Iain Schreiber | Sports Writing

The Denver Broncos enter the 2026 season with significantly higher expectations than a year ago. A 14-3 regular season and a thrilling AFC Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills 33-30 have shifted the narrative from making the playoffs to competing with the best in the AFC.

The 2025 AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots was a bitter pill to swallow. With Bo Nix suffering a broken ankle in the Bills game, Jarrett Stidham was thrust into the starting role in the Broncos’ first AFC championship game appearance since 2015.

Despite roster stability this offseason, several intriguing storylines have emerged during training camp. Denver’s players, coaches, and fans are optimistic that the team can reach new heights this fall. 

Bo Nix Enters Year 3 with Elevated Expectations

Bo Nix is no longer the young quarterback proving his worth in the NFL. Now in his third season, expectations have shifted from fans and coaches alike. Broncos fans hope to see Nix become one of the league’s top quarterbacks after leading Denver to a 14-3 record last season.

Nix’s 2025 campaign was very impressive. He threw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns, completing 63.4% of his passes. His 3,931 yards ranked eighth in the NFL, not going unnoticed. His 3,931 yards ranked eighth in the NFL, earning him a spot at No. 59 on the NFL’s Top 100 list. 

However, Nix’s season ended in dramatic fashion. His broken ankle suffered in the Bills game left him sidelined in what would have been the biggest game of his career, which leads me to believe Nix is more hungry now than ever. Especially after the 10-7 AFC Championship game loss to the Patriots, Broncos fans are certainly left to question: How could that game have gone differently with our starting QB playing?

As encouraging as his second season was, Nix still has room for growth. His passer rating of 87.8 and yards per attempt average suggest that Denver’s passing attack could take more chances. If the Broncos hope to challenge the elite teams within their division and conference, it starts with their franchise quarterback.

Fortunately for Nix and company, Denver added a brand new offensive weapon this offseason.

Jaylen Waddle: Denver’s newest addition

The Broncos made a splash this offseason by acquiring wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and the 111th pick from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the 30th, 94th, and 130th selections in the 2026 draft. Waddle brings an element to Denver’s offense that was missing.

Since 2022, Waddle ranks third in the NFL in yards per reception at 15.0 and has produced multiple 1,000-yard seasons during his time in Miami. His ability to stretch the field and get over the top of a defense makes him the perfect addition for a team that needs more down-field plays.

The addition of Waddle goes beyond just giving Nix another weapon in the pass game. Waddle’s pure threat ability should create more one-on-one opportunities for players like Courtland Sutton, forcing safeties to respect the deep ball instead of jumping the run-game. Since the new era of Sean Payton and Bo Nix in Denver, they’ve relied heavily on methodical drives and playcalling for success. With Waddle bolstered into this offense, the Broncos now have a true “home-run” threat, capable of changing games with a single play.

The Broncos have added another compelling piece with fourth-round running back Jonah Coleman out of Washington. 

Coleman built a reputation as a physical, downhill runner in college, and those traits are catching coaches’ and reporters’ eyes in training camp. I could see Coleman stepping into a role of a short-yardage back in his rookie year with the Broncos.

Coleman’s arrival adds another layer to the Broncos’ most compelling position battle at camp.

The running back room may be Denver’s toughest roster decision.

 Rather than searching for a clear-cut starter, the Broncos have assembled one of the deepest backfields in the league. The biggest question isn’t who will win the RB1 job – it’s who will make the roster and how snaps will be divided once the season starts.

Veteran J.K. Dobbins brings experience and proven production, but injuries have plagued him throughout his career. After another season-ending foot injury last year, Denver hopes he can finally stay healthy for an entire season. 

Second-year back RJ Harvey had promising moments in his rookie year, particularly as a receiving back. I expect Harvey to step into a larger role as the primary pass-catching back. We’ve seen what Sean Payton was able to do with a versatile pass-catching back in the case of Alvin Kamara on the Saints, and I can see similarities between him and Harvey’s games.

Jaleel McLaughlin also remains firmly in the mix. He has a familiarity with the offense that could secure him a spot on the roster despite the tough competition.

Jonah Coleman, the rookie mentioned earlier, brings a different running style that the Broncos were missing. Rushing for 758 yards and 15 touchdowns during his final season at Washington showed his abilities as a power-back, and contribution in the red-zone.

Tyler Badie and Cody Schrader round out the position group, fighting to earn one of the final roster spots.

With so many capable options, Denver’s coaching staff faces interesting decisions come the end of camp. Although there isn’t a true RB1 on this roster, I think that comes as a benefit to the Broncos. I’m curious to see which running backs make the roster and how each player’s unique skillset is used.

The Broncos’ offensive line remains the foundation of the offense.

As exciting as Denver’s skill players have become, the line remains one of the Broncos’ biggest strengths.

Denver returns one of the deepest and most experienced lines, led by projected starters Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, and Mike McGlinchey.

According to Next Gen Stats, Bolles allowed the lowest pressure rate among left tackles in the NFL in 2025, playing 99% of Denver’s snaps. Meinerz ranked second among all right guards in pressure rate allowed, and together they became the first Broncos offensive lineman tandem to earn All-Pro honors in the same season.

As a team, Denver allowed just 22 sacks last year, a testament to the strength of its offensive line in pass protection and Bo Nix’s ability to evade big loss plays outside the pocket.

Something that I found impressive about Denver’s O-line was its experience playing together. All five projected starters returned this year, showing the organization’s priorities in keeping this unit together. Meinerz and Bolles signed contract extensions in 2024, and Wattenberg received an extension last year.

This unit will be the foundation of the Broncos offense, dictating whether they can take the next step collectively as a team. Keeping as much chemistry as possible on the offensive side of the ball seemed to be a priority for the Broncos front office this offseason. That makes sense considering the coaching and playcalling adjustments that have been made this offseason.

Davis Webb begins as the new Offensive Coordinator and playcaller.

For the first time in Sean Payton’s coaching career, someone new will be taking over as the offensive playcaller. This is one of the most overlooked storylines surrounding the Broncos this training camp.

Webb, a former Broncos quarterbacks coach, has quickly risen through the ranks. He played six years as an NFL quarterback with the Giants, Jets, and Bills before retiring and joining the Broncos in 2023. He was promoted to the offensive pass game coordinator in 2025 before earning another promotion this offseason to offensive coordinator and playcaller. 

While Webb is a young mind with little regular-season experience, he knows Nix well. They were both brought to the Broncos the same year in 2023 and have been working together ever since. This familiarity makes the transition to a new playcaller less stressful and more exciting. Could it unlock a different gear for Nix and the Broncos this season?

Webb has called plays for the Broncos once in his career. Denver tallied 562 yards of total offense, averaging nearly eight yards per play. Although it’s a small sample size and a preseason game, it helps explain why Payton feels comfortable turning over one of the team’s most important responsibilities.

I’m eager to see the Broncos evolve with new pieces at its core. With Waddle stretching defenses vertically and the veteran O-line protecting Nix, I expect Denver to push the ball downfield with more aggression and consistency than in recent years. 

It’s hard to argue the Broncos aren’t Super Bowl contenders this year, given their three-point loss in last season’s conference championship game. The changes over the offseason excite me for Broncos fans. Not only does this team still retain a top-five defense in the league, but it seems that offensively they’ve only gotten stronger and deeper. 

If everything falls into place, the Broncos may have assembled an offense capable of meeting the championship expectations surrounding the franchise.