The Denver Broncos didn’t do much this offseason besides trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to fortify a solid offense, but there’s a good reason why.
The Broncos have one of the best and most well-rounded teams in the National Football League, which is why it wasn’t a surprise to see Denver knocking on the door of the Super Bowl in 2025.
They came up short but had quarterback Bo Nix been healthy for the American Football Conference Championship, the Broncos may have knocked that proverbial Super Bowl door down (but that’s beside the point).
The offense needed a little more juice and got just that in Waddle, while the defense lost some notable pieces but remained strong. The Broncos defense that nearly set the all-time single-season sack record will still be one of the top units in the sport, regardless of if they get close to the record again this season.
Denver projects to have another dominant season in 2026, but what does their outlook for 2027 to 2029 look like? ESPN staff projected their future power rankings for all 32 teams based on four factors: roster (minus quarterback), quarterback, coaching staff and front office.
The Broncos clocked in at No. 4, only behind the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.
“Across the 53-man roster, there is perhaps no team deeper than Denver,” Ben Solak wrote Monday. “And the Broncos' coaching staff, with Sean Payton and Vance Joseph, features two of the league's preeminent schemers over the past decade.
“The continued growth of QB Bo Nix and the final addition of WR Jaylen Waddle could push this team into one of the three Super Bowl matchups in question.”
The biggest concern for the offense is whether new offensive coordinator Davis Webb can create a balanced offense that keeps up with the stellar defense, according to Louis Riddick.
Riddick wasn’t sure if the running game would complete the offense last season but loves the running back room this year, one that features two young backs (Jonah Coleman, RJ Harvey) as well as solid veteran J.K. Dobbins.
I’d say the biggest concern over the next few years resides with the offensive line, which was touched upon by Aaron Schatz in his segment. While Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz are the best in the business at their positions, they are on the older side, especially Bolles (34).
Finding formidable replacements will be hard, so bringing in younger players that can learn from those guys would be ideal.
Seth Walder predicted that at some point in that three-year stretch, standout cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian will become the highest-paid nickel back in the league. Whether that’s with Denver or another team is a mystery, but his advanced stats tell the story of one of the brightest young corners in football.
The Broncos will continue to be a powerhouse between now and 2029, but their Super Bowl window will get smaller and smaller as the years pass.