Broncos CB Riley Moss
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The Broncos have a loaded defense, which can be both a blessing and a curse to players like CB Riley Moss.
Should the Denver Broncos reach their ceiling this season, it’ll likely be because of their defense. That isn’t a slight to the Sean Payton-Bo Nix marriage on the other side of the ball, but rather a praise of Vance Joseph’s group.
It’s a star-studded unit that has plenty of talent. That can be both a blessing and a curse, as it creates a level of competition that makes every play carry a ton of weight for players.
Luckily, there’s a mentality being set that fosters a positive response. No one is expressing that to a greater degree than cornerback Riley Moss.
Riley Moss Embracing Competition & Ignoring Complacency in 2025
Speaking to the media ahead of Week 1, Moss tipped his cap to general manager George Paton. After all, the acclaimed executive made a pair of critical acquisitions in the secondary to complement Moss and superstar Pat Surtain II.
Safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Jahdae Barron will up the ante on defense. Moss is a huge fan of the newcomers.
“I love it,” Moss said. “We have a good room and just a bunch of guys that love football. I think that’s the most important thing, because that’s how you have a team that’s able to stay attacking every week and staying where we need to be at.”
Of course, the Barron pickup left many wondering about Moss’ viability. Would he maintain a stronghold on a boundary job? Would Barron being a slot option save his role? Would he be dangled in trade discussions? Adding such a talented piece to an already stacked defense created some good questions to answer.
The Broncos appear to have solutions entering Week 1. Barron, for now, will man the nickel spot and Moss is back on the outside. He isn’t taking that for granted.
“The biggest thing — and something that I learned in college after starting my freshman year — was I kind of got comfortable,” Moss said. “I got the spot and then I ended up having a couple of bad games, and then the spot’s taken from you. I think the biggest thing is not getting comfortable. I’m glad I went through that in college so now, I know where I’m at now [that] you have to continue to attack every day and not get comfortable.”
Last season, Moss recorded 86 tackles and logged his first career interception. He’s undoubtedly a 2025-26 X-factor. His mentality could rub off on the entire team.
How High Can Broncos’ Defense Soar This Season?
It’s hard for the Broncos’ defense to be better than it was last season. According to SumerSports, Joseph’s group led the entire league in EPA/play allowed at -0.12. Denver also posted an NFL best for success rate (38.98%) and EPA/pass (-0.14). A stellar pass rush and a heady secondary helped set the bar extremely high.
The football world may not have given that defense enough credit. Many folks are attempting to offer some flowers as the season approaches. Former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is among that group.
“For the defense, people forget how good that defense was last year,” Shanahan said in early August. “Everybody’s taking a look at the offense and Bo Nix. What they did on defense was, I mean, you take a look at third overall and second in this, second in that, first in takeaways and then in sacks. Especially coming back now with the addition of a few good players, they’re going to be hard to beat.”
Up front, the Broncos have a dynamic pass rush. Zach Allen sets the tone, as evidenced by his lucrative contract extension. Pro Bowler Nik Bonitto could be up next. John Franklin-Myers is also up for an extension from Paton. One of the downsides of being a good general manager is continuously having to find creative ways to fit players’ new deals under the salary cap.
It didn’t stop Paton from adding Hufanga, nor using a first-round pick on Barron. Those additions will further insulate players like Moss in 2025 and beyond. Moss’ willingness to embrace change and a growth mindset might just apply to his teammates.
If it does, look out.