MHS Broncos Preview: At long last, Denver is expected to shine

“We’re heading in the right direction.”

That’s what Sean Payton told the media as July turned to August. Whether it was the maturation of his quarterback, the Broncos’ renewed ability to attract free agents or the commitment from ownership, the coach believed – and believes – that the Broncos are doing what it takes to get back on the biggest stage in sports – the Super Bowl.

And why shouldn’t he? After all, the Broncos addressed practically every shortcoming over the offseason. General manager George Paton bolstered the linebacker position, the safety position and the run game – all weaknesses for the 2024 squad.

Besides – and perhaps most importantly – Bo Nix is back. And it’s not just that the same guy will be under center for the Broncos two seasons in a row (something that hasn’t happened since 2015). It’s that Nix is the guy. He’s the franchise. There’s no quarterback competition in August. No combing the draft for quarterbacks. No Paxton Lynch, Drew Lock type of false hope. Sean Payton should be confident — and he is. He most definitely is. By the first week of August, the coach had doubled down.

“The short-term goal is winning the division,” Payton told Yahoo’s Charles Robinson during training camp. “But this is a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. I’ve coached six teams that I thought could win the Super Bowl. Some went to championship games, some to the playoffs.

“This is my seventh team that I think has that.”

John Elway wore No. 7. Perhaps there’s some sort of charm to the number.

Will Payton’s Lucky Seventh really make a push toward the Super Bowl? Only time will tell, but on the eve of the most exciting Broncos season since the days of Peyton Manning, there’s an undeniable buzz in the air.

But before you go booking your flight and hotel Santa Clara – the site of Super Bowl LX – our team of Broncos writers offer some food for thought.

Everyone agrees with the coach: The Broncos are headed in the “right direction,” but how close are they, really?

Read on, read on.

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DOUG OTTEWILL, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, MILE HIGH SPORTS MAGAZINE

For the first time in a long time, the Broncos enter a season with real expectations. They’re coming off a playoff season. There’s no debate regarding who’s going to play quarterback. There’s consistency across the entire roster, and last year’s needs seem to have been largely addressed in the offseason. Fair or not, right or wrong, what is your expectation for this team? What defines a “successful” season for you?

SHAWN DROTAR, HOST OF “MILE HIGH SPORTS TODAY” ON YOUTUBE

First off, let’s pump the brakes on Broncos as a dark-horse Super Bowl contender, because that’s doing them a disservice; you don’t take a yearling and expect them to win the Kentucky Derby.

Of course, fan expectations are high with an Orange Crush-caliber defense and a solution at quarterback after nearly a decade in the NFL’s wilderness, but the reality is that the Broncos could be much improved and still not go any further than they did last season – the AFC is just that stacked.

Obviously, 10 wins and a playoff berth is the new floor following last season’s pleasant surprise, and ideally, the Broncos would leap over the division-rival Chargers for second place and be within hailing distance of the Chiefs in the AFC West all season long – and that’s entirely possible.

Health is always paramount, of course, but especially for the Broncos, where all four of their big-name free-agent additions – tight end Evan Engram, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and running back J.K. Dobbins – have concerning injury histories already. If either Engram or Greenlaw, in particular, are out for significant stretches of time, there aren’t any other answers on the roster that could mitigate their loss.

Still, head coach Sean Payton’s faith in defensive coordinator Vance Joseph proved warranted last season as Denver led the league in sacks – cornerback Pat Surtain II also became the league’s best defensive player – and this unit is even more explosive, experienced and deeper than last year’s squad. Expect edge rusher Nik Bonitto to keep ascending as a QBseeking missile, and a robust defensive line will make life easier for the rest of the defense.

Bo Nix should improve his play at quarterback in his second season, and a revamped running game should help Payton diversify what he can call for Nix and Co. on the field. The offense doesn’t have to be elite, but it can’t make mistakes that cost them games, and that’s where Nix may truly shine. He’s certainly more than just a game manager, but he rarely makes the same mistake twice; a must in Payton’s scheme-heavy offense.

Nix won’t surprise anyone this time around, and his stats may not take a giant leap forward, but they may not have to. If the Broncos can run consistently and with power, they’ll look entirely different on offense than last year’s edition — and score many more points in the process.

My expectation? Fans will see a better team, but with a similar result: At least 10 wins and another playoff berth in the high-flying AFC… everything else is just gravy.

The Broncos are indeed back, but don’t expect everything, everywhere and all at once. The other teams get paid, too, y’know.

CODY ROARK, BRONCOS BEAT REPORTER FOR MILEHIGHSPORTS.COM

My expectation for this team is simple. Last year, they made the playoffs in a season where everybody ranked them as one of the worst rosters in the league. Bo Nix’s growth as a rookie was a big reason why, and they had success without a run game. He has more pieces around him, a locked-in offensive line and a command of the offense that’s been impressive to watch this summer. Denver’s defense is returning their key playmakers like Nik Bonitto, Riley Moss, Zach Allen, Brandon Jones, Jonathon Cooper, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach and Pat Surtain II, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year — and they added two legitimate needle-moving pieces at linebacker in Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga.

Why wouldn’t they go further with the drastic changes and additions made this offseason?

Sean Payton believes that this team has the nucleus intact to compete for a championship — and that’s the standard and expectation he’s set. The locker room believes it, and I’ve talked to a handful of guys in it that believe it, as well. This season’s schedule will present them with. a ton of challenges, and I think they’ll respond well to it. Getting back to the playoffs is the goal, and in order to host an AFC playoff game, the Broncos have to win the West. This is the year they do that.

DAN MOHRMANN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR FOR MILE HIGH SPORTS

The last 10 years have been brutal for the psyche of those rooting for and covering the Broncos. For example, Shawn thinks the Broncos will be better, but the record won’t necessarily follow suit. Cody has them taking a bigger step forward and contending for (and winning) the division.

But the reality is that last season put the Broncos a year ahead. It would’ve been fair to ask them to be more competitive last year and then make a jump into the playoffs this season before becoming a genuine contender in 2026.

I think Sean Payton is far from a perfect coach, but he has been masterful in his development of this team. And because of that, the expectations for this year’s Broncos are what the expectations for next year would have been. They need to jump into that upper tier and be one of the top three teams in the AFC. That’s a tough ask, for sure, but with each passing day, we hear more and more about the confidence level of the team.

Cody points out the construction of the defense, and it’s not a stretch to think this will be the best defense in the league.

We also saw flashes of young playmakers on offense such as Marvin Mims and Devaughn Vele. The addition of a revamped run game is only going to help Nix in his second year. The Broncos must reach the AFC divisional round of the playoffs. And if they don’t make the conference championship game, they must be competitive enough in the playoffs that they’re considered the best team to not advance.

Great teams have high expectations. And my expectations for the Broncos are a mile high this year.

NATE LUNDY, CEO OF MILE HIGH SPORTS

The Broncos defense is the best in the NFL. They should succeed in wreaking havoc on opposing offenses and likely hold teams at or below 20 points per game.

So that means my biggest expectation is for the team not to regress offensively. With a rookie at quarterback and a non-existent running game, this team averaged 25 points a game, highest in the AFC West. Yes, Nix out-performed expectations and that is a good thing — and a testament to him and to Payton. But league defensive coordinators now have a full year of tape on him. Can he continue to show growth while keeping opponents guessing? My personal belief is that he can, but the proof will happen on Sundays.

Ten wins should be the benchmark and having the division title within reach in December should be the goal. Remember, this team is playing a “3rd place in your division” schedule. They get the likes of the Titans, Colts, Jets and Jaguars. If this team reaches the kind of mark that Cody has set, that strength of schedule is only going to get worse. The Broncos better take advantage of it this season. It will only get more difficult as Nix’s career progresses in Denver.

MARK KNUDSON, CONTRIBUTOR FOR MILE HIGH SPORTS

Yes, expectations are justifiably higher than a season ago. But Shawn touched on a key point: Depth. Or lack of it. That’s almost every team’s Achilles heel, and it’s worse when you’re thin like Denver is. This is the season we find out if Sean Payton’s Broncos have just been lucky with injuries, or if he and his conditioning people have found a secret that others just don’t know. Can they keep the starting O-line intact for an entire season again? Can the new guys stay healthier than they’d been at their previous stops? Does Payton have a secret sauce for keeping guys on the field?

The fact is every team has injuries, some of them key. The Broncos have been more fortunate than most the past couple of seasons. Is it better to be lucky than good? And can that continue?

It must be in order for Denver to be a contender for more than just a playoff spot. The roster was obviously better than most thought a season ago, and this year the evaluations have caught up. Denver’s starting units are very good, and in the case of the defense, potentially elite. It’s fair to expect more than 10 wins and a postseason win or two. But that’s only, as they say, “If we can stay healthy…”

OTTEWILL

Collectively, we all basically agree high expectations are here, and they’re mostly fair. Last season, all of that hinged on a rookie QB – who, by the way, exceeded expectations. That’s essentially why we’re here, and why Sean Payton isn’t shy about saying his team could win a Super Bowl.

Mark makes a point about depth and injuries, and it’s a fair one. But for the sake of what we know compared to what we don’t, I typically throw that out the window. To me, meeting expectations comes down to one thing – and it’s a big thing: Is Bo Nix really and truly the guy? I believe that he is. Nix plays the exacting, mistake-free brand of football Sean Payton loves; plus, he’s a better athlete than anyone expected. Still, to be an 11-win team in a division that many believe boasts the best quarterbacks and coaches from top to bottom requires elite play at the quarterback position. Nix was fantastic last year; he really was. But, to use the coach’s term, being a “Super Bowl team” is a big step up from going to Buffalo, scoring 7 points, gaining only 13 first downs and just 224 total yards of offense.

Has Bo Nix really taken a big enough leap? Is this officially “his team,” and is he really primed for a deep playoff run? I think that’s what this season comes down to.

MOHRMANN

I’m starting to think that we don’t truly understand how hard Bo works in his own time. He comes from a football family and understood at an early age that to be a great player takes a lot of hard work.

I don’t think there’s any question that this is Bo’s team. It’s a feeling the Broncos haven’t had since 2015. His age and experience in college showed in his development as a rookie, and his trajectory will only continue upward.

KNUDSON

He’s experienced beyond being a second-year pro. He’s the son of a quarterback/ coach. I think it’s reasonable to expect him to be ahead of the curve for being in Year Two.

My concerns have always been about his below (NFL) arm strength. There’s still a reason why he wasn’t among the top three or four quarterbacks picked in his draft. Last year, he did a fantastic job of progressing as the year went on — and he can be an outstanding QB. Joe Montana, Tom Brady and others have made it huge without having rocket arms. But the NFL has progressed since the days of “Joe Cool.” Like MLB, the game’s more about velocity than ever before. Can Bo adjust to defenses that are adjusting to him?

The Broncos’ success this season isn’t all on Bo Nix. A great D can make a massive difference, as 2015 proved.

Long term? It’s Bo’s team. But 2025 doesn’t have to be all about Bo.

DROTAR

Nix is a lunch-bucket grinder disguised as a budding star at quarterback. Game recognizes game, and Nix’s fellow players voted him as the 64th-best player in the NFL, regardless of position.

He’s won everyone over – there’s no question that the Broncos are Nix’s team, and many of the vibes at Broncos training camp reflected his businesslike demeanor. That said, defensive coordinators didn’t go into last season scheming to stop Bo Nix, and they definitely will be this time around.

For any pro athlete, if you can play at the highest level, your talent tends to show itself early, and Nix’s certainly did. But then, as Mark explained, the league adjusts to you – and how you adjust to the adjustment usually defines what your career looks like; that’s pro sports’ Great Filter. I fully expect Nix to cruise right through it.

Realistically, Nix’s ceiling isn’t likely to ever meet the Mahomes/Jackson/Allen/ Burrow level (all AFC rivals, mind you), but it doesn’t have to. Sean Payton’s offenses don’t rely on his players’ creativity, they rely on his own game-planning; and it’ll be up to Nix to execute it efficiently. Given how well the two work together already, I don’t have much doubt that synergy will improve in Year Two.

To my mind, Nix’s success this season relies at least as much on Courtland Sutton, J.K. Dobbins, Evan Engram, Marvin Mims, RJ Harvey, and a sneaky-good offensive line as it does on him. That’s just football.

LUNDY

Sorry, Mark. His below-average arm strength is not an issue and never will be. Under “Noodle Arm” in the dictionary is a picture of Peyton Manning.

Oh, and Nix was 3rd in the league last year in passing attempts of 20+ yards.

If it had not been for an unbelievable rookie season by Jayden Daniels, there would have been a lot more Rookie of the Year chatter for Bo Nix last year. And in my opinion, that’s a good thing. I’ve never been comfortable with a young talent getting all the praise heaped on them immediately (see Robert Griffin III). I’m impressed by the improvements he showed in Year One and expect more in Year Two. He has a football mind, and that makes him the perfect bride to Payton’s groom.

At the end of the day, Payton says he believes Nix will ultimately be a top-five quarterback in this league. And he knows more about football and quarterbacks than everyone on this roundtable put together.

ROARK

Bo’s work ethic is insane. He put out a mini documentary this offseason that highlighted how he prepares, what his mindset is — and you can see that this game means everything to him. This is Bo’s team. You hear Broncos players on both sides of the ball throw that praise him openly, and there aren’t any theatrics behind it. He chirps with the defense and is competitive. We’ve seen him step up in big moments – like the final drive in Kansas City last year that should have won the Broncos the game; on the road in Cincinnati, and the opening series against Buffalo in the playoffs.

The moment doesn’t appear to be too big for Bo, and that’s why this is his team. He’s the reason they made a run to the playoffs and he’ll be a big reason why they go further.

OTTEWILL

To Cody’s point, this is Bo’s team (we seem to agree on that), and he did have big moments throughout the season. So, what were the shortcomings? Let’s look at this offense with a bit of a critical eye. Obviously, the Broncos made some offseason
moves, but did they make enough to support Bo with a playoff-worthy cast?

What or who is your biggest concern of the offensive side of the ball?

For me, it’s easy: tight end Evan Engram.

LUNDY

The biggest concern on the offensive side of the ball is whether they have enough at the receiver positions to not only make big plays, but to allow Payton to open up the playbook. I’m certain there were scenarios last year where Payton would have liked to open things up, but either (a) didn’t trust his rookie QB yet, or (b) didn’t trust the guys running the routes (or both).

So now that we’ve seen Nix’s growth, is there enough talent at receiver behind Courtland Sutton? Is Troy Franklin able to become a consistent WR2? Is Marvin Mims Jr. more than a special teams ace? Can Evan Engram stay healthy and perform as a true TE1? Are there playmakers in the backfield who can catch the ball and generate yards? Today’s NFL requires that you have capable receivers at wide receiver, tight end and running back … and there’s a reason people are still leery about the weapons Nix has around him.

DROTAR

Nate’s right – it’s the pass-catchers, and I’ll add even the tight ends into that. Evan Engram is a terrific addition and should fit the Broncos’ offense perfectly… as long as he stays healthy. None of the other returning tight ends even had 200 yards receiving last year, and let’s just say that plenty of targets were available.

Behind Sutton, none of the Broncos’ wide receivers have yet proven to be consistent contributors at the NFL level, and they’re betting high on both Mims and Franklin taking major steps forward this season; without them doing so, it’s hard to envision any explosiveness in Denver’s passing game. Quite frankly, this feels like a position where the Broncos may be forced to go free-agent shopping after Russell Wilson’s $32M dead cap hit rolls off the books following the season.

CODY

The biggest concern will revolve around whether or not this group can collectively stay healthy. The offensive line is one of the biggest keys to success, and if the run game can get going, they’ll have a chance to contend. Their depth is strong, and hopefully it doesn’t get tested.

Another element to watch for is how the younger skill players evolve and develop behind Courtland Sutton. Evan Engram should help quite a bit, but Devaughn Vele, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant’s development and play will be important for sustaining potential success.

KNUDSON

I get all the focus on the receivers. That’s where the league has been for the last decade. But the best teams are going back to trying to have a strong ground game.

See last year’s champs…

A quarterback’s best friend is a strong running game. The additions of RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins should mean a giant boost to the entire offense. That is, if the head coach/play-caller is on board.

All of Broncos Country was befuddled late last season when Sean Payton wrote “Run the Ball” on his play sheet… and stuck with that plan for exactly one half. Denver ultimately lost that game in Los Angeles.

Will the two new backs restore the play-caller’s confidence in the run game? If so, the offense will be a lot better. If not, and the Broncos rely solely on the passing game again, they could end up leading the league in three-andouts again, meaning the offense won’t be measurably improved.

MOHRMANN

I’m with Mark. As nice as it is that Bo Nix should have a much better season, the value on the pass-catchers is a bit inflated.

Of the last three Super Bowl champions, only two pass-catchers have totaled 1,000 receiving yards in those seasons, and one of them was tight end Travis Kelce. I think the running backs are in a much better spot to contribute, but it almost feels like a Band-Aid approach with J.K. Dobbins. He might very well be the determining factor on whether Sean Payton’s offense can reach its full potential.

Combined with RJ Harvey, there is hope that this ground attack can make the Broncos a dangerous team. But we need to see it. The young receivers are going to be better. Courtland Sutton is a reliable No. 1. The offensive line is good. The Broncos’ offensive hopes are on the running backs.

OTTEWILL

I like what Mark had to say about the ground game; perhaps the “concern” has little to do with personnel and more with the guy calling the plays. Were the Broncos running backs as bad as they seemed last season, or did Sean Payton squash any possibility that they could improve over the course of a season – if he just stuck with them? We’ll never know, but Mark’s concern on that front is entirely valid.

Collectively, our concerns can be summed up by saying that both the pass-catching unit and the running back room must be better. If one or both falters, this team could fall woefully short of expectations… maybe. Then again, those were the concerns – and problems – a year ago. And they still made the playoffs.

Acknowledging concerns and hoping for the best feels like a dour approach, though. Every year, every team has a player that steps up and plays beyond what was predicted or expected. Is there a player on the offensive side of the ball that you believe has the potential to really exceed expectations?

ROARK

Troy Franklin. Last year, he was buried on the depth chart and was trying to find his footing. He’s been the one player at training camp who looks like he’s taken the biggest leap, and this goes back to the offseason program, where he drew praise from Sean Payton. He added roughly 5 pounds this offseason and is doing more than just running the deep ball.

He’s attacking every level of the field, and that Nix-to-Franklin Oregon connection looks to be taking off again.

DROTAR

With apologies to J.K. Dobbins — who could’ve been one of the best running backs in the NFL with a little better injury luck — I picked Franklin in last year’s issue for this very topic, and I’m not going to back off now. Nix’s top target in Oregon can nearly match speedster Marvin Mims stride for stride, but he’s four inches taller, allowing him to operate in places and ways that Mims can’t.

Ideally, he leaps over possession specialist Devaughn Vele on the depth chart, and operates opposite of Courtland Sutton as soon as possible. Franklin‘s speed and elite separation skills can crack Sean Payton‘s playbook wide open – and not just in the passing game.

The Broncos hoped Franklin would blossom as a rookie along with Nix last year, but if it happens this fall instead, Denver’s offense will prove that he was worth the wait.

OTTEWILL

Well, here we go. I’m “surprised” both of you have forgotten about Franklin’s nearly complete inability to catch the deep ball last season – the playoff touchdown withstanding, obviously. So, so many drops. His speed and size – and alma mater, for that matter – have never been in question. I sure hope you’re both right, as Franklin must clear that mental hurdle to grow into the player we all thought he could be a year ago.

KNUDSON

The guy who could exceed expectations is rookie receiver Pat Bryant. Evan Engram is getting notice for the match-up problems he presents as sort of a hybrid tight end who plays like a wide receiver, and Bryant could present similar issues for defenses. Maybe he’s a wide receiver who plays more like a tight end?

Mismatches are what every play-caller is looking to create, so having a guy like Bryant who can create as many, if not more of them, than Engram could be a boost for the offense.

LUNDY

My answer might seem odd, but my choice for a player that will surprise is Courtland Sutton.

A player who led the team in receiving yards with nearly 1,100 and hauled in 8 touchdowns might seem like a weird choice, but have you looked at the wise guys in Vegas?

His over/under on yards this season is 875.5. His touchdown total is set at 6.5.

So even the moneymakers are saying he’s going to drop. I say the guy who could surprise everyone is Sutton, by finally proving he is worthy of being a WR1 in this league.

OTTEWILL

While everyone is excited about Bo Nix being the franchise quarterback Broncos Country has long awaited, perhaps the biggest reason the Broncos earned a postseason berth was the defense. On paper, that unit has gotten even better through free agency and the draft. In fact, it looks like George Paton and Sean Payton doubled down on their true strength over the offseason. Payton is an offensive guy through and through, but is the identity of this team actually on defense? Does Payton trust Vance Joseph, or does he simply want to provide him with the best talent possible and not meddle on that side of the ball? Is the situation on defensive as good as it seems, or is everyone getting ahead of themselves?

MOHRMANN

When John Elway figured out that it was the defense paving the way for a Super Bowl championship, he leaned into the theory. He leaned in a little too much by not finding even the most basic level of competence at the offensive level, but he might’ve been on the right track.

Traditionally, if a team has the capability of slowing down the top offenses, their chances of winning games skyrockets. The Broncos drafting Jahdae Barron was a clear sign that Payton likes how this team is built on both sides, so he grabbed the player that could best help the team. And I do think he trusts Vance Joseph. If he didn’t, he would’ve sent him packing after giving up 70 points against the Dolphins. And since that loss, things have only trended up for this defense, which will be the best defense in the NFL in 2025.

KNUDSON

I agree with Dan about trusting Joseph, and there’s good reason to do so. This ‘D’ is solid all the way around; only multiple injuries could undo them. It all starts, as they say, up front. If the Broncos’ defense can stop the run a little bit better than they did a season ago, they will be devastating. They aren’t likely to have the team sack total they had last season, but that won’t matter if they can consistently make teams have to throw against a secondary that should be as good or better than anyone in the league aways, good field position for the offense, and this is a 12-win team or better.

ROARK

It’s clear that Payton trusts Vance Joseph and that the defense is the foundational identity of this team. The cliché that defense wins championships is true. Denver has a Super Bowl-caliber defense, and they will need the offense to put up points this year, but it’s also true that there’s a lot of push-and-pull.

There will be weeks the defense might not have their best game, but the hope is that the offense will be there to step up, and vice versa. Denver is in a position this year where they have an elite-level player at every level of the defense, and that hasn’t been the case for Denver since 2015. If this unit stays healthy, they could provide a significant boost to the Broncos’ Super Bowl hopes.

DROTAR

The words “on paper” are two of the most dangerous in sports, but we don’t have to use those when projecting the Broncos defense. Denver’s veteran defensive line – including starters Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones and the versatile, smack-talking Malcolm Roach – all return to anchor Vance Joseph’s defense, freeing up a pass rush led by soon-to-be superstar Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper that topped the NFL in sacks last season. Reigning defensive player of the year Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan MacMillian and Brandon Jones all return in their roles in the backfield, so projection isn’t necessary – we’ve seen this unit before, and it was already top-five in the league.

Adding rangy linebacker Dre Greenlaw finally gives the Broncos the ability to limit AFC West tight end terrors Travis Kelce and Brock Bowers. Aggressive thumper Talanoa Hufanga will bring even more physicality to Denver’s defense. And rookie corner Jahdae Barron will start climbing the depth chart in short order.

The Broncos are deep, skilled, and confident; expect Joseph to leverage that into a relentless attack that should be as fun to watch as any since at least 2015’s “No Fly Zone.” Yes, really – they’re that good.

LUNDY

Everyone has already identified the big names and the talent on this defense.

From the trenches to the secondary, Joseph’s guys are going to give opposing offensive players (and coordinators) fits.

We all know that staying healthy is the most important piece to any team in any sport. The Broncos’ brass took a few chances on guys with injury histories, but who, when healthy, are among the league’s best. The same goes for Alex Singleton. He was a beast for Denver prior to his ACL tear in Week 3 last year and the defense was still top-tier. Having him back is the equivalent of bringing in another starter through free agency. I agree with Mark that this team might not have 63 sacks like last year. But with a soft schedule, they may come close.

OTTEWILL

So, this defense is stacked. But let’s look at the cornerback position specifically.

Somewhat controversially, the Broncos took a cornerback with their first-round pick – even though they’ve got an emerging talent in Riley Moss and the DPOY in Pat Surtain II. With that as a backdrop, was the draft pick the way you would have gone? Is the selection of Barron a direct response to the weeks when either Surtain II or Moss were sidelined with injury? To be fair, those games offered some challenges. How will Barron be utilized? Is he a luxury or does this make Denver’s cornerback room one of the best in the NFL?

ROARK

The Broncos cornerback room was strong before the draft, and adding Jahdae Barron makes it even better. Denver will face a handful of teams who have good wide receiver rooms and, as we saw last year, you can never have enough cover guys. Barron will primarily work in the slot alongside Ja’Quan McMillian, and there will be times we see both of them on the field together with Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss.

I would say right now, on paper – sorry for using your least-favorite term, Shawn – that the Broncos have the best secondary in the league, and the best cornerback room.

KNUDSON

Full disclosure: I would not have drafted a cornerback with the Broncos’ firstround pick. Teams drafting for depth typically stay with the “best player available…” while lesser teams add, “…at a position of need.”

No one thought Denver needed another cornerback.

That said, Barron will make an outstanding defense even better. He won’t have the same impact an Ashton Jeanty would have for the Raiders, and maybe not Omarion Hampton for the Chargers, either. And he may not have his biggest impact for a few more seasons, but when you stick to the “best player available” and you’re right, you reap the benefit in the long term.

It looks very much, at the moment, the only position where Denver could deal with injuries is the secondary. That’s a good place to start with, depth-wise.

MOHRMANN

I always struggle with the idea of drafting a player in the first round who won’t be in a position to have an immediate impact at his position. That’s not to say Barron won’t work out in the long run, and it may prove to be a savvy move for Payton and Paton.

But just two picks later, Omarion Hampton got snatched up by the Chargers. The Broncos could have completely solidified the running back position with a pick like that and hurt a division rival in the process. Barron might turn out to be a great player two years down the road, and Denver could be lucky to have him, but using a Round 1 pick on CB3 feels at this point like an opportunity lost.

LUNDY

I was not a big fan of the Barron pick when it happened. That said, I’ve since come around to it, and here’s why: First, I disagree with Dan about Hampton; I’m not a fan of first-round running backs. I believe you make a bigger impact on your team at other spots on the roster, and using a valuable pick on a running back is not worth it.

Next, everyone wanted a tight end. Well, Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland were already gone, so no dice there in the first round. Next on the list was an impact wide receiver. I wouldn’t have hated a wide receiver there, but it too is a position that I think you can find mid-round value… and the Broncos used a pick on Troy Franklin last year.

So that brings me back around to Barron. The Broncos scared teams for years with the “No-Fly Zone.” I’m all for trying to rebuild that again for the next several seasons.

DROTAR

While the Barron pick was a surprise, given the offense’s clear needs, I would’ve done the same thing in the Broncos’ place. Barron won the only award that Colorado’s Travis Hunter was up for that he didn’t win last season (the Jim Thorpe Award as the best college defensive back), and proved to be both instinctive and a quick study at the Broncos’ training camp.

Despite its reputation, Denver gave up 30 or more points in four of their last six games last season – and had the Chiefs not benched every important starter in the regular-season finale, it might well have been five.

When fellow cornerback Riley Moss was injured late in the season, the Broncos’ defense was wobbly at best, and given that the Broncos have to play Patrick Mahomes twice, Justin Herbert twice, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels (to name just a few dangerous quarterbacks) this season, Denver can’t take that risk again.

As I mentioned, I think Barron will climb the depth chart quickly, and I think there’s even a chance that he’s playing opposite Pat Surtain by the end of this season.

OTTEWILL

Sean Payton has not been shy about praising his team, unapologetically calling them a Super Bowl-caliber team.

Is he off base? Should he be saying so out loud, whether he believes it or not? Do his comments put himself and the team under an unnecessary spotlight? If he’s wrong, is he to blame? I love this team. I truly believe they’re superior to last year’s team already.

But I don’t quite understand the need to go full throttle on the hype train. I get trying to give your own team confidence. Then again, I think Payton’s praise is bordering on unnecessary, maybe even putting a bullseye on his team’s back when that doesn’t need to happen.

LUNDY

Payton is a fan of the team he has built. There’s nothing wrong with that. There are plenty of people in the national media who feel the same way about the Broncos. They are not an immediate frontrunner to win it all, but the combination of the talent on defense and the potential on offense puts them in a strong position. I still think they are a couple of pieces away… but I’ve said before that at the beginning of the season about teams that eventually won it all.

ROARK

If the coach doesn’t believe it, how can the team ever expect to? The turnaround of this team from just two years ago is incredible. It’s about having the right guys in the locker room, and Payton has that.

He sees things in Bo Nix that some of us don’t get to really see, and with the talent surrounding them defensively — and the additions to the offense — this Broncos team could have the pieces necessary to compete for a championship… but they’ll need to get off to a hot start in order to really put gasoline on that fire!

MOHRMANN

A friend of mine likes to say that those who talk about themselves are heard, but those who have others talk about them are remembered. I remember the days when (then head coach) Vance Joseph and Vic Fangio liked the makeups of their teams, too — and that didn’t turn out too well. This situation is definitely not that. I think we can all unanimously say that the Broncos are probably better than they have been at any point in the last 10 seasons. And the confidence that Payton has is certainly a factor in that. I don’t think he’s wrong for publicly stating his high hopes for the team, but if analysts who used to be head coaches appear impressed every week, that’ll be a bigger tell. Credit to Payton if this all goes well. But if it doesn’t, well the buck stops with him. This is his team, his quarterback — and his hype to live up to.

DROTAR

There’s nothing wrong with having Super Bowl aspirations, and putting voice to it allows the team to believe it, too.

Of course, Payton knows the Broncos are the darkest of dark horses, and a dozen things would have to go wrong for so many AFC contenders for Denver to win the conference title… but what’s wrong with having a goal?

The Broncos’ immediate model isn’t going to be popular with fans, but wins are wins… the plan is to mimic the 2013 Seahawks, whose aggressive, attacking defense derailed Denver’s record-setting offense en route to their dominating win in Super Bowl 48.

Russell Wilson’s rookie contract enabled Seattle to spend on that defense, and Bo Nix’s contract gives the Broncos the same opportunity… so why not shoot for the moon?

You’ll never reach it if it’s never a goal.

KNUDSON

For Mike Shanahan, it was always Super Bowl or bust. Always. He was never shy about saying so. And it worked. There’s another way to look at Payton’s statements: He’s putting the pressure on the players, and taking it off himself and the front office to some degree. He’s saying,

“We’ve got the players now. They just have to perform…” If things go wrong, he can throw the players — and the GM (who picked the players), too — under the proverbial bus.

He won’t be without blame if this season doesn’t go well, but he will be able to spread it around.

The same goes for success, but I’m less inclined to see him sharing credit. Payton spent a year as a media member, so he knows the ropes. He’s media-savvy and he knows by making statements like this, he’s raising the bar. I think this is all tactical.

Now, let’s see if it all works.