NFL Offseason Previews: Denver Broncos

The NFL offseason is upon us, and teams will begin working to craft their 2023 rosters in the coming months. In this series of offseason previews, we will look at what each team has to work with and their biggest needs. Today we continue with the Denver Broncos offseason preview.

As a reminder, here are dates to keep in mind for the 2023 NFL offseason:

  • March 7: deadline for teams to use the franchise tag
  • March 13: legal tampering period opens
  • March 15: NFL free agency begins and the new league year starts
  • April 21: deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
  • April 27-29: NFL draft
  • May 1: deadline for teams to exercise 5th-year options on 2020 first-round draft picks
  • July 15: deadline for franchise tag players to sign an extension
  • You can find previous team’s offseason previews here: Bears | Bengals | Browns | Lions | Packers | Steelers | Vikings | Ravens |

    2022 Summary

    The Denver Broncos were an unmitigated disaster in 2022. After spending massive money and draft capital to acquire Russell Wilson last offseason, head coach Nathaniel Hackett made it just 15 games.

    The Denver Broncos fired the rookie head coach just 15 games into his tenure following an embarrassing loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas.

    Hackett and the Broncos lost 51-14 to the Rams on Christmas Day, and the Broncos’ sideline imploded when offensive lineman Dalton Risner and backup quarterback Brett Rypien were seen getting into a physical altercation at one point.

    Hackett isn’t the only person to blame for Denver’s disastrous season. Star quarterback Russell Wilson has been downright awful this season after the Broncos traded two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick, Noah Fant, Shelby Harris, and Drew Lock, to the Seahawks for Wilson. Denver then gave Wilson a four-year extension worth $140 million to add insult to injury.

    The Broncos finished the season 5-12 and were back to the drawing board in search of a new head coach and answers.

    Key Positional Needs

    Here’s where the Broncos need to find help this offseason:

  • EDGE
  • OT
  • IOL
  • LB
  • CB
  • DL
  • Key Free Agents

    Here’s a look at the Broncos upcoming key free agents:

  • Billy Turner (RT)
  • Calvin Anderson (LT)
  • Dalton Risner (LG)
  • Cameron Fleming (RT)
  • Kareem Jackson (S)
  • DeShawn Williams (IDL)
  • DreMont Jones (IDL)
  • Salary Cap & Draft Capital

    Here’s a look at the salary cap room and draft capital that the Broncos have to work with this offseason:

  • Current draft picks: 67 (3), 68 (3), 108 (4), 141 (5), 195 (6)
  • Cap space: $9.1M
  • Offseason Outlook

    After a disastrous 2022 season, the Broncos head into the offseason searching for answers. The new ownership group has already answered a big question, hiring Sean Payton as the new head coach in Denver.

    Payton hired Vance Joseph as his defensive coordinator on Thursday, answering another question. Still, Payton and the Broncos face a mile-high task of turning this ship around this offseason.

    Denver doesn’t own a pick until the third round and only has four picks in the top 150 in April’s NFL Draft. They’ve also only got $9.1 million in cap space to work with as of today.

    Russell Wilson is the long-term plan at quarterback, regardless of how bad he was last season. Still, running back Javonte Williams is recovering from an ACL tear. Wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy may be traded.

    However, the Broncos have an excellent defensive unit right now. So, silver linings, I suppose. A plan for Russell Wilson and figuring out how to get the offense on the same track as the defense will be the goal for the Broncos this offseason.


    Related Reading

    If you’re looking for more offseason reading, Sam Hoppen at 4for4 (our sister company) is previewing each division:

    written by

    Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

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