Through the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos snapped an eight-year playoff drought, nevertheless it’s truthful to wonder if they’re going to proceed progressing this upcoming season.
With that in thoughts, listed here are three burning questions for the Broncos heading into the 2025 season:
How can QB Bo Nix make a second-year leap?
Nix — the twelfth general choose of the 2024 NFL Draft — shattered expectations throughout his rookie season. In 17 begins, he accomplished 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards and 29 landing passes, ending third in Offensive Rookie of the 12 months voting behind Las Vegas Raiders tight finish Brock Bowers and Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels.
Nonetheless, the 25-year-old should proceed fine-tuning his recreation to turn out to be an elite QB. Bettering his accuracy on intermediate throws may assist him do this.
Professional Soccer Focus defines intermediate throws as makes an attempt that journey 10-19 yards by means of the air from the road of scrimmage. Per PFF, Nix completed 51.8% of his intermediate throws final season, thirty fourth amongst 43 eligible QBs (min. 30 makes an attempt).
In a narrative printed February 27, Nix’s private coach, David Morris, advised The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider they’re prioritizing bettering his “rotational energy” this offseason, which ought to assist him throw with extra energy and accuracy.
Buffalo Payments QB Josh Allen has targeted on his rotational energy all through his profession. It is sensible for Nix to take a cue from the 2024 MVP.
Will signing tight finish Evan Engram repay?
In free company, the Broncos signed two-time Professional Bowler Engram to a two-year, $23M contract.
When wholesome, he is a invaluable weapon for a passing assault. In 17 video games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023, Engram completed with 114 receptions for 963 yards and 4 TD catches. Final season, the 30-year-old performed in simply 9 video games due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Engram may turn out to be the “joker” head coach Sean Payton wants if he avoids one other vital damage. The “joker” is a flexible TE or RB who creates mismatches within the passing recreation within the coach’s offense.
“The imaginative and prescient [Payton] has for that’s that ‘joker’ position. I really like the narrative of the superhero, the supervillains, I really like superhero stuff … I really like creating that narrative for myself to place a bit of little bit of wholesome strain on me too,” Engram told DNVR Sports’ Bennie Fowler on April 10. “That is one thing I will totally embrace.”
Did their elite protection get even higher?
The Broncos ranked third within the league in factors allowed (18.3) final season, however they nonetheless targeted on bolstering the unit in free company and the 2025 NFL Draft.
In March, the Broncos signed linebacker Dre Greenlaw (three years, $31.5M) and security Talanoa Hufanga (three years, $39M), who helped the San Francisco 49ers make Tremendous Bowl LVIII through the 2023 season.
With choose No. 20, Denver chosen Texas Longhorns defensive again Jahdae Barron, the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the very best DB in school soccer. He and Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II — 2024 Defensive Participant of the 12 months — may type a formidable duo.
Investing within the protection as a substitute of the offense — which ranked nineteenth within the league in yards per recreation (324.6) in 2024 — appears counterintuitive. In a predraft news conference, nonetheless, Payton defined the way it may put the Broncos able to win their first playoff recreation since Tremendous Bowl 50.
“Once you assist your protection, you assist your quarterback as properly,” Payton stated. “Let’s not bypass the crystal for a blender if we’d like a blender.”
