The Denver Broncos have a top-3 roster in the NFL, and it just might be the best in the entire AFC. With the Super Bowl firmly in view, the Broncos simply have to do their jobs as we all know they can, and they should be playing in February.
And while the 2026 season is the sole focus, General Manager George Paton does always have to have the future in mind, as this team won't sustain success for the long-term unless aging players are replaced with younger talent.
That's simply how it works in the NFL, as Father Time is undefeated, and for the Broncos currently, there are two battle-tested veterans, and the two longest-tenured on the roster, who just landed on a stellar list, but there is also a huge catch here.
Denver Broncos appear twice on CBS Sports' list of top 30 NFL players 30 and older
For CBS Sports, Tyler Sullivan ranked the top 30 players in the NFL who are 30 years old and over, and both Courtland Sutton and Garett Bolles made the cut:
"29. Courtland Sutton
Sutton is one of the more underrated wideouts that we have in the NFL. The Broncos pass catcher is coming off back-to-back seasons in which he topped 1,000 receiving yards and at least seven receiving touchdowns. In 2025, he was named to the Pro Bowl for just the second time in his career after leading the Broncos in every meaningful receiving category, including 124 targets. Jaylen Waddle's arrival at Mile High this offseason may eat into Sutton's target share a bit. Still, there's an argument that he'll get more quality targets with opposing secondaries now needing to slow down multiple top receiving weapons, setting up another strong season.
9. Garett Bolles
Bolles is coming off a 2025 season in which he helped the Broncos advance to the AFC Championship game and, in the process, was named first-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. Bolles allowed no sacks throughout the regular season, nor in the playoffs as Denver made its push. He also allowed just 19 total pressures during the regular season. Bolles is a key fixture in the development of Bo Nix and a key pillar to their Super Bowl aspirations."
Sutton enters his age-31 season in the 2026 campaign, and Bolles enters his age-34 season. Both have honestly played some of the best football of their careers over the past two seasons, which is insane to think about, but that doesn't mean things will continue.
What is nice, though, is that offensive linemen across the NFL can sometimes sustain success well into their 30s - it's a position where the shelf life is longer than others, and Bolles is a perfect example. He was a top-3 tackle in the sport last year and did it during his age-33 season.
Bolles being this good for another 3-5 years honestly isn't out of the question. As for Sutton, he'll turn 31 years old about halfway through the season, and with Pat Bryant being a much younger player with a similar receiving profile, there is a chance that the 2026 season could be Sutton's last with the Broncos, especially if the team intends on extending Jaylen Waddle and perhaps even Bo Nix next offseason.
But for now, the Broncos can continue enjoying mostly high-end play from both players. While Sutton isn't a go-to No. 1 receiver at this stage of his career, he has become quite clutch during third and fourth-down situations, which is absolutely a desired quality.
And Sullivan is right that Sutton could enjoy another strong season, as Waddle should consistently command the attention of opposing defense's CB1, so Sutton might actually see more advantageous matchups in 2026, squeezing even more production out of the player before the Broncos potentially cut ties.
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