If the Commanders are the popular pick to take a step back, there’s near equal expectation that Denver will surge forward this season. The Broncos had one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2024, but adding linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga gave the middle of this unit the nasty edge it needed. With the NFL’s best defensive back in Pat Surtain II on the perimeter, expect this group to be a nuisance against any team it plays.
The story of the season will ultimately be the development of Bo Nix. There’s belief that head coach Sean Payton can coax out another level from the quarterback in his second year, and that may get the team into our top 10. I’ll just wait and see for now.