After Sean Payton hit on his quarterback of the future in Bo Nix last year, the second-year quarterback has a massive benefit in Year 2: Consistency. Same play-caller. Same offensive staff, for the most part. Same offensive line. But as Nix has settled into both Payton’s offense and his role as the face of the franchise, Denver went out and nabbed him some new weapons this offseason.
Here’s a look at the Broncos’ likely two-deep, with maneuverable depth at the skill positions.
Quarterback
Bo Nix | 10
6-foot-2, 217 pounds, 25 years old, 2nd season, Oregon
Nix hit a few speed bumps out of the gate in his rookie year, then promptly settled in across the second half of the year as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks with 2,022 yards, 21 touchdowns and a 108.0 passer rating across his last eight games. Quarterback development in the NFL is rarely linear, but Nix sits in one of the cushiest situations in the league for any young QB. The Broncos’ ceiling will rise as high as his this year.
Jarrett Stidham | 8
6-3, 215, 28, 6th season, Auburn
After helping curate some incredible vibes in the Broncos’ quarterback room last season, Denver brought Stidham back on a two-year deal in free agency. His number was only called for 14 snaps in 2025, but he’s shown the ability to be a capable fill-in.
Running back
J.K. Dobbins | 27
5-10, 212, 26, 6th season, Ohio State
The Broncos yanked Dobbins off the free-agent market in June, after his comeback nine-touchdown season with the division-rival Chargers in 2024. He’s never played a full NFL season, and his health is a constant question mark, but Dobbins has proven he can be one of the most productive running backs in the league when he’s on the field.
RJ Harvey | 37
5-8, 205, 24, Rookie, UCF
The Broncos were connected to several other backs in a deep NFL draft class. But Harvey was their George Paton-dubbed “pet cat” all along. A shifty runner who Sean Payton sees as a pass-catching threat, Harvey’s backfield role will rest on his ability to master veteran traits of ball security and pass protection.
Jaleel McLaughlin | 38
5-7, 187, 24, 3rd year, Youngstown State
After sneaky-heavy usage his second year under Payton, McLaughlin’s put on a bit more muscle entering his third year in Denver. If he’s able to capably pick up blitzes in pass-protection, he’ll continue to see a slice of the pie in a crowded running back room.
Fullback
Michael Burton | 20
6-0, 247, 33, 11th season, Rutgers
Steady Mike. Burton’s played a handful of snaps each game the past couple of seasons in Denver, primarily as a run-blocker. He’s back on a one-year deal for more of the same.
Wide Receiver
Courtland Sutton | 14
6-4, 216, 29, 8th season, Southern Methodist
With a new four-year extension and massive payday in tow, Denver lifer Sutton will look to build upon his chemistry with Nix after a career-best 2024 that saw him reel in 81 catches for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns.
Pat Bryant | 13
6-2, 204, 22, rookie, Illinois
After the Broncos traded Devaughn Vele before their final game of the preseason, the stage is clear for third-round rookie Bryant to make a big impact in his first year in Denver. He’s got steady hands, is a sure blocker, and is a threat over the middle.
Wide Receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. | 19
5-11, 182, 23, 3rd season, Oklahoma
The Broncos unlocked Mims’ potential as a receiver the back half of last year by … moving him to running back. In 2025, Mims should step in as the Broncos’ starter at the Z, while also flashing on a variety of creative routes out of the backfield. He could be in line for a big year.
Troy Franklin | 11
6-3, 180, 22, 2nd season, Oregon
Franklin endured a rocky rookie year in Denver, catching 28 passes for 263 yards while struggling to find the chemistry he and Nix displayed at Oregon. He’s put together a monster training camp, though, and could be Nix’s best option for taking the top off defenses in 2025.
Tight End
Evan Engram | 1
6-3, 240, 30, 9th season, Ole Miss
Payton searched for an ideal mismatch throughout his first two years in Denver, and he finally found one in Engram, a Pro Bowl tight end who signed with Denver on a two-year deal in free agency. Engram averaged 78 catches a year across a solid 2022, monster 2023 and injury-plagued 2024 with the Jaguars. The Broncos would be more than happy with that output this year.
Adam Trautman | 82
6-5, 253, 28, 6th season, Dayton
Payton’s trusty blocker extraordinaire is back. Trautman has played a key role in Denver’s offense for two years, and that shouldn’t change even with the arrival of Engram.
Left tackle
Garett Bolles | 72
6-5, 300, 33, 9th season, Utah
Even as he’s starting to creep up in age, Bolles put together one of his best NFL seasons in 2024 and earned a nice extension in December. One of the key keepers of the Broncos’ culture, Bolles is back to protect Nix’s blind side for the foreseeable future.
Matt Peart | 79
6-7, 318, 28, 6th season, UConn
Peart proved himself a serviceable depth tackle in 2024 and re-upped with Denver at the start of free agency. He’s demonstrated a little guard flexibility in camp, too.
Left guard
Ben Powers | 74
6-4, 310, 28, 7th season, Oklahoma
Powers improved from his first season in Denver in 2023, but still allowed a team-high 24 pressures last year. He enters a key third season on his four-year deal.
Calvin Throckmorton | 76
6-5, 311, 28, 5th season, Oregon
After spending a few seasons split between New Orleans, Tennessee and Carolina, Throckmorton landed in Denver and played all of three snaps last year. He offers flexibility at both guard spots.
Center
Luke Wattenberg | 60
6-5, 300, 27, 4th season, Washington
Wattenberg seized Denver’s center job last year and is viewed by Payton as an “asset starter.” He was solid in pass-protection in 2024 and is looking to improve in the run game entering his second year as a full-time starter.
Alex Forsyth | 54
6-4, 312, 26, 3rd season, Oregon
Forsyth filled in across four starts last year with Wattenberg hurt. He produced mixed results: eight pressures and two sacks allowed in 169 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Right guard
Quinn Meinerz | 77
6-3, 320, 26, 5th season, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Meinerz continued to ascend last year after a breakout 2023, officially cementing himself as one of the best offensive linemen in the league and earning a first-team All-Pro nod.
Right tackle
Mike McGlinchey | 69
6-8, 315, 30, 8th season, Notre Dame
Despite missing a handful of games to injury last year, McGlinchey turned in a much better year in 2024 than his first season in Denver. He’s a key part of a cohesive Broncos offensive front.
Alex Palczewski | 63
6-6, 314, 26, 3rd season, Illinois
Palczewski impressed coaches last year in a few spot starts in place of McGlinchey, as Payton felt there was little drop-off in play.
Kicker
Wil Lutz | 3
5-11, 31, 10th season, Georgia State
The man just keeps on dealin’. Lutz enters another year with Payton after banging in 31 of 34 field goals last year and all 46 of his extra-point attempts. He’s established himself as one of the more consistent big legs in the NFL, nailing a career-best five attempts from 50-plus yards last year.
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