folks in Broncos Country have questions as the NFL Draft fast approaches.
Denver Broncos Mailbag: Third offseason installment
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Are the Broncos done making any free agency moves? What does their current cap space look like? – Jeff in Arvada.
Things are at a pause, it seems, Jeff. I still think the Broncos will make one or two moves, and I think it will either revolve around them signing a veteran WR or running back. Those seem to be the two positions that make the most sense right now if they do plan on making any other moves. George Paton and Sean Payton are in Florida right now for the NFL’s Annual Meeting, and there doesn’t seem to be a rush on the market as it currently stands. Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper are two names at wide receiver, while J.K. Dobbins and Nick Chubb are ones to watch for at running back.
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As it pertains to salary cap space, they are currently sitting at nearly $17.1M, according to Spotrac. Going into the draft, this is a great number for them to be at with their incoming rookie class, and what I’d expect is room for an extension that would create more available space this year and next year.
I’m concerned about the overall running game. Everyone seems to think that drafting a top back will solve everything, but I’m not so sure. Our current center Luke Wattenberg doesn’t grade out well for run blocking but the rest of the line does. So here are the questions…sorry… Are there other factors people are overlooking when it comes to the success of the running game? Is the line overrated on run blocking? Is the scheme and style of running plays not match well with our personnel or will a newly drafted back actually fix most of the issues? – Scott.
Great questions, Scott. I think the issues with the run game were multifaceted last season. I’m going to be doing a film study here soon where I look at the run game with Alex Forsyth in at center versus Luke Wattenberg. Initially it seems like the run game was more efficient inside with Forsyth there, but I’ve got to do a deeper dive to be sure. At one point last season, Payton mentioned in one of the day-after press conferences to us that there have been instances where a hole opened up and the running back didn’t see it.
On film, there were times where Javonte Williams, Audric Estime, and Jaleel McLaughlin missed some chances to see an open hole develop, and there were times where a hole opened up but quickly closed due to the defense making a better play. George Paton told us in his end-of-the-year presser that the offensive line graded out the highest for them this season, which makes me believe they trust in the scheme they are running and that the issue was more so related to the running back position.
To an extent, I’d agree. Defenses didn’t respect the Broncos’ run game consistently last year, and it’s because they didn’t have a proven home run threat that defenses were necessarily worried about. I think that’s why the NFL Draft is the likely path they take this year, considering the amount of talent that will be available at running back. As Gary Kubiak says, “We’re fixing to find out.”
Are there any evident holes the Broncos must fill this offseason that concern you? – Dan in Colorado Springs.
I’ll be honest with you — I don’t think there’s this massive concern that I have over this team going into 2025. It’s the first time I’ve felt this way in a while. With Denver finding their quarterback of the future, any other problem seems to be minimal.
I feel like George Paton and Sean Payton knocked it out of the park in free agency with the additions of Talanoa Hufanga, Evan Engram, and Dre Greenlaw. Hufanga and Greenlaw bring more juice and toughness to an already strong defense, and Engram can be a game-changer for Nix and the Broncos’ offense.
For me, the biggest question right now is running back and inside linebacker next to Greenlaw. Payton loves the four young backs the team has right now with Tyler Badie, Audric Estime, Blake Watson, and Jaleel McLaughlin, but they are all collectively unproven despite some of the sparks they’ve shown. That position is a question mark.
Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, and Drew Sanders appear primed to compete for the other starting job at linebacker next to Greenlaw. The biggest question with this position is seeing how this competition plays out, but if Singleton returns to play at the level he did pre-injury and during his injury in Week 3 of last season, I won’t be worried.
