With training camp fast approaching for the Denver Broncos, there are three key questions that the team must answer prior to taking the field for the regular season.
Denver Broncos three biggest questions that must be answered during training camp
There are so many storylines facing the Denver Broncos going into training camp, and most of them surround the quarterback competition, the status of players who have high expectations on them this season, and various position battles.
Will the Broncos QB competition last until the end of camp?
This is arguably one of the biggest questions surrounding the Broncos going into training camp. With rookies, including Bo Nix, set to report this week, Denver’s QB competition is the top area of focus for the team.
The Chicago Bears have already announced Caleb Williams as their starting QB for the 2024 NFL season, so when will the Broncos announce theirs? With Nix and veteran Jarrett Stidham having the most productive offseason program at the position in comparison to Zach Wilson, will it be easier to decide for Sean Payton?
If Nix and Stidham have created the separation we believe they did during the spring, it would be wiser for Payton to focus solely on them for the remainder of the competition and Wilson to sit on the outside. Every rep in practice is important for this position battle and the various others the Broncos will have, but none have a bigger impact than the outcome of the job under center.
If camp is too early to call it, Payton should at least look to answer it after the second preseason game. Give Nix and Stidham both a full half with the starters in the first two games of the preseason and make the decision from there.
Will Javonte Williams bounce back from 2023’s off-year?
It takes time to get back to your full self after suffering an ACL injury. For Javonte Williams specifically, he suffered more than just an ACL tear. After complete knee reconstruction, the Broncos bruiser at the running back position had a variety of ups and downs from a production standpoint in 2023. He had his lowest yards per carry output of his career, while other players have emerged for Denver this offseason — with Jaleel McLaughlin wanting more of an expanded role, the team’s decision to draft Audric Estime, and several other players like Samaje Perine, Tyler Badie, and undrafted rookie Blake Watson vying for carries.
“He’s been looking good,” Sean Payton said during OTAs. “I think historically speaking, when you talk to the experts, they say that the complete heal finishes at two years. Obviously you begin playing before then, but he’s been doing well. He’s in shape. I know that he’s looking forward to [the season]. The challenge last year was really when you think about it, even in training camp, it was still early enough in the process where it was hard for him to go full speed with confidence. And yet we were building and getting him where we all felt comfortable, he could play. I think he’s looking forward to this year and certainly the confidence in his health and the strength in his knee.”
When he has his confidence, he’s carrying defenders for extra yards and wearing down opposing defenses. The Broncos and Williams hope he can return to that form this season.
Which new addition will have the biggest impact this upcoming season?
All eyes are on the new faces who joined the Denver Broncos this offseason, and there are many. Let’s take a look at the Broncos’ newest additions in free agency and the NFL draft.
Broncos offseason additions:
- Bo Nix – QB
- Jonah Elliss – OLB
- Troy Franklin – WR
- Audric Estime – RB
- Kris Abrams-Draine – CB
- Devaughn Vele – WR
- Nick Gargiulo – OL
- Josh Reynolds – WR
- Brandon Jones – Safety
- Matt Peart – OT
- Sam Mustipher – C
- Angelo Blackson – DL
- Zach Wilson – QB
- John Franklin-Myers – DL
- Trenton Gill – Punter
- Andre Smith – LB
- Dondrea Tillman – OLB/DL
It’s hard to pinpoint where to begin, but Broncos Country will focus on Nix, specifically considering his draft status. Players like Reynolds, Franklin-Myers, and Jones will also be names that I believe will have a strong impact right away.
Reynolds is coming off of a good minicamp showing and could thrive even if he’s not the primary wide receiver. Franklin-Myers is a monster addition to Denver’s defensive line and could have an immediate impact against the run and pressuring opposing QBs. Jones will play quite a bit of a hybrid role at safety for Denver defensively. The expectation is that these players stand out and training camp will give us our next glimpse of what they can do.