The Denver Broncos will again undergo a ton of change in the coming offseason, and these three resolutions should be at the top of their list. Did anything big happen in Broncos Country this week? In all seriousness, the Broncos made a huge, franchise-altering move by sending Russell Wilson to the bench for the remainder of the 2023 NFL season.
Backup QB Jarrett Stidham is now going to be given the next two games to prove whatever there is to prove to Sean Payton. Sending Wilson to the bench clearly means that the team does not want to go forward with the QB past this year. I guess there is still a small chance that Russell Wilson returns to the team in 2024, but don't bet on it.
The 2024 calendar year is shaping up to be a huge one for the Denver Broncos. What should their top-three New Year's resolutions be?
3 New Year's Resolutions for the Denver Broncos in 2024
1. Put a clear plan in place at quarterback
Let's just get the obvious one out of the way first. The Denver Broncos are again going to be searching for a franchise passer, and if we're being real, even if Russell Wilson was playing well and the team was winning, they'd have to find a long-term answer at some point, as Wilson would have been entering his age-36 season with the Broncos in 2024.
I think the most likely scenario for the Broncos at QB in 2024 is a veteran bridge and a rookie draft pick. Right now, Jarrett Stidham is probably the leader in the clubhouse to be that veteran bridge QB, and Payton has shown that he can win with those types of passers (see Teddy Bridgewater, 2019 & Jameis Winston, 2021)
Honestly, I would not get your hopes up for anything more than that in 2024.
2. Find some stability with offensive play-makers
The Denver Broncos have an inconsistent WR room featuring Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Marvin Mims Jr. They also have gotten next to nothing from their tight end room as well, as Adam Trautman stinks, frankly, and Greg Dulcich has not been seen this year. Sutton is under contract through 2024 and Jerry Jeudy is probably in his last season with the Broncos as well.
Outside of Mims, who has been inconsistent at WR this year, the Broncos just don't have a ton of stability with their pass-catchers. A huge need for the Denver Broncos going into the 2024 offseason is going to be getting this situation fixed. Given that the Broncos aren't likely going to be big spenders in free agency, I'd expect the team to take to the NFL Draft to try and bring some consistency to the units.
In today's NFL, it's a pass-first league, so the WR and TE positions become more and more important. I do think it'd be worth extending Courtland Sutton, and Marvin Mims does have a ton of potential, so building a more consistent stable of pass-catchers around those two makes a ton of sense.
3. Fix the defensive front
The Denver Broncos desperately need more talent along the defensive front. The pass rush is below-average and there is virtually no push from the interior defensive line. Outside of Zach Allen and perhaps Baron Browning and Nik Bonitto, this unit needs a total makeover. Denver has allowed the second-most rushing yards in the NFL this year and have allowed the most yards per carry in the NFL.
The Broncos have a trio of competent pass rushers in Browning, Bonitto, and Jonathon Cooper, but none of them are the type of difference maker that Denver needs at the position. While much easier said than done, the Broncos need to find their own version of Micah Parsons, TJ Watt, Maxx Crosby, etc.
This could be done in the NFL Draft. Browning, Cooper, and Bonitto are fine complimentary, backup pieces. Along the defensive line, there is absolutely nothing special with this unit outside of Zach Allen, who is having a great season. The Broncos easily need two more starters along the defensive line and at least one more starter at outside linebacker.
Needing to rebuild half the defensive front is a tall task, but winning at the line of scrimmage in the NFL is what makes or breaks teams, and Denver's defensive front, frankly, is bad.