In Sean Payton’s first season with the Denver Broncos, 2023 was viewed as a “see what we have” kind of year. The growth from Hackett’s tenure to the first with Payton was evident. The Broncos improved upon the debacle that was the Hackett Era with three more wins under their new coach, which is no small feat. Though at the end of Payton’s first year in Denver, the media is again down on the Broncos, in large part because of the notion that they lost their core group going into 2024.
Russell Wilson’s stop in Denver left much to be desired for many of the Broncos faithful. The trade that brought Wilson to the Mile High City is now regarded as one of the worst in NFL history. Russ was set free to search for a new home at the start of free agency. Star safety Justin Simmons, who is beloved in the city to this day, got his walking papers just six days before. Add linebacker Josey Jewell and center Lloyd Cushenberry to the list of departures and the recipe for a meltdown in Denver was complete.
The Broncos were largely content to let the first wave of free agency play out in March. Miami let Brandon Jones, their part time starter at safety, test the market and Denver tabbed the 26 year old as the replacement for their open position in the defensive backfield. Denver’s run defense in 2023 was mediocre at best, and a high priority was put on bringing in former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Malcolm Roach and trading for defensive end John Franklin-Myers.
Sean Payton and the front office put a heavy emphasis on youth and character when setting out to build the 2024 Denver Broncos. This was headlined by turning to the draft for their next playmaker under center. Bo Nix was drafted twelfth overall out of the University of Oregon with the intention to cut down on self inflicted sacks and bad decisions. The next day, Nix’s go-to receiver in college, Troy Franklin, was selected in the fourth round. With their next few picks, the Broncos shored up their corner position, as well as selecting playmakers at the corner and outside linebacker positions.
As the draft came to an end and a general overview came into sight, the national media was not satisfied with the ability this Denver Broncos team has to improve upon the 2023 season. The leading narrative being that this team does not have the star power needed to hold their own among the other 31 teams. We are to believe that because the names we see comprising the roster are relatively unknown, this football team has to take a step back come September, right? There’s no way Sean Payton and an uber efficient rookie quarterback can win more than five games with the massive losses the team took in the trenches.
This roster has been sculpted in Sean Payton’s image and the fans should believe that, since the club now has a concrete direction in which it’s headed, the Broncos will shatter the expected five win total and look like a much more capable team at season’s end. Some “star power” may have left the building since last taking the field, but there are some determined young men about to change the national narrative surrounding the orange and blue in a few short weeks.
