With NFL training camps kicking off in July, it's time to get up to speed on all 32 NFL teams. Coral Smith has the lowdown on position battles, key players and notable subplots across the AFC West.
Catch up on the Denver Broncos' offseason developments and 2024 outlook below.
Training Camp Dates/Information
- Players report: July 17 (rookies); July 23 (veterans)
- Location: Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit | Englewood, Colorado (fan information)
Notable Roster Changes
| 2024 Draft class | Selection |
|---|---|
| Bo Nix, QB, Oregon | Round 1 (No. 12 overall) |
| Jonah Elliss, OLB, Utah | Round 3 (No. 76) |
| Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon | Round 4 (No. 102) |
| Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri | Round 5 (No. 145) |
| Audric Estimé, RB, Notre Dame | Round 5 (No. 147) |
| Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah | Round 7 (No. 235) |
| Nick Gargiulo, OG, South Carolina | Round 7 (No. 256) |
Preseason Schedule
- Week 1: at Indianapolis Colts | 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 11
- Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers | 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 18
- Week 3: vs. Arizona Cardinals | 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 25
2024 Schedule Notes
- Denver has the 20th-hardest strength of schedule in 2024 based on its opponents' 2023 win percentage (.495).
- The Broncos will open the season with three of their first four games on the road.
- Denver is one of six teams with the latest possible bye (Week 14).
-- NFL Research
What You Need To Know
1) The Broncos are still on the quarterback carousel, with three new contenders battling this offseason. Jarrett Stidham has a year in Denver's system under his belt, but only four career starts to his name. Zach Wilson started 33 games for the Jets over the past three years, but struggled in the role and was benched multiple times before being traded to the Broncos for a fresh start. And then there's this year's No. 12 overall pick, Bo Nix, who comes in with ample college experience and potential, but could encounter rookie growing pains. With no updates from Sean Payton on a front-runner so far, performances in camp and the preseason figure to be the final deciders on who starts Week 1. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean Denver will ride with one signal-caller for the full season.
2) With Jerry Jeudy's trade to the Browns, Courtland Sutton's role as the WR1 in the offense only becomes more important. Unfortunately, the wide receiver is currently engaging in contract talks with the Broncos and has indicated that, if a resolution is not reached by the start of camp, he hasn't ruled out holding out. Denver would much prefer he is present and on the field with his teammates at that point, especially considering the need to see his chemistry with the prospective QBs, but without guarantees on his future, it remains to be seen how far Sutton is willing to go and how much time he could miss.
3) Tight end was a clear weakness for the Broncos in 2023, but Payton seems to be content running things back with the same players and hoping for different results. Greg Dulcich has past history as the starter, but staying healthy has been a struggle for the third-year pro, and he hasn't been on the field yet this offseason. Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull filled in last year and expect to compete again, with the latter specifically receiving praise from the coaching staff this offseason. But after Denver's tight ends totaled 39 catches for 362 yards last year -- fewer than 28 individual TEs -- the question is whether this existing group has the pieces to meaningfully contribute in the passing game. If the Broncos are lacking in this area once again, it will leave a crucial dimension unavailable to whoever ends up under center.
4) Year 1 for DC Vance Joseph was a rough one, as he saw his unit finish 27th in scoring defense and 29th in total defense. Many of the obvious struggles came early on, with Denver surrendering a whopping 70 points to Miami in Week 3 alone. One part of the plan to turn things around in 2024: adding a bevy of new faces to the defensive line, including John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach, who respectively provide quality pass-rush skills and run-stopping abilities. They'll join Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, with the latter two looking to build off of breakout seasons where they each posted eight-plus sacks. With these new additions and rising incumbents, the defensive line looks to be in a better place entering camp this year.
5) The secondary will also look noticeably different after the loss of three starters, most notably Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons, who was cut as a cap casualty. Cornerback Pat Surtain II, the team's other defensive Pro Bowler from last season, remains a leader in the group, but there's plenty of work to do around him. That started with a new defensive backs coach, Jim Leonhard, who is tasked with bringing out significant contributions from returning players as well as new faces like Levi Wallace, Brandon Jones and fifth-rounder Kris Abrams-Draine. The question will be whether these coaching and personnel adjustments are enough to recoup lost production, much less make notable improvement on last year's results.
