The Denver Broncos have made strides to improve a roster and coaching staff for a team that has been reeling ever since winning Super Bowl 50. Now that the free-agent signing period and NFL draft have taken place, teams are sitting with 90-man rosters and building toward the start of the 2023 season.
Every team still has holes, whether big or small, and NFL.com recently took a look at the biggest offseason priority remaining for each team. The article could only mention Sean Payton and Russell Wilson.
There is no question that the Broncos' success or failure this season will be largely tied to how well Wilson can execute Payton's offense. Was last season just an abberation for Wilson, or has he really fallen from the ranks of great NFL quarterbacks?
That is certainly a burning question, but it's not all about Payton and Wilson. Here are three other significant questions that the team will need to answer.
Broncos burning question No. 1: Can the running game hold up?
The Broncos used free agency to sign a blocking tight end in Chris Manhertz and a fullback in Michael Burton. They also brought in a veteran running back in Samaje Perine to work behind Javonte Williams.
It is clear that Payton wants a pounding rushing attack. But will it work with this group?
Williams is coming off of a significant knee injury that cut his 2022 season very short but the team doesn't seem to be overly concerned about that. However, Perine is a career backup and behind him the team doesn't have much in the way of depth.
There is certainly the possibility that an undrafted free agent such as Jaleel McLaughlin could come out of nowhere and make a name for himself, but there isn't much in the way of proven commodities among this group.
The Broncos want to be a ground and pound team that doesn't ask Wilson to be a hero that slings the ball around 40-50 times a game, but do they have enough in the way of personnel to be able to accomplish that goal?
Broncos burning question No. 2: Will the offensive line be significantly improved?
Heading into this offseason, the offensive line was probably the biggest concern on the team. How would the team address that weakness? Would they do so through free agency, the draft, or both?
That question was answered almost immediately into the free-agent signing period as the Broncos quickly reach agreement on deals with guard Ben Powers and tackle Mike McGlinchey. That addition of those two players, at least in theory, improves the offensive line tremendously.
The Broncos still have Lloyd Cushenberry at center. Is he going to be the starter when the season opens or will someone overtake him?
Will Garett Bolles come back ready to go after breaking his leg last season?
This unit has major questions and of course there is the matter of having to build some chemistry together and learn to play together as a unit.
If the Broncos are going to establish a tough rushing attack, they will need to lean on this offensive line tremendously.
Broncos burning question No. 3: Can Randy Gregory be better this year?
Well, it would be difficult for him to be any worse.
Gregory signed a massive free-agent deal with the Broncos ahead of last season and was supposed to be a tormenting pass-rusher who combined with Bradley Chubb to make up perhaps the best duo in the league.
That didn't even come close to happening.
Gregory spent most of the season hobbled with injuries and when he did play, which was just in six games, he didn't play that well. Chubb was traded and the team was using backups to those two players for much of the season as its pass-rushers.
Gregory will be back with a clean bill of health this season and he will combine with the likes of Baron Browning and last year's second-round pick, Nik Bonitto, to hopefully form a vaunted pass rush.
The Broncos are going to need to get a much bigger contribution from Gregory in particular, however, or he could easily be considered one of the biggest free-agent busts in team history with another season like last year.