The Denver Broncos are looking to get back into their old, winning ways in the 2023 NFL season, but they won't achieve that without the help of their most important players. If the Broncos end up making the playoffs in 2023, which is most definitely possible, players at their most important positions will be playing quite well.
In the NFL, it's an objective fact that certain positions need to be solidified if a team wants to win games. Teams don't need an elite tight end to win a Super Bowl, but they surely do need strong QB play, for example. Fortunately, I do think the Broncos have enough talent at these positions to do some damage.
With strong coaching and solid injury luck, we could be talking about the Denver Broncos playing football in January. Let's dive into the five most important players on the roster for the 2023 NFL season.
Who are the five most important players on the Denver Broncos' roster heading into 2023?
5. Whoever is the team's best pass rusher
The Denver Broncos need to get to the QB better than they have in prior seasons. Really, ever since the exceptional 2018 season where Von Miller and Bradley Chubb led the way, the team hasn't exactly gotten to the QB consistently. What makes this situation even more frustrating is that Von Miller was a free agent last year, and the Broncos had a need for a pass rusher.
Instead of bringing back Miller, they signed Randy Gregory, which has turned into a huge mistake. Honestly, we really should not care who the best pass rusher is on the team. If it's Zach Allen, that's great. If Nik Bonitto wants to be that guy in 2023, great. The point is, no matter who leads the team in the pass-rushing department, it's crucial that Denver does have someone they can lean on in 2023.
4. Garett Bolles, LT
Outside of Tua Tagovalioa, who is the only left-handed starting QB in the NFL, every other QB has to have solid protection from their blindside. For the Denver Broncos, that is no different with Garett Bolles, who thankfully turned into a solid left tackle after beginning his career as one of the worst in the league.
In 2023, Bolles is back and healthy after missing most of the 2022 season with a broken lower leg. Not only that, but I think the offensive line that Denver will feature in 2023 will be the strongest they've had in years. Outside of center, the Broncos are solid at the four other spots, which is plenty in the NFL.
Many NFL teams have multiple questions along their OL. It's up to Bolles to pick up where he left off in the 2021 and initial part of the 2022 season. If for some reason he's regressed a bit with him slowly aging and the leg injury still bugging him, Denver and the offense could be in trouble.
I do think Garett Bolles returns to his normal self. The injury seemed to be a clean break and a pretty clear-cut recovery timeline. But being that he plays left tackle and is a huge part of helping this offense get back on track, he needs to be competent. He's going to get called for penalties and will likely give up sacks; that's just how the NFL works.
I am very eager to see this offensive line on the field playing in an offensive scheme that is hopefully putting points on the board.
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR
I think it's pretty clear that Jerry Jeudy is the top pass catcher that the Denver Broncos have going into the 2023 NFL season. He ended the year on a tear and just missed out on his first 1,000-yard receiving season. He did top 1,000 total scrimmage yards, though. With the team picking up his fifth-year option, there is a ton of pressure on Jerry Jeudy.
He's one of the best route runners in the NFL and is also quite fast. He's got adequate size and is really in many respects a complete wide receiver. With the injuries to Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler, I think even more pressure is on Jeudy to take more responsibility in this offense.
Sean Payton has spoken highly of Jerry Jeudy, and there is reason to believe that Jeudy could slide into a role that other receivers have held in Payton's offenses like Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks, and Marques Colston. That is definitely a high expectation for Jeudy, but the talent is there.
Russell Wilson is surely going to have a player or two on offense he'll rely on and use as a security blanket. Jerry Jeudy might be that guy. I think what we'll see from him in 2023, we'll see Jeudy getting the ball at or around the line of scrimmage. I think Jeudy is used best when an offense gets him the ball close to the LOS, as his YAC ability is absurd. He can separate downfield, but his best quality is his route running, so simply getting the ball in his hand should be what we see.
Jerry Jeudy also stayed quite healthy in 2022, so his health is something that needs to stay strong as well. With a strong 2023 season, the Denver Broncos may re-sign him to a massive contract extension.
2. Patrick Surtain II, CB
Another position in today's NFL that needs to be strong in order to win games is cornerback. Fortunately, Denver has the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Patrick Surtain II is already a lockdown cornerback and made his first of likely many All-Pro teams last year. He's only set to enter his age-23 season and should be a long-term fixture of the defense.
Surtain's ability to thrive in any sort of coverage and his complete nature make him the best in the business. It's imperative that Surtain stays healthy in 2023 and can keep blanketing one-half of the field. Denver's secondary might be their best position group on the roster. The NFL is a pass-first league, so having a strong secondary is a huge advantage.
1. Russell Wilson, QB
This is no surprise. The most important position on the roster and the most important position crucial to the success of an NFL team is their quarterback. Russell Wilson has won at the biggest stages in the NFL. He's also lost on the biggest stages. There might not be a player under more pressure in the entire NFL than Wilson.
He turns 35 late in the season and the clock is most definitely ticking. He's never had an offensive head coach and even expressed a desire to play for Sean Payton when he was on the Seattle Seahawks. Not only that, when you consider the offensive line and the playmakers, there may not be a better overall situation that Wilson has been in during his NFL career than in 2023.
He's got no excuses now.