The Denver Broncos being 3-2 through five games is honestly the best-case scenario. This team has played an absolute gauntlet of opponents thus far. Now, on a short week, the Broncos return home for the first time since the end of September, as they face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football.
The possiblity of getting out of this stretch with a 4-2 record would rejuvenate a season that honestly feels like it could go off the rails at any moment.
That doesn't mean things have gone smoothly. In fact, certain players have been downright awful to begin the season, and a trio of them come to mind, as they are absolutely playing themselves off the team in the future.
These Denver Broncos might not have a future with the team following the first five weeks
Ben Powers, LG
Ben Powers took a pay cut this offseason following a 2025 season where he actually suffered two notable injuries to his bicep and foot. Powers has simply regressed big-time this year. If PFF grades are your thing, shield your eyes. PFF's data gives Powers an overall grade of 51.3, which ranks 59th out of 73 guards. His pass-blocking grade of 33.3 ranks 68th.
He's simply been unsustainably bad, and while the Broncos may not have planned on re-signing him beyond 2026, his performance this year further confirms that he's not going to be in the team's future plans. Powers just can't do anything well thus far. He's been a culprit in giving up quick pressure and is not a player the running backs can run behind, either.
J.K. Dobbins, RB
J.K. Dobbins has been held under 4.0 yards per carry in four of five games this season. He averaged 3.8 yards per carry in Week 5 and is now at 3.6 yards per carry this year. Dobbins also looks regressed. He doesn't carry the same explosiveness through the hole that was present in 2025, and he's averaging over one yard per carry less than his 5.0 YPC total last year.
The Broncos re-signed Dobbins on a two-year deal that was and is easily able to be ripped up following 2026. With the team having added Jonah Coleman in the 2026 NFL Draft, Dobbins time is Denver is going to end after two seasons if he can't figure this out and begin to run like he has a majority of his career.
Courtland Sutton, WR
Courtland Sutton has been bad this year, folks. He's not eclipsed 50 yards in a game this year and has not caught more than three passes in a game. He's averaged just 9.5 yards per reception and is currently on pace for 354 yards on 37 receptions.
He's now in his age-31 season and has never really been a good separator to begin with, so him clearly having slowed down a bit is really making him a virtually non-existent player. In 2027, a post-June 1st release or trade would save the Broncos $20 million on their cap next year, while forcing them to eat just over $6 million in dead money.
With Pat Bryant already showing signs of promise this year despite now being on IR, him stepping into Sutton's "X" receiver role in 2027 and beyond makes sense, as the team may need to give Jaylen Waddle an extension, and there is always a chance that they also do the same with Marvin Mims Jr.
Sutton is not nearly the player he once was and is playing himself off the team.
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