DENVER — The Broncos registered a 14-3 regular season record last season and went on to play in the NFC Championship game. If it weren’t for quarterback Bo Nix breaking his ankle during a last-minute game-winning drive during the previous contest, they very well might have gone on to reach the Super Bowl.

You wouldn’t expect a team enjoying such success to make many changes to their roster for the new season, and they haven’t. The biggest addition to the Broncos in the offseason was former first-round pick wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. He amassed 5,039 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns during his five years with the Dolphins.

A Broncos runner slips through for a long gain.

Photo by Dave Gibson

Denver sent Miami their first, third, and fourth-round draft picks in the 2026 NFL draft to secure him. The Broncos knocked on the door last season and want to knock that door down with a Super Bowl victory this year. The time is now. Adding Waddle gives their quarterback another premier target.

Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Mimms Jr., Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin will be Nix’s go-to wide receivers. Evan Engram and Adam Trautman will handle tight end duties.

At running back, there are few runners better than J.K. Dobbins when he is healthy. He will lead the ground attack with “RJ” Harvey, Jonah Coleman, and Tyler Badie seeing significant playing time. Fullback Adam Prentice was signed to the practice squad.

Left tackle Garett Bowles, left guard Ben Powers, center Luke Wattenberg, right guard Quinn Meinerz, and right tackle Mike McGlinchey comprise a good offensive line.

When the Broncos are in their usual 3-4 defensive scheme, left defensive end Malcom Roach, nose tackle D.J. Jones, and Pro Bowl right defensive end Zach Allen will front the defense. Behind them are linebackers Alex Singleton, Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, and Justin Strand. Because of his legal troubles, Jonathon Cooper was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list.

Purple People Eaters in pursuit.

Photo by Dave Gibson

All-world Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss are Denver’s cornerbacks with Ja’Quan McMillian taking the field during nickel defense situations. At free safety will be Brandon Jones. Talanoa Hufanga gets the nod at strong safety.

Final roster set

On August 28 at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver played their final preseason game of the year against Minnesota (Broncos 34, Vikings 6). None of Denver’s projected starters saw action, in order to stay healthy for their regular season opener on September 14. Instead, it was an opportunity to determine who the backups will be.

The team had until 4 p.m. on August 30 to cut their roster from 90 players to the final 53. One of the most compelling battles of camp and the preseason was between incumbent second-string quarterback Jarrett Stidman and Sam Ehlinger, who played well in the last game, scoring three touchdowns. In the end, they both made the team.

The scheduling gods didn’t do Denver any favors—the Broncos will be tested early in their quest to “knock down the door” with their first six games coming against the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks.