Although more offseason staff exits came on offense and in their front office, the Broncos boasted one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2024. After a woeful start to Vance Joseph‘s second tenure overseeing this unit, Denver rebounded despite losing perennial All-Pro Justin Simmons.
The Broncos managed a third-place defensive ranking despite losing their top linebacker in Week 3. Alex Singleton sustained an ACL tear, causing the team to move special-teamer Justin Strnad into a regular role alongside Cody Barton. As Barton is one of the few free agents of consequence in Denver, the team has Singleton under contract for one more season.
[RELATED: Courtland Sutton Extension Talks On Broncos’ Radar]
Singleton, who totaled 163 tackles in 2022 and 177 in ’23, is tied to a three-year deal worth $18MM. The Broncos let Josey Jewell walk in free agency partially because it had Singleton on a midlevel pact, and while the 31-year-old veteran could conceivably be a cut candidate ($5.9MM in cap savings) following his injury, the team is thin at this position. Strnad is also an impending free agent. As of now, Singleton is due back to help on the Broncos’ defensive second level.
It does not sound like Singleton will be ready for OTAs or minicamp, but the former CFL import and Eagles starter fully expects to be ready well before the season starts. He referenced (via 9News’ Mike Klis) the nine-month mark, common in ACL recoveries, as a return window. It would not make too much sense for Singleton to push it in order for full minicamp participation; the near-two-month break following offseason workouts would provide a nice window to ramp up to full speed.
The Broncos will need to make moves at their other linebacker spot, and they are fully expected to address their skill-position areas. Bo Nix finished the season with the second-most touchdown passes (29) by a rookie, but he was largely targeting a skill-position cadre dependent on Courtland Sutton. Although, Marvin Mims‘ late-season emergence could provide a sign where the Broncos will allocate their top resources this offseason.
Asked by Kay Adams about a potential Broncos wide receiver need, Sean Payton praised his young array of Sutton sidekicks while highlighting the need for an inside playmaker.
“I’d say we need a joker,” Payton said during his appearance on Up & Adams. “Now, a joker can be a tight end or a running back. We were spoiled [in New Orleans]. You had Reggie [Bush], you had Jimmy Graham, Jeremy Shockey, Darren Sproles, Alvin Kamara; those are interior, they have to be elite receivers that play tight end or running back.”
Payton said the Broncos are stronger at receiver “than some would think.” While it would be safe to assume Denver will look into adding another option to play alongside Sutton and Mims, the former is going into his age-30 season and the latter has yet to establish himself as a consistent receiving option. That said, Denver did use fourth- and seventh-round picks on Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele last year. Both played auxiliary roles in Nix’s rookie season, respectively totaling 263 and 475 receiving yards as rookies.
Not expected to re-sign Javonte Williams, the Broncos have already been connected to addressing their RB spot. Bush, Sproles and Kamara types are not especially easy to find. Though, Aaron Jones is a free agent option who has been connected to Denver. The Broncos cut 2022 third-round pick Greg Dulcich, whom Payton had previously hoped could be his joker-type playmaker, last season and have received little from their TE post over the past two years.
Receiving tight ends are even harder to come by, and the Broncos do not seem likely to see top TE prospect Tyler Warren (Penn State) fall to No. 20. Michigan’s Colston Loveland is riding back-to-back seasons of at least 575 receiving yards; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Loveland as his No. 7 overall prospect (two spots behind Warren). LSU’s Mason Taylor, who accumulated 546 receiving yards last season, checks in as Jeremiah’s No. 34 overall prospect, with Miami’s Elijah Arroyo (590 yards in 2024) slotted 49th. As far as veterans go, Zach Ertz, Mike Gesicki, Tyler Conklin and ex-Saint Juwan Johnson lead an unremarkable free agent class.
I’d love to see Denver add a TE in the draft and another WR(Godwin type) to supplement mims and Sutton. Bo Brees needs a veteran possession receiver to get him out of trouble. Go after Bolton in KC to add to the LB core, sign A Jones and draft a back. Then go head hunting after KC
It would be a great fit for Warren or Loveland