With training camp behind us, the Broncos have finalized their roster and are looking forward to the beginning of the 2024 season and their Week 1 season opener on the road at Seattle. It is a lot different when they opened the season at Seattle two years ago with Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett. Just like last year, I'm doing a preview of the Broncos season as the 2024 season is about to get going. Here's this year's 2024 Denver Broncos Preview......
Where we left off? The last time we saw the Broncos they were on the losing end to the Las Vegas Raiders once again and finished the 2023 season at 8-9. They missed the playoffs for the 8th straight year and it was their 7th straight losing season.
What changed? The biggest change in Denver was the release of QB Russell Wilson. The Broncos released Wilson in March and took on a record dead cap hit to do it. The Wilson Era was a failure in Denver, and Sean Payton wanted to move on in another direction. The other big change was the release of Justin Simmons. Simmons was still playing at a high level and was the face of the Broncos defense and the leader of this team. Seeing him go was sad, but the Broncos did it in a move to save cap space and go younger. The Broncos also traded Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland to give him a fresh start.
New Faces in Denver: The newest face in Denver is QB Bo Nix. Nix was selected 12th overall by the Broncos and he was named the starting QB for the Broncos after Week 2 of the preseason. There is a lot of buzz and excitement in Denver about Nix and he looked good in preseason. Perhaps the Broncos have finally solved their QB problem since Peyton Manning retired.
The Nix/Payton Marriage: The fact that Sean Payton handpicked Bo Nix to be his starting QB and jettisoned Russell Wilson says a lot. Payton got his guy and now it is up to him to make Nix a top, young QB in this league. If Nix plays well, then Payton and the Broncos will turn this franchise around. If Nix falters, then it is on Payton. He has put all his chips into Nix, and it will be exciting to see where this goes.
Rookies to Watch: Obviously, Nix is the rookie to watch. He is the first Broncos rookie QB to start Week 1 since John Elway in 1983. No pressure there! But, keep an eye out for WR Devaugh Vele. He had a tremendous training camp, and he could be a guy that really helps this receiving corps. OLB Jonah Elliss looked really good in camp and preseason, and he should get rotational time as an edge defender.
Impact Players: On offense, you have to have a big year from Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims. If TE Greg Dulcich can stay healthy, then he could be a real weapon in the passing game. Also, Javonte Williams got in better shape and is another year removed from ACL surgery, so he could have a big year. On defense, you have to look to the combo of Baron Browning and Nik Bonitto to help the pass rush. The Broncos beefed up their defensive line and Jon Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach should add much needed help on the defensive front. Of course, you have CB Pat Surtain in the secondary locking up the other team's best WR.
Schedule Outlook: The Broncos have a tough schedule to start-especially for a young team starting a rookie QB. They head to Seattle in Week 1, which is a very difficult place for Bo Nix to start. Then, they host the Steelers with Russell Wilson coming back to town. Week 3 sends them to hot and humid Tampa Bay to take on the Bucs, and then they go to the Meadowlands to take on the Jets. If they are somehow 2-2 after four games, then that is a huge factor for them. The next four games are manageable: They host the Raiders and Chargers, then go to New Orleans for a TNF game, then host the Panthers at home. If they can go 2-2 after the first four, then they have a chance to be 5-3 after eight games.
Final Thoughts: This team is not going to the Super Bowl. That is not going to happen this year. It is year 2 of the Sean Payton regime and it is clearly his team now. He has the QB he wanted, the coaches around him, and the players he wants. It is a young team, so we can't expect huge things at this point. A lot of people are picking the Broncos to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, and the same was said about the Texans last year and look what happened. The Broncos over/under is 5.5 and I think they will hit the over. The ceiling for this team is 9-8. I think they will fall in the 7 win range, but the development of Bo Nix is the key to the season. I have zero expectations for this team this year. I don't think they will make the playoffs, but I think they will be better than what people around the NFL are saying about them.
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