In their preseason opener on the road, the Denver Broncos defeated the San Francisco 49ers with a final score of 30-9. The Broncos’ win was fueled by a strong showing from quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who threw two touchdown passes after starter Bo Nix struggled early on. Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its Preseason Week 1 player grades, highlighting the best and worst individual performances.
Offense
Best Offensive Players
- QB Jarrett Stidham: 87.7
- OL Calvin Throckmorton: 86.2
- OL Nick Gargiulo: 84.0
- WR Trent Sherfield: 82.5
- OL Quinn Meinerz: 81.5
Worst Offensive Players
- WR Courtney Jackson: 28.6
- OL Clay Webb: 32.8
- WR Courtland Sutton: 39.6
- TE Caden Prieskorn: 46.3
- TE Evan Engram: 48.2
Beyond Stidham’s standout play, wide receiver Trent Sherfield was a pleasant surprise, leading the team with 73 receiving yards and a touchdown. Second-year player Troy Franklin (61.9) also displayed flashes of his potential, rekindling the chemistry he shared with Nix at Oregon.
On the other hand, wide receiver DeVaughn Vele (51.5) appears to be on the outside looking in. Despite being a starter last season, Vele’s being pushed at the position as cuts approach. Along with Nix and Sutton, he will look to improve his performance this week against the Arizona Cardinals.
Defense
Best Defensive Players
- CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 92.7
- OLB Jonah Elliss: 89.7
- CB Kris Abrams-Draine: 81.2
- DL Jordan Jackson: 79.0
- CB Jahdae Barron: 78.2
Worst Defensive Players
- DB Delarrin Turner-Yell: 31.1
- CB Riley Moss: 40.2
- DL Eyioma Uwazurike: 44.7
- DL Kristian Williams: 45.0
- DB Sam Franklin: 47.8
Ja’Quan McMillian was the starting nickelback on the Broncos’ first defensive series against the 49ers, notably ahead of first-round rookie Jahdae Barron. McMillian made his case to keep the starting job by catching an interception, and he will need to continue his strong play to hold off the rookie. Another standout on the defensive line was rookie Jonah Elliss, who was flying around the field and especially excelled at the pass rush, which resulted in a quarterback hit.
Nik Bonitto’s (51.7) PFF grade was surprisingly low, considering his impactful sacks during the game. Bonitto, recently ranked 38th on the NFL’s Top 100 list, is continuing to build a strong case for a significant contract extension.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Broncos LB Nik Bonitto checks in at No. 38! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/WIPfNDCsXK
— NFL (@NFL) August 12, 2025
Despite the team’s strong performance overall, the initial series saw them give up a 50-yard pass from quarterback Mac Jones, and their run defense was the lowest graded portion. This early rust, however, was overcome, and the defense ultimately lived up to its recent NFL.com ranking as the league’s top unit.
Special Teams
- ST Tyler Badie: 90.0
- ST Damarri Mathis: 72.2
- LS Mitchell Fraboni: 64.5
- K Wil Lutz: 69.3 (FG) 52.0 (KO)
- P Jeremy Crawshaw: 55.9
In a competitive race at running back, Tyler Badie’s strong performance on special teams should be enough to lock up a spot. Despite a low net punt average (37.0 yards), Sean Payton had high praise for rookie Jeremy Crawshaw in his press conference on Tuesday.
The Broncos will face the Arizona Cardinals this Saturday, following a joint practice at the Broncos’ training facility on Thursday. This upcoming game will provide a clearer picture of whether the first-team offensive issues against the 49ers were due to early-season sluggishness, or if they represent legitimate concerns.