The Denver Broncos do have a ton of questions that will be answered in the coming weeks and months. Let's open those questions up. The Broncos might end up surprising a ton of people in the 2024 NFL Season. It's OK if you are high on the Broncos, but I also do understand if you're someone who is a bit pessimistic as well.
The team has stunk it up for years now, but they did finish 2023 with a 7-4 record after starting 1-5. It's hard to not like where the team is at this point. That doesn't mean that it'll be an easy process in 2024, though. Let's look at one burning question for each Broncos position group heading into the 2024 NFL Season.
1 burning question for each Broncos position group heading into 2024 season
Quarterback - Does Bo Nix convincingly win the starting job?
To me, it's only a matter of time before Bo Nix wins the starting job, but does he win it convincingly? Is this something that the Broncos announce right before the regular season begins? Or is this something that they get out of the way before the preseason begins?
Ideally, you want Nix to run away with this job as quickly as possible, as both Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson aren't viable starting QBs in the NFL. Nix was the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, so he's got a pedigree advantage over Stidham and Wilson.
Running Back - How many "odd men out" are there?
All of Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson, and Audric Estime may perform well enough this offseason to earn a roster spot, but it's not likely that the Denver Broncos keep five running backs. How many do they keep? Is there just one odd man out? Or maybe two? It's perhaps the most interesting position group for the Broncos this offseason.
And this is a unit that is oozing with talent as well, even if they haven't proven themselves yet.
Offensive Line - Who emerges as the starting center?
All of Alex Forsyth, Luke Wattenberg, Sam Mustipher, and Nick Gargiulo could compete for the starting center job this offseason. And you never know, one or more of them could settle into more of a backup guard role if anything. I do think the team wants to see Forsyth emerge as the starting center, who was college teammates with Bo Nix from Oregon.
However, there hasn't been much clarity if any about this unit. It'll be interesting to follow this battle, even if it's not a sexy position.
Tight End - Does Lucas Krull or Greg Dulcich stabilize the unit?
Please, I am begging Lucas Krull and Greg Dulcich to both take huge leaps in 2024. It would round out the Denver Broncos play-makers and could boost the unit in a major way. Dulcich has hardly played over his first two seasons due to hamstring troubles. Krull is the epitome of a developmental player, but there has to be a reason why Sean Payton brought him over, right?
Wide Receiver - Can anyone be a bona-fide WR1 for Bo Nix?
The Denver Broncos are not lacking at wide receiver, but they are lacking in the WR1 department. Courtland Sutton was the team's best wide receiver in 2023, but he's not a clear-cut WR1 anymore. The 2020 ACL injury he suffered does still seem to be impacting him years later.
The best bet to emerge as the WR1 in 2024 and beyond is Marvin Mims Jr, the Broncos speedy WR who earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2023 for his work as a returner. Mims being able to carve out a huge role as a receiver in 2024 is the most ideal scenario I can think of for this group.
Defensive Line - Are the additions enough to improve the unit?
John Franklin-Myers, Angelo Blackson, and Malcolm Roach were the notable additions in free agency to the defensive line. JFM is a plus defender, and Roach is a very good run defender. Blackson is a well-traveled veteran, so perhaps the Broncos did bring in the players they needed to fix this unit.
If so, and if the run defense isn't bottom of the league, the entire unit could improve. Games in the NFL are won in the trenches, and the Broncos were a liability along the defensive front in 2023, to say the least.
Outside Linebackers - Can the incumbent trio take another step forward?
The trio of Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, and Jonathon Cooper did seem to show some progress in 2023. Can the young trio again take a leap in 2024? Perhaps if the defensive line is fixed, the outside linebackers will have it easier. Cooper and Bonitto each had at least eight sacks in 2023, which was nice, but overall, the Broncos pass rush was near the bottom in the NFL.
It simply was not good enough. Perhaps rookie EDGE Jonah Elliss can emerge as the go-to player in this unit.
Inside Linebackers - How big will Josey Jewell's loss be?
The Denver Broncos are already without Drew Sanders, as he tore his Achilles a couple of months ago. The top three inside linebackers are now Alex Singleton, Cody Barton, and Jonas Griffith. Will them losing Josey Jewell impact the unit in a big way? Barton is fine, perhaps as good as Jewell, but you just never know.
Jonas Griffith easily has the highest ceiling of any player here, but man, this unit does worry be a bit now that Jewell is in Caroline, where he reunited with former defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero.
Secondary - Does the team have a drop-off at safety without Justin Simmons?
The Denver Broncos cut Justin Simmons to begin their offseason, and he's still a free agent. The Broncos made two notable moves at safety, signing Brandon Jones, formerly of the Miami Dolphins, an re-signing PJ Locke III on a great contract for both sides. Jones is someone who Vance Joseph can play closer to the line of scrimmage, and Locke himself proved to be a quality blitzer.
Overall, though, will the team suffer a drop-off in play without Simmons? He's been the best in the league at the position for years now, so the answer might be yes, but I just think there is so much unknown here considering how long Simmons was holding down the backend for the Denver Broncos.
Specialists - Does Trenton Gill dethrone Riley Dixon?
Wil Lutz was money in 2023, making nearly 90% of his field goals, but the Denver Broncos do seem to have some competition at punter, making a very late free agency signing with Trenton Gill, who spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears. Dixon seems to be the better punter, but perhaps the much younger Gill has more juice in his leg.
There isn't much more to say about this unit overall, though. The special teams as a whole were very good in 2023, which was a pleasant surprise.