The Broncos are officially placing a second-round tender of $5.8 million on defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. McMillian is one of the team’s top players in the secondary. He came up big during the playoffs after ripping the ball out of Brandin Cooks’ hands to record an interception late in the 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills.

“Broncos are placing the second-round tender ($5.8M) on CB Ja’Quan McMillian, per sources. One of Denver’s top ball disrupters, McMillian had four sacks, two interceptions and nine pass deflections in ‘25 – including a memorable snatch from Brandin Cooks to seal a playoff win.”

McMillian, who is 25 years old, is a restricted free agent this offseason. The Broncos’ placing a second-round tender of $5.8 million on him allows McMillian to still talk with other teams during free agency. If another organization offers him a contract, Denver will have the option to either match the offer or allow him to sign with that new team.

Because of the second-round tender, if a team does sign McMillian and the Broncos choose not to match the offer, then that team has to give up its second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and give it to Denver. That makes potentially signing McMillian in free agency a very costly acquisition for the other teams.

Ja’Quan McMillian initially joined the Broncos in 2022 as an undrafted free agent. He’s served as a consistent rotational option for Denver through his four years in the league, playing in 51 total games with 16 starts.

While he’s most known for his big interception against the Bills, McMillian has shown he can be a reliable asset in the secondary. He ended last season with 56 combined tackles (40 solo), four sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and an interception returned for a touchdown.

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He talked about the new approach on the Pat McAfee Show, according to a post on YouTube.

“You push the offseason schedule back a little bit,” Payton said. “Normally, it starts mid-April. Our guys won’t come in until the first of May. And then we won’t see them, we won’t do a football item until June.”

Broncos head coach Sean Payton wants players to have space from the game

It’s not slacking off. It’s a matter of taking a mental breather. That can be an important part of having a good season.

Payton said the mindset is important.

“Like, they’ll just be lifting for a month, because you don’t want them to feel like we’re back here at practice again,” Payton said. “And we were just here. You want a gap. And honestly, they need that, and we need that.

“I like when they have a good month. So we’ll just do phase one for a month regardless of what the schedule says. And then we’ll do OTAs and a mini camp in June.”

Payton’s team experienced plenty of success in 2025. And if not for an untimely injury to quarterback Bo Nix, they might have been playing the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. They lost 10-7 to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

Payton is an 18-year coaching veteran. He led the Saints to the Super Bowl title in 2009. He coached for 15 years in New Orleans.

Over the last three years with the Broncos, his teams have gone 51-32. That includes a 14-3 mark last season, when the Broncos earned the No. 1 seeding for the playoffs.

Early reports suggest the Broncos will be among the AFC’s top Super Bowl threats in the 2026 season as well.

The post Broncos news: Sean Payton adjusts Broncos offseason schedule to give players a break appeared first on ClutchPoints.

After falling a Bo Nix injury short of Super Bowl LX, the Broncos would be content to run it back in 2026. They secured their first playoff victory since 2015 and have a young core poised to remain intact for the foreseeable future.

But while the Nix injury derailed their title aspirations, Denver still had a pair of major flaws that nearly cost it multiple games in 2025. The Broncos struggled with penalties and in short-yardage situations all season, two areas they need to address in the 2026 offseason.

The penalty issue was the main killer. Denver committed the ninth-most penalties, which cost it the most penalty yards in the league. That issue has to be addressed, but it is mostly a coaching and discipline matter rather than a personnel problem.

However, the Broncos can address their other flaw in free agency. Adding a stout between-the-tackles runner needs to be atop their priority list once the window officially opens in March.

Broncos’ short-yardage issues were their biggest flaw in 2025

The Broncos struggled to run the ball in the trenches all season, an issue that their defense tended to mask. Denver’s short-yardage shortcomings led to issues in the red zone, forcing Sean Payton to get creative with his play-calling in goal-to-go situations.

The Broncos only converted 56.5 percent of their red zone trips into touchdowns, the 12th-worst rate in the league. Their short-yardage woes also affected their fourth down efficiency — they only converted on 50 percent of their fourth down attempts, also ranking 21st.

Denver’s numbers in such situations got even worse in the second half of the season, after the team lost J.K. Dobbins for the year. While RJ Harvey thrived in a full-time starting role, his 5-foot-8, 205-pound frame struggled in between the tackles. Harvey is a dynamic player in space but lacks the physicality in the foxhole.

Dobbins’ injury thrusted Jaleel McLaughlin into the change-of-pace role, but the 5-foot-7, 187-pound Youngstown State alum is even smaller than Harvey. Once their veteran leadback went down with a Lisfranc fracture, the Broncos had no ability to run up the gut in short-yardage situations.

The Broncos have one of the best offensive lines in the league, but none of that matters without a big-bodied ball-carrier to push the pile. Payton’s creativity allowed Denver to still have success in the red zone — he drew up a play for offensive tackle Frank Crum to catch a touchdown in the playoffs — but those do not work without any threat of a basic inside handoff.

Denver’s inability to run the ball in close also led to a pivotal 4th-and-1 turnover in its 10-7 AFC Championship Game loss. Payton, who was clearly committed to going for it, did not trust his backfield and called a roll-out screen pass that fell incomplete.

With Dobbins, McLaughlin and Tyler Badie all hitting free agency in the 2026 offseason, the Broncos cannot guarantee that either will return. Even if Dobbins returns, the backfield is now Harvey’s to lose, but Denver needs another power runner who can give Payton that option in crunchtime.

Broncos need to sign running back AJ Dillon in 2026 offseason

The 2026 free agency class is not booming with running back talent, but the Broncos do not need a home-run hitter. All they need is a capable inside runner who can handle five to 10 carries per game, which is what AJ Dillon can be.

Although coming off a disastrous one-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, the wide-set Dillon thrived in a complementary role with the Green Bay Packers. Injuries have limited Dillon to just seven games in the last two years after missing the entire 2024 campaign. Yet, he is still just 27 and can revive his career with the right team.

While Dillon’s injury woes are concerning for a team that just suffered a significant running back injury, they also lower his asking price. The Broncos can grab him in free agency on a veteran minimum contract, leaving them the flexibility to make other moves.

With Harvey providing the flash, Dillon is the perfect counterpart to be the Broncos’ thunder. His low center of gravity combines with elite lower-body strength, giving him the frame to potentially be one of the league’s premier short-yardage backs. Dillon tallied 12 touchdowns in his two best seasons with the Packers before everything fell apart.

In what could be the last gasp of his career, Dillon might be the Broncos’ best bet to resolve their short-yardage issues in 2026. The former second-round pick would just need to make the carries count in the most crucial aspect of the game.

The post 1 free agent who would fix Broncos’ biggest flaw heading into 2026 season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter was one of the first to report that Sanders was losing his defensive coordinator. The Denver Broncos are hiring Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston. He spent two seasons in charge of the Buffaloes’ defense. He is a former Bengals assistant who came to college to coach under Deion Sanders and is now heading back to the NFL.

Livingston will serve as the Broncos’ defensive passing game coordinator under Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. The two worked together with the Bengals, as Livingston was the team’s defensive backs coach from 2016 through 2023.

Colorado went 3-9 in 2025 as the defense allowed 6.1 yards per play and 30.5 points per game. Colorado ranked 112th out of 136 teams in scoring defense.

The Buffaloes’ defense was much better in 2024. As Colorado went 9-4 and had Heisman Trophy winner at defensive back and wide receiver Travis Hunter, the Buffs gave up 23.1 points per game and 5.1 yards per play. Both sides of the ball took a major step back in 2025, as Colorado had its worst season under Sanders’ three years in charge.

The Colorado football program already looked to make changes on the offensive side of the ball. They hired Brennan Marion after he was the head coach at Sacramento State for just one season. Before he was at Sacramento State, Marion was the offensive coordinator at UNLV. Former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur was the team’s offensive coordinator to start the 2025 season, but tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Brett Bartolone was calling plays in November.

The Buffaloes will have a new look coaching staff across the board in the 2026 season, and it will be interesting to see how Deion Sanders handles it, especially with JuJu Lewis coming back to start under center.

The post Deion Sanders’ DC leaving Colorado football for Broncos appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“Payton said he’ll still be involved with what they do offensively, but he said he’s making the decision for what’s best for the team,” DiLalla posted to X, formerly Twitter.

This is a rare occurrence for Payton, who is used to calling plays.

“Sean Payton’s given up play calling in the past with the Saints but this is a first for him with the Broncos,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo posted to X.

Denver took a major hit this past season when starting quarterback Bo Nix went down with an injury before the AFC Championship game. The Broncos lost that game in bad weather to the New England Patriots.

Webb is the new offensive coordinator for Denver. He has worked for the team since the 2023 season. Webb was the former quarterbacks coach, as well as pass game coordinator.

Broncos are hoping for a more efficient offense in 2026

Denver fans are wondering what might have been had Nix not gotten hurt in the NFL Playoffs. In just his second NFL season, the young Broncos quarterback had a successful year. He threw for nearly 4,000 passing yards in the regular season.

Payton has admitted that he didn’t feel at times he did enough to help his offense this past season. That is partly the reason why Webb is coming on board as OC.

“I feel like we’re far enough along with the RPOs and some of that, but when we want to run it under center and control a game, we’ve been able to do it a few times, but not as much as I’d like,” Payton said at season’s end, per The Athletic. “That’ll be an important study and with urgency. … I want to play from the gun, but I also will always want to play with a two-back or multiple-tight end mindset, have that flexibility.”

Time will tell if Webb is able to hold on to the play calling duties for Denver.

The post Broncos’ Sean Payton handing off play calling to Davis Webb for 2026 season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Broncos are expected to hire former Lions offensive coordinator John Morton as their new pass-game coordinator, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Morton was previously the pass-game coordinator in Denver from 2023-24. Now he can return to the Broncos after just one season away from the team.

Morton was also a postseason consultant in Denver during the team’s playoff run in 2025.

The veteran coach has plenty of ties to Payton throughout the years. Morton first joined Payton’s coaching staff in New Orleans as passing game coordinator and offensive assistant back in 2006.

Morton left the NFL to return to college, taking a similar role at USC in 2007. But he returned to the NFL in 2011 and eventually found his way back to New Orleans in 2015-16. This time, he was a wide receivers coach under Payton.

Morton never quite lived up to expectations after joining the Lions in 2025. He had some big shoes to fill, as Detroit had recently parted ways with former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Regardless, Morton did not lead Detroit’s offense to prominence last fall.

On paper the Lions still had one of the league’s best offensive units in 2025. They finished tied for fourth in points scored (28.3 per game) and were a top-five unit in yards per game (373.2).

Unfortunately, Detroit took a huge step back in terms of their running game. The Lions ranked 14th in the NFL with 120.1 rushing yards per game.

In fairness, the retirement of Frank Ragnow and departure of veteran guard Kevin Zeitler almost certainly made the situation worse before Morton took over. Even so, it just wasn’t the right fit for both sides.

Hopefully Morton and the Broncos can take over where they left off when the 2026 NFL season kicks off later this fall.

The post Broncos’ Sean Payton hires ex-Lions OC who got canned after 1 season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

While not a splashy transaction, the Broncos grabbed some attention on Thursday, with the news of their move to re-sign free-agent wide receiver Michael Bandy, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

“Solid depth move by Denver keeping continuity in that WR room,” said a fan.

“Broncos making WR moves! Depth is always good at any position. They were so close last year,” another social media user shared.

“Solid depth move! Glad to see Bandy back with the Broncos. Always good to have reliable guys in the rotation,” a different comment read.

“Chargers legend Michael Bandy,” shared a fan on X.

“Re-signing Michael Bandy isn’t a bold move — it’s a depth chart shrug. If this is the kind of “aggressive offseason” Denver fans were promised, someone needs to redefine the word aggressive,” commented another.

The 28-year-old Bandy has been with the Broncos since the 2023 campaign. He’s spent most of his time with Denver with the practice squad, but he’s been able to see action in five games with the team, four of which were in the 2025 campaign. In the same season, he had 50 receiving yards and a touchdown on four catches and four targets. He scored that touchdown in a Week 15 home game against the visiting Green Bay Packers.

Bandy went undrafted in the NFL in 2020 and later signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. In two seasons with the Bolts, the former San Diego Toreros wideout appeared in 21 games (two starts), posting 89 receiving yards and five first downs on 10 receptions and 21 targets.

With the Broncos, Bandy has worked mostly with the special teams. He’s had more special teams snaps (24) than offensive ones (18) in two years with Denver, which went 14-3 in the 2025 campaign and reached the AFC Championship Round.

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Had he been active against the New England Patriots, things could have been much different. Who knows, the Broncos may have even challenged the Seattle Seahawks much more than the Patriots did in Super Bowl 60.

With how close they were to the top, the Broncos need to make the moves that will get them to the next level. Russell Wilson’s disastrous contract is finally going off the books, so the team should have some spending money to do so. The Broncos cut Wilson, which led to the most dead money on a deal in NFL history, and $32 million of that dead money was charged to the Broncos last year.

Now, the Broncos have over $26 million in cap space to pursue free agents this offseason.

There is a solid crop of external free agents who would fit in Denver. John Franklin-Meyers, one of the Broncos’ most productive players over the past two seasons, is also set to hit the open market, and the team would love to bring him back. So, what other moves could Denver make to free up cap space?

The Broncos could release Brandon Jones

Brandon Jones has been a key piece of a Broncos’ defense that has been one of the best units in the NFL over the past two seasons. He had 115 tackles and three interceptions en route to being the fifth-highest-ranked safety according to PFF in 2024. Jones’ numbers weren’t as lofty in 2025, as Talanoa Hufanga took over as the top safety playmaker on the roster.

Jones ended up getting hurt in Week 15 and was forced to miss the rest of the season. However, the defense didn’t take a step back with P.J. Locke taking on a bigger role. While Jones could still be a key part of the team in 2026, if the Broncos feel desperate to create cap space, Jones now seems more expendable.

Hufanga bucked the injury bug to re-establish himself as an All-Pro safety in his first season with Denver. The Broncos have plenty of other defensive backs, too. Patrick Surtain is a recent Defensive Player of the Year winner, and although Riley Moss was targeted and flagged often, teams really didn’t complete passes on him very often this past year. Jahdae Barron is also the team’s most recent first-round pick, and Ja’Quan McMillian is one of the best slot corners in the NFL.

Jones is set to count for $9.2 million against the cap next season. Releasing him would result in just a $1.8 million dead cap hit. That is the smallest dead hit of any of Denver’s 15 most expensive players. In all likelihood, Jones will return to an important starting role next season, but his injury and financial situation make him a logical cap-saving candidate.

The Broncos might need to move on from Jarrett Stidham

Jarrett Stidham has Sean Payton’s trust. He was always viewed as one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL before he was thrust into a starting role in the Broncos most important game in a decade, too. Unfortunately, Stidham didn’t play hero. He couldn’t get the offense going for most of the game, and he made some very questionable and costly decisions.

Against the Patriots, Stidham attempted a chest pass that was ruled a backward pass that was recovered by New England. He also threw the game away with a late, inexcusable interception that proved to be the nail in the coffin. Stidham’s circumstances were far from ideal. He played the entire season as a backup, and anybody would have struggled in those weather conditions. He actually had better passing stats than Drake Maye, who was an MVP candidate.

Even so, it left a sour taste in the mouths of Broncos fans that may prevent the team from ever trusting him again. Stidham is set to make $8 million next season, but the dead money on his contract is just $3.5 million. The Broncos may decide to move on and get a new backup quarterback to work behind Nix. Doing so would free up a little chunk of change for the Broncos to spend in free agency.

The post 2 moves Broncos must make to clear salary cap space in 2026 NFL offseason appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Broncos made a few massive moves in 2025, including the signings of Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, J.K. Dobbins and Evan Engram. Denver also gave Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen lucrative extensions, making them each among the highest-paid players at their positions.

The Broncos’ 2026 offseason will not be nearly as eventful, but it could be equally impactful. Their actions in the coming months could be the difference between a Super Bowl LXI appearance and missing the playoffs altogether.

While the active offseason helped turn the Broncos into Super Bowl contenders, it leaves them with minimal options in the 2026 offseason. General manager George Paton is still in play to make a few more moves, but he will first need to let a few veterans walk in free agency.

RB J.K. Dobbins

One year after reviving his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, J.K. Dobbins was sensational for the Broncos early in the 2025 season. The 27-year-old racked up 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns through the first 10 games, playing well enough to hold off rookie RJ Harvey for most of the year.

Unfortunately for Dobbins, the injury bug struck again. He was initially ruled out for a few weeks with a minor foot injury before he was determined to have suffered a Lisfranc fracture, which ended his season.

Dobbins has proven that he is still a serviceable running back capable of leading a championship-winning backfield. Many organizations will value him on team-friendly deals, similar to the one he inked in 2025. He still has a future in the NFL, but it should not be with the Broncos, who have little to no use for him anymore following Harvey’s late-year breakout.

While the 5-foot-8 Harvey still struggles in between the tackles, Denver can find another solution to that problem in free agency. It would be best for both sides if Dobbins signed with a new team in March.

LB Justin Strnad

Justin Strnad was a revelation for Sean Payton in 2024, when he transformed from a special teams player to an every-down linebacker seemingly overnight. He has recorded 131 tackles in the last two years, fourth-most on the team during that frame.

Strnad re-upped with the Broncos in 2025, during the same offseason the team gave Dre Greenlaw a three-year, $31.5 million deal. Retaining Strnad made sense at the time, given that Greenlaw missed most of the 2025 season while recovering from numerous injuries. Strnad’s numbers decreased with Greenlaw in the mix, but he still recorded 58 tackles and a career-high 4.5 sacks.

Despite his statistical regression in 2025, the Broncos will not be able to give Strnad another one-year, $2 million deal. The 29-year-old reportedly wants to be a full-time starter in 2026, and teams will be willing to pay him accordingly. Denver should not be looking to match the offers he might receive in free agency.

Strnad has been one of the unsung heroes of the Broncos’ defense, but he does not fit in with Payton’s current plans and should not be back in Denver in the fall.

FB Michael Burton

When Michael Burton signed a one-year extension with the Broncos in 2025, it marked the first time in his career that he stuck with a team for more than two years. It ended up being a mere formality, with the 34-year-old fullback missing the entire campaign due to a preseason hamstring injury.

Burton has twice re-signed with the Broncos in free agency, a trend that should not continue in 2026. While Burton was a key part of Denver’s offense during Payton’s first two years with the team, the head coach replaced him in 2025 with Adam Prentice, his former New Orleans Saints fullback.

Prentice is not a Pro Bowl fullback, but he is four years younger than Burton and a much more effective runner at this stage of their careers. It would be foolish for the Broncos to choose Burton over Prentice in the 2026 offseason.

Denver does not have to commit to either guy in free agency, but if it is going to retain one of its fullbacks, it should be Prentice.

S P.J. Locke

After two years as the Broncos’ starting safety, P.J. Locke took a significant step back in 2025. The former undrafted free agent was forced back to the bench after the team signed All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga in the offseason to pair him with Brandon Jones.

The 29-year-old has displayed his versatility over the years, recording 127 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, seven pass breakups and one interception from 2023 to 2024. He will likely never make a Pro Bowl roster, but Locke is an experienced safety capable of starting for most teams. Locke was simply stuck behind two of the best safeties in the league in 2025.

By giving Hufanga a three-year, $39 million deal, the Broncos made him and Jones two of the top 25 highest-paid safeties in the league. With each under contract in 2026, Locke has a hard ceiling in Denver.

Denver would love to have Locke back, but several other teams might be willing to give him another shot at starting. The Broncos have to let Locke walk in free agency and refrain from overvaluing him as a high-level backup.

TE Adam Trautman

Adam Trautman has been a Sean Payton guy his entire career. Payton drafted him in the third round in 2020, three years before bringing the tight end on board with the Broncos when he came out of retirement.

Trautman, a blocking tight end, is not a game-changer on the field, but he is a culture guy whose value comes in the locker room. Payton has clearly valued those traits over the years, but it is time to see how much he truly values the 29-year-old during the 2026 offseason, when Trautman hits the open market.

While the Broncos would not have to break open the bank to retain Trautman, they already have other options. Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins both saw their offensive roles increase in 2025, as did fullback Adam Prentice, who lined up at tight end more than he has been used to. Denver even got backup left tackle Frank Crum involved in special packages, using him as an eligible receiver on a trick play touchdown in the playoffs.

Trautman, who received a disappointing 51.0 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in 2025, is the most expensive of the group, even if the difference is marginal. The Broncos do not need to retain him for a fourth season and should let him walk in free agency.

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Ronald Curry, a former NFL receiver himself, spent the last two years as the quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills. While he was tasked with refining Josh Allen’s game in Orchard Park, his deepest coaching roots are with Payton.

The two spent six seasons together with the New Orleans Saints, where Curry climbed the ladder from offensive assistant to wide receivers coach, and eventually to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.

In Denver, Curry replaces Keary Colbert as part of a significant offensive staff overhaul that also saw Davis Webb promoted to offensive coordinator. The move signifies Payton’s desire for familiar voices as he enters a crucial year of development for young franchise quarterback Bo Nix.

The timing of the hire is poetic, coming just weeks after Curry’s Bills fell to the Broncos in a heartbreaking AFC Divisional Round matchup. In that 33-30 overtime thriller at Empower Field at Mile High, Josh Allen put up a massive fantasy-line, throwing for 283 yards and three touchdowns while adding 66 yards on the ground.

However, the Broncos’ defense, which Curry will now be working alongside, forced four turnovers from Allen, including two interceptions and two lost fumbles, to seal the victory.

The Bills’ offense was potent under Curry’s guidance in 2025. Josh Allen finished the regular season with 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and a 102.2 passer rating, leading Buffalo to a 12-5 record and an AFC East title.

Now, Curry shifts his focus back to the perimeter. He’ll be tasked with maximizing a Denver Broncos receiving corps led by Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. After helping Josh Allen reach an elite level in Buffalo, Payton is betting that Curry’s experience can help ignite a Denver offense that is ready to turn the corner in the AFC West.

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Denver reached the AFC Championship Game in 2025. But with starting quarterback Bo Nix on the sideline, they fell short in a tough snow-driven 10-7 decision against the Patriots.

Still, the championship pieces remain in place. The Broncos just need a draft home run, and here is what the experts think they will do with the No. 30 overall pick.

CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Tim Crean, ClutchPoints; Cynthia Frelund, NFL.com; Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus; Joel Klatt, CBS Sports

Crean likes the overall game of Allen.

“C.J. Allen is a prototypical middle linebacker who can lead the defense and make plays in the run and pass games,” Crean wrote. “With Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad hitting free agency and Drew Sanders coming off an injury, the Broncos can pair Allen with Dre Greenlaw and have that position covered now and in the future.”

This would also be a first-round steal like Sadiq, if Allen drops this far.

“With linebackers Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton due to hit free agency this spring, the Broncos could look to bolster the second level of their defense at Pick 30,” Frelund wrote. “Allen had a top-tier run-defense ranking in college and was one of the surest tacklers at his position.”

It’s a matter of getting better against the run, according to Chadwick.

“While the Broncos showcased one of the NFL’s most fearsome defenses in 2025, they could still improve at linebacker,” Chadwick wrote “Allen’s 88.6 PFF run-defense grade in 2025 ranked ninth among Power Four linebackers.”

Klatt said it’s a matter of servicing need for the Broncos.

“As we get later into the first round, teams will seemingly prioritize need,” Klatt wrote. “For the Broncos, that’s linebacker. Allen is another experienced guy, starting 29 games. He’s also a talented player, earning an All-American nod and being named a finalist for the Butkus Award this past season. What we know about Georgia defensive players is that they’re going to be ready to succeed in the NFL.”

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Field Yates, ESPN

It makes sense for a team that doesn’t have glaring weaknesses. Yates sees this as a potential steal.

“Sadiq’s range surely starts sooner than here, as this would be great value for a Broncos team with limited needs,” Yates wrote. “Coach Sean Payton has long valued a player who can be their “joker,” a player who is either a top-end receiving back or mismatch tight end. Previous examples from Payton’s time in New Orleans include Darren Sproles, Alvin Kamara, and Jimmy Graham.

“Sadiq fits that description with an outstanding athleticism that makes him a threat after the catch. He had to wait his turn behind Terrance Ferguson at Oregon, but Sadiq blossomed in the primary role last season with team highs in both catches (51) and receiving touchdowns (8).”

Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Chad Reuter, NFL.com

A skill player fits the bill for Reuter, too.

“Bernard’s consistency and ability to make plays at all levels of the field make him a great fit for the Broncos,” Reuter wrote. “He has experience in the slot and outside, giving him the versatility to fill in where Denver needs him most.”

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com

A mixed viewpoint among NFL teams could push Woods deeper into the first round, according to Jeremiah.

“Folks around the league are split on Woods’ evaluation,” Jeremiah wrote. “Some don’t view him as a first-round pick, but he has the quickness to add to the league’s best pass-rush group as an inside rusher.”

The overall roundup analysis

Allen turned out to be a popular pick. However, Mel Kiper has Allen at No. 23 on his big board. That’s at least a suggestion that he may not be around when the Broncos make their pick at No. 30.

So if Allen is off the board, it makes a lot of sense for the Broncos to target an offensive player. That brings Yates’ pick and Reuter’s selection into play.

If the Broncos hit with a player who provides first-year consistent production, they may be able to break through to the place they felt three points short of in 2025.

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According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Denver Broncos are hiring Doug Belk as their new defensive backs coach, snagging one of the most respected rising stars in the college coaching ranks.

Belk spent the last two seasons with the USC Trojans, where he served as the secondary coach and helped transform a struggling unit into a turnover machine. Under his watch, Southern California safety Bishop Fitzgerald became a consensus All-American after snagging five interceptions and recording 51 tackles in 2025.

Before his stint in Los Angeles, Belk made a name for himself as the defensive coordinator for the Houston Cougars, where his aggressive “Sack Ave” defense ranked among the nation’s best.

This hire feels like a perfect match for a Denver Broncos defense that was absolutely terrifying last season. Joseph’s unit led the way in 2025 with a staggering 68 sacks, but the team is looking for a fresh spark in the secondary after falling just short in a 10-7 defensive slugfest against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship.

In that snowy contest at Mile High, the defense did its part by sacking New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye five times and holding him to just 86 passing yards, but a late turnover proved costly.

Belk will now inherit a secondary overflowing with elite talent, including lockdown cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga, who led the team with 106 tackles last season.

He also gets to work with breakout cornerback Riley Moss, who provided 80 tackles in a career-best year. With quarterback Bo Nix expected to be healthy for the 2026 opener, the addition of Belk suggests the Broncos are doubling down on an elite defensive identity to finally get over the hump.

The post Broncos’ Vance Joseph lands new assistant coach from USC appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Now, though, comes the hard part when it comes to building a contender in the NFL. The offseason is where teams look to add that final piece to put them over the proverbial hump. The Broncos have a few key areas that need to be addressed next season. Most fans will be looking towards the big-name free agents available that fit Denver’s needs.

However, should they swing and whiff at these players, there are some players that the Broncos should consider. Let’s look at the sneaky good picks for the Broncos’ free agency push.

Tyler Allegier, RB

A good rushing attack is often the sign of a great offense. Teams that have an efficient ground game are able to easily open up other areas of the field due to the gravity of their running backs. The Broncos’ rushing attack last season were led by the twin efforts of rookie RJ Harvey and veteran JK Dobbins. Dobbins was reliable when he was on the field for Denver. However, his injury history has become a liability for the team. It led to the Broncos having a below-average rushing attack last season.

Harvey is an excellent running back who excels particularly in the red zone. However, he hasn’t shown the capabilities to be an every-down back who can handle blocking and pass-catching consistently. Getting another running back to complement the incoming sophomore will allow him to develop properly without sacrificing the Broncos’ championship window.

Enter Tyler Allegier. Bijan Robinson’s running mate in the Atlanta Falcons’ backfield is a free agent this season, and he fills the needs of Denver quite well. He totaled 514 yards last season as the backup to Robinson, making the most of his opportunities. With other star RBs like Kenneth Walker II and Breece Hall likely to be hotly contested, Allegier could be a solid sneaky pickup for the Broncos.

Christian Kirk, WR

The Broncos’ ground attack isn’t the only part of the offense that needs to be remedied this offseason. Denver’s wide receiver room has long been considered lackluster, and it’s easy to see why. Courtland Sutton has emerged as the top receiving threat for Bo Nix, but Nix’s options are slim when we take the big-bodied wide receiver out of the equation. There’s also a prevailing belief that Sutton might be best suited as a number two receiver for a team.

The big name in free agency that everyone’s looking at is George Pickens, and for good reason. Pickens broke out last season as an excellent threat on offense. His ability to catch contested balls and stretch the field makes him a potential WR1 for any team. However, Pickens will also command a lot of money, money that the Broncos might not have. Other prolific free agent wide receivers are likely to be in the $16-20 million range.

Kirk is one of the veteran wide receivers that the Broncos could take a flier on in free agency. While he’s been hot or cold over the last few years, Kirk has shown that he’s able to be a top wide receiver in an offense. He had an electric 2022 season with the Jaguars (1,108 yards and eight TDs) that earned him a massive payday with the Cardinals. Perhaps a change of scenery will allow the wide receiver to unlock that level again. He’s expected to fetch around $6 million this offseason, an affordable price for the Broncos.

The post 2 sneaky good NFL free agents Broncos must sign in 2026 offseason appeared first on ClutchPoints.

With college prospects working toward making the jump to the NFL, free agency opening in March, and the NFL Draft in April, the NFL will still be creating plenty of headlines later this month. Here’s ClutchPoints’ final NFL Power Rankings of this past NFL season.

1. Seattle Seahawks

It was quite the perfect ending for Mike MacDonald and the Seahawks, as their strong defense did enough for their offense to eventually figure things out in the second half in Super Bowl 60. Heading into an offseason with a ton of potential for improving their roster, things are quite bright at Lumen Field, as they check in at the top spot of the final NFL Power Rankings.

Contract extensions for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon will likely be discussed this offseason, as both stars will be looking for their first paydays. Sitting at just over $73.1 million in cap space, general manager John Schneider and the front office can afford to be greedy in free agency, as they will likely look to add another playmaker on offense, re-sign Kenneth Walker III, and find another linebacker and pass rusher on defense.

2. New England Patriots

The future is bright for the Patriots heading into the 2026-27 NFL season, as making the Super Bowl in only the second season with Drake Maye means this team is going to be around for a while. Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff seem to all be aligned on the present and future goals for this roster, as they will look to maximize their $36M+ in space.

Upgrading the offensive line and wide receiver groups should be the top priority this offseason, as left tackle Will Campbell might be a candidate to move inside to guard, even with Vrabel’s comments against that option. With 11 draft picks at their disposal in April, this team is not going anywhere in the AFC.

3. Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford’s MVP award was the second-best thing for the Los Angeles Rams at the NFL Awards ceremony, as he confirmed that he will be returning for his 18th season. Having Stafford return helps anchor a Rams offense that should be one of the best yet again in 2026.

“So I’ll see you guys next year.”

Matthew Stafford ended his MVP speech by announcing he will return in 2026.

( NBC) pic.twitter.com/lnMCu7cwQX

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 6, 2026

The ferocious pass rush that led the LAR defense should be back in full force next year, but the secondary could use some help. With two first-round picks at the Rams’ disposal (thanks to the Atlanta Falcons), general manager Les Snead will have his pick of the litter to upgrade both the offense and defense. The retirement of right tackle Rob Havenstein opens up a likely landing spot for one of the draft’s top tackle prospects, as pick 13 should see a lot of action for offensive linemen in mock drafts.

4. Denver Broncos

Coming up short in the AFC Championship game shows that the Denver Broncos are a threat in the AFC heading into next season. With Bo Nix suffering a broken foot, ruling him out of the championship matchup with the Patriots, it was their defense that put on its best Herculean act to keep things as close as possible.

With core players like Courtland Sutton, Zach Allen, and Nik Bonitto signing extensions last year, Denver has done a good job of locking up their core before getting too expensive. There are no super impactful players hitting free agency for the Broncos this offseason, giving them a chance to either re-sign their depth pieces or take a big swing externally to try and get over their postseason hump.

5. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have something cooking in the NFC, as Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams seem to be a really solid match. The growth of the offense, specifically Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland, shows that this offense is only just reaching its potential.

While currently in the red for cap space, it won’t take much for Chicago to work its way into a position where it can go after a few key free agents. After loading up on offensive line help last offseason, they likely will look to upgrade their defense this offseason, as their defensive secondary could use some help. While it isn’t a strong cornerback class in free agency, they definitely could find a quality depth option there.

6. Buffalo Bills

Coming up short once again in the playoffs cost Sean McDermott his job as the head coach for the Buffalo Bills, as they decided to move forward with Joe Brady. Keeping a familiar voice in-house at head coach is an interesting decision for a team that wasn’t happy with its current leadership, so it remains to be seen how that works moving forward.

Adding talent at the wide receiver position has to be a top priority this offseason, as Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and a plethora of depth pieces continue to not cut it. With George Pickens off the market and pulling Mike Evans from Tampa Bay feeling unlikely, the trio of Alec Pierce, Jauan Jennings, and Romeo Doubs headlines the FA class. However, this is an excellent draft class for WRs, so don’t be surprised if Buffalo uses an early pick on a wideout.

7. San Francisco 49ers

While a road upset over the Philadelphia Eagles gave the San Francisco 49ers early hope this postseason, a blowout loss to the eventual champions ended their playoff journey early. As one of the three NFC West teams to make the playoffs, San Francisco was the first one to bow out, but it was an overall successful season.

A healthy season from Christian McCaffrey resulted in a Comeback Player of the Year nod, while Brock Purdy overcame injuries to finish the year strong. Objective number one for the Niners this offseason needs to be finding help on their offensive line and at wide receiver, as the pending free agency of Jennings, combined with the uncertainty with Brandon Aiyuk, leaves this team very weak at that position.

8. Houston Texans

A dreadful showing by C.J. Stroud ended Houston’s season on a sour note, as their franchise QB threw four interceptions in their AFC Divisional loss to the Patriots. The offense is heading into the second season of Nick Caley’s offense, and there needs to be a fundamental change for next season.

The inclusion of rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will need to increase as they head into their second seasons, as the offense looked far more fluid the more they were integrated. But improving the offensive line and running games should be the top priority for Houston this offseason, as these are the main elements holding this offense back.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

It was quite the impressive 13-4 season for the Jacksonville Jaguars this past season, as Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence look to be a solid pairing moving forward. The offense was hitting on all cylinders, as Lawrence and Travis Etienne both put up strong seasons in Coen’s offense.

As the top option in the AFC South, the Jaguars will need to do a lot this offseason if they want to retain that title. With Etienne hitting free agency, it will be a key offseason for the Jaguars as they look to remain atop their division.

10. Green Bay Packers

A sub-par regular season by the Green Bay Packers resulted in limping into the NFC postseason, where their trip was cut short by the Bears. A super impressive season from Jordan Love helped overshadow some of the offensive shortcomings, while the defense was impressive to start the year, falling behind when Micah Parsons was lost for the year.

A bad free-agent class from last offseason put the Packers behind the roster-building eight ball, so they will have to dig out of that hole this offseason. Without a first-round pick due to the Parsons trade, Brian Gutekunst will need to work more magic with fewer assets, as the Packers round out the top 10 in the NFL Power Rankings.

11. Philadelphia Eagles

Something needs to change for the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, as the dysfunction on offense is holding this team back. The offense, which will have a new look with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, will need to adapt to its new identity, one that will hopefully help Jalen Hurts.

Trade rumors surrounding A.J. Brown are starting to swirl yet again, and that will likely dominate offseason headlines, but a move could actually happen this time. Look for this offense to look decently different heading into next year, as a switch-up is needed.

12. Los Angeles Chargers

An 11-win Wild Card berth was a successful season for the Los Angeles Chargers, but a 16-3 loss to the Patriots ended their season early. Having over $80 million in cap space to work with this offseason gives LAC a great shot at shoring up their roster, and having Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator will do wonders for improving their offense.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Mike Tomlin era has officially ended for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as a 24-point loss at the hands of the Texans ended their playoff berth. Even by winning the AFC North, Pittsburgh limped into the postseason, benefiting from a weak division.

Mike McCarthy was chosen as the next head coach for the Steelers, an uninspiring selection but one that could be the right choice if Aaron Rodgers wants to play one more season. This roster will be a work in progress in 2026, and their offseason will be integral to getting started on the right foot.

14. Carolina Panthers

It was quite the impressive season for Dave Canales and the Carolina Panthers, as they won the NFC South division and pushed the Rams to the brink in their NFC Wild Card matchup. While the offense still has plenty of room to grow, this team finally showed promise that they can build around, as their core of Young and wideout Tetairoa McMillan is an exciting pairing.

But only having around $11 million in cap space currently to work with will present a few challenges this offseason, so it might take a few cap gymnastics to upgrade their roster.

15. Detroit Lions

After a shocking upset loss in the NFC playoffs the previous season, 2025 was yet another disappointing year for the Detroit Lions. Missing the playoffs altogether, the Lions set out for a bit of a reset this offseason, bringing in former Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator Drew Petzing for the same position.

Petzing is not an inspiring addition, based on how the AZ offenses looked under his guise, but with Dan Campbell also being an offensive mind, hopefully this pairing will help the high-powered offense get back to how it needs to be, as the Lions fill the first non-playoff spot of the NFL Power Rankings.

16. Indianapolis Colts

Losing Daniel Jones down the stretch turned the Indianapolis Colts from a playoff-bound team to one employing Philip Rivers, limping to the finish line. As the former NFL QB was brought out of retirement for one last hoorah, the Colts now move forward into 2026 with Jones hitting free agency.

Alec Pierce is also heading into free agency as one of the top WR options available, so he will likely command a top-dollar deal. This offense could look vastly different next season, but the potential for both Jones and Pierce to come back is still in the realm of possibilities this offseason.

17. Baltimore Ravens

Jesse Minter is back with the Baltimore Ravens, as he went from the defensive coordinator on the Chargers to head coach for the Ravens. Moving on from John Harbaugh was a necessary change, as hard as it was to make, if this franchise wanted to take a step forward into its next era.

Center Tyler Linderbaum is BAL’s top free agent this offseason, and he will be in high demand, so it will take a lot to get him back. This is a very important offseason for the roster development of the Ravens, as they need to round out both sides of the ball while getting Lamar Jackson back to his MVP level.

18. Minnesota Vikings

The jury is still out on J.J. McCarthy, as he has yet to show enough to justify remaining the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. After seeing Darnold head elsewhere and win a Super Bowl, that absolutely has to make Kevin O’Connell sick.

Moving on from general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at a very interesting point in the offseason sets everything off on the wrong foot for the Vikings, as they will be heading into free agency without a GM. It will be quite the fascinating offseason for Minnesota, as they enter free agency over $40 million in the red and near the middle of the pack in the NFL Power Rankings.

19. Atlanta Falcons

It is now the Kevin Stefanski show for the Atlanta Falcons, as they moved on from Raheem Morris after missing the playoffs yet again. With defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich locked in and Tommy Rees installed as the new offensive coordinator, 2026 will be a year of rebuilding for the Falcons.

Thankfully, Bijan Robinson is too good for this team to be bad, as his otherworldly 2025 season showed what his ceiling looks like. The future (and health) of Michael Penix Jr. will be the top storyline this offseason for ATL, as moving on from Kirk Cousins seems like a foregone conclusion.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Todd Bowles is back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with former Atlanta offensive coordinator Zac Robinson coming aboard to lead the offense. It remains to be seen if the offense will actually get better, as Robinson wasn’t retained by Stefanski for a reason.

Mike Evans is hitting free agency this offseason, and while it would be quite shocking to see him head elsewhere, there has been little news on his interest in coming back. But for the offense to actually take a step forward, Robinson will need to unlock Bucky Irving, something he already seems interested in doing.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor somehow escaped the offseason unscathed yet again, as the Cincinnati Bengals are moving forward with Taylor as their head coach. After missing the playoffs yet again, could 2026 finally be the make-or-break year for him and this roster?

Joe Burrow will have all of his main offensive skill players back, as Chase Brown, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins are all under contract for 2026. Upgrading the offensive line remains a top priority, as does fielding a better defense, as this team has so much potential, yet continues to under-deliver, which is why they continue to fall in the middle of the NFL Power Rankings.

22. Dallas Cowboys

Handing an expensive franchise tag to wide receiver George Pickens is likely how the Dallas Cowboys will kick off their offseason, as CeeDee Lamb’s running mate will be back for at least one more season.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer was able to get a successful year out of Dak Prescott last year, as the Dallas offense relied on free agent Javonte Williams to steady their run game. Williams is one of the better running backs available in free agency, and if he leaves, Dallas will be back to square one, as they have no long-term option on the team at RB.

23. Miami Dolphins

Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan are turning the Miami Dolphins into Green Bay South, as the Dolphins now have a new head coach and general manager. Hafley’s addition will be quite a change personality-wise, although it seems that his introductory press conference definitely set things off on the right foot.

What to do at quarterback will be the first item of business, as Tua Tagovailoa is likely going to be playing elsewhere next year. While this isn’t the year to need to draft a quarterback, Miami could be in play for a veteran in free agency, with ties linking Malik Willis to the Dolphins popping up.

24. Kansas City Chiefs

A torn ACL for Patrick Mahomes ended any postseason hopes for the Kansas City Chiefs this past season, wrapping up what was a disappointing year for the yearly postseason participants.

Facing an uphill battle in terms of creating cap space, currently sitting at $57.9 million in the red, the Chiefs need to take a serious look at their current roster construction. With players like Bryan Cook, Jaylen Watson, and Travis Kelce hitting free agency, there are plenty of decisions piling up for the Chiefs to deal with this offseason.

25. New Orleans Saints

With Tyler Shough locked in as the QB1 for next year, the New Orleans Saints and Kellen Moore can take that next step forward as they look to become a contender again. Questions about their entire defense will need to be answered this offseason, and holding the eighth overall selection in April’s NFL Draft could be the first step towards helping, as they sit 25th in the NFL Power Rankings.

26. Washington Commanders

Replacing Kliff Kingsbury with David Blough is hopefully going to take the offense to a new level, as the Washington Commanders were lagging a lot on that side of the ball in 2025. Granted, injuries to Jayden Daniels slowed this down, but the run game was invisible for most of the season.

With as old as this team is, their class of free agents could very well all be heading elsewhere next year. Players like Deebo Samuel and Bobby Wagner, among others, don’t match the timeline of this current team, as they would be better suited on a contending team, so expect these players to earn considerable external interest in free agency.

27. New York Giants

With Harbaugh, Matt Nagy, and Dennard Wilson being brought in to reshape the coaching staff, the New York Giants actually have some promise and hope. Navigating only having $7 million in cap space makes things a bit tough for the Giants this offseason, but with Jaxson Dart already in tow as the team’s franchise quarterback, that at least crosses one item off their rebuild checklist.

28. Tennessee Titans

Brian Daboll is an excellent offensive coordinator for Cam Ward, as he has the right approach to developing young QBs to help Ward. With Robert Saleh replacing the fired Brian Callahan, it will be interesting to see if Saleh can make his second tenure as a head coach more successful. Currently sitting with the most cap space available with $99 million, this could be a very fun offseason for Tennessee, as they look to build around Ward.

29. Arizona Cardinals

Mike LaFleur has swapped divisional rivals, going from the offensive coordinator of the Rams to being the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. A franchise that has been longing for a consistent, successful roster for years has a fresh chance at doing just that, as Jonathan Gannon was never the right fit for this roster.

The Kyler Murray decision is the biggest one facing Mike LaFleur right out of the gate, as Murray was shut down in favor of Jacoby Brissett and the full-fledged tank last year. While all signs point to Murray heading elsewhere this offseason, could a new offensive coaching staff decide to work with him instead?

30. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns remain an inept NFL franchise that continues to stumble, as their bungled head coaching search resulted in hiring Baltimore’s Todd Monken and losing defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in the process.

Still being $19 million over the salary cap, the Cleveland front office will need to figure out if this is finally the offseason they pull the plug on the Deshaun Watson contract, or if they continue to kick that can down the road, as they once again check in near the bottom of the NFL Power Rankings.

31. New York Jets

A firing of most positional coaches and coordinators by Aaron Glenn put quite a negative stamp on his first season with the New York Jets, as they will head into 2026 with a lot of fresh faces. With over $82 million in cap space, will they make a big move? Will Justin Fields remain at QB, or will they bring in competition, via free agency or the draft, to try and take a step forward? All signs are pointing to this being a make-or-break year for Glenn, as he was given a pass on his inaugural season, but the Jets will need to do a lot if they want to dig themselves out of the bottom of next year’s NFL Power Rankings.

32. Las Vegas Raiders

The final team in the end-of-season NFL Power Rankings is the Las Vegas Raiders, who have the top spot in the 2026 NFL Draft, $87.8 million in cap space, and a first-time head coach fresh off a Super Bowl win.

Things are looking up for this franchise, as Klint Kubiak will do his best in his first year to help Brock Bowers and (likely) rookie quarterback Francisco Mendoza revamp this below-average offense. While it will take a bit to rebuild this roster fully, they are taking the right steps to make that a reality.

The post NFL Power Rankings: Seahawks head into offseason as Super Bowl champs appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Franklin won’t have to worry about targets. Nix targeted him 104 times last season for 65 catches, 709 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. For 2026, Franklin is hoping to leap to over 1,000 yards on the season. Franklin sat down with the Denver Post to discuss next season.

“I’m going to get a 1,000-yard season,” Franklin told The Denver Post Thursday. “I’m going to double up the touchdowns. And receptions, I need to probably get about 80 or 100.”

He was asked if he is capable of making that leap.

“Yeah, yeah, for sure, man,” Franklin said. “Because I could’ve done it this year. But I think, obviously, in the beginning of the year, things were a little — they weren’t how they were in the backend of the year, just with how clean we were as an offense, penalty-wise, just being on the same page and stuff like that.”

Franklin was consistent throughout most of the season. He had a huge game in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts and had a two-touchdown game later in the year against the Dallas Cowboys. If Franklin continues to average at least six targets a game next year, maybe even more, then I expect him to have a much better season all around. He has the potential for 1k yards and 10+ TDs being the No. 2 behind Courtland Sutton.

Davis Webb will now be calling plays for the Broncos as the new OC.

The post Broncos’ Troy Franklin predicts leap to 1,000-yard status in 2026 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Broncos are projected to have roughly $26 million in cap space, ranking near the middle of the league. However, most of their efforts will be focused on retaining some of their top in-house talent.

Linebacker Alex Singleton, center Luke Wattenberg, cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, running back J.K. Dobbins and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers will hit the open market, but are all players Denver would like to retain. The front office could also have interest in re-signing running back Jaleel McLaughlin, safety P.J. Locke and defensive lineman Michael Dwumfour.

Paton has a lot of roster management to do before the summer, particularly with the NFL Draft following free agency in April. The Broncos are not necessarily in “run it back” mode, but they would love to retain as many pieces from their top-five defense as possible.

If they are going to reach the next level, the Broncos need to be major players in the 2026 offseason. While they continue to improve in each season under Sean Payton, Denver needs to make a big splash to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender. After making the 2025 AFC Championship Game, the Super Bowl is the new standard Payton has set in the Mile High City.

Before free agency begins, expect the Broncos to make a few cuts to give themselves more cap space flexibility. Do not be surprised to see a few big-name players part with the franchise over the next few months.

TE Evan Engram

The ever-inconsistent Evan Engram failed to reach expectations yet again in 2025. He managed to remain healthy for most of the year, which is never a given with him, but ended the year with just 50 catches for 461 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Engram disappointed with the New York Giants, but he turned his career around with a successful three-year run with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That stint provided reason to believe he would elevate Bo Nix’s receiving corps in 2025 as long as he remained on the field.

Engram only missed one game all season, but he ended the season with the worst numbers since his second year in the league. Engram simply did not fit into Sean Payton and Joe Lombardi’s offensive system as well as Denver had hoped.

The 31-year-old is signed through the 2026 season after inking a two-year deal in the 2025 offseason. However, with $16.5 million of his $23 million contract guaranteed, the Broncos could save roughly $3.8 million in dead cap space by cutting him this offseason. That number would increase to over $6 million if they wait until after June 1.

With players like David Njoku, Zach Ertz, Tyler Conklin, Noah Fant and Darren Waller available during the upcoming free agency period, the Broncos can find a suitable replacement for Engram who will be a better fit with Nix on a cheaper deal. Expect Denver to also use one of its Day Two or Day Three selections on a tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft.

DT D.J. Jones

The Broncos’ defensive line was arguably the best in the league in 2025, and most of their key players up front are set to return in 2026. Star edge-rushers Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper have already inked multi-year extensions, while Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach and Eyioma Uwazurike are each locked in for another year.

Allen and Jones have held down the front line for years, along with impending free agent John Franklin-Myers. Jones, however, has become an expendable asset in the 2026 offseason.

Jones’ numbers have not declined as he remains a staple of the Broncos’ study defensive line. He recorded 39 tackles in his ninth season, while tying a career-high 3.5 sacks from his nose tackle position.

However, Jones, whose total contract makes him the 11th-highest-paid player on the roster, is becoming a liability due to his emerging teammates. Roach and Uwazurike have both been dominant forces for the Broncos, with the latter emerging as a part of Vance Joseph’s rotation in 2025. The two reserves have primarily been used as depth pieces, but are becoming too impactful to ignore.

Despite starting just two games in 2025, Roach led Denver’s defensive linemen with 41 tackles on the year and tied for sixth on the team with four sacks in the regular season. He led the Broncos with two sacks and three tackles for loss in the postseason.

On the other hand, Uwazurike broke out with 39 tackles and 3.5 sacks in year three. He recorded 10 tackles in the playoffs, tying Dre Greenlaw for fourth on the team.

Roach and Uwazurike are both better fits in Joseph’s defense than Jones is and will be up for contract extensions soon. The Broncos should place greater value on the two younger, more effective players than on Jones’ $29 million cap hit over the next two seasons. Denver can save

LB Dre Greenlaw

The Broncos took a big risk on Dre Greenlaw in the 2025 offseason when they gave him a three-year, $31.5 million contract, despite him playing just two games in 2024. The 28-year-old was effective, albeit largely unavailable, in his first season with the team.

Before Paton can make any decisions on Greenlaw, he has a more pressing matter to address. Leading tackler Alex Singleton will become an unrestricted free agent, where he will likely receive substantial attention. Despite coming off a late-season injury scare, Singleton is on pace to receive another lucrative deal after notching at least 120 tackles in five of the last six seasons.

Justin Strnad, who started eight games when Greenlaw was sidelined, will also hit the open market after signing a one-year extension in 2025. Singleton is priority No. 1, but the Broncos would also love to bring Strnad back on a team-friendly deal.

If Denver retains Singleton, Paton might explore potentially releasing Greenlaw after just one season. While still effective, Greenlaw has not been the same player since he tore his Achilles tendon in a freak accident during Super Bowl LVIII.

The Broncos would save roughly $6 million if they cut Greenlaw before June 1, and over $8 million if they wait until after that date, according to Over The Cap. While not game-changing money, it could give Paton additional flexibility to make a bigger move.

Denver would be content to keep Greenlaw, who tallied 53 tackles in 10 games last season, including the playoffs. However, depending on how aggressive the Broncos are in the 2026 offseason, Greenlaw will be among the first names the team views as expendable.

The post 3 Broncos cut candidates entering 2026 offseason appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As the NFL coaching carousel spun this offseason, Joseph’s name surfaced in several head coaching searches. However, as the dust settled, Joseph remained in Denver. While NFL assistants often dream of the big chair, Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto isn’t exactly mourning the missed opportunity for his coach.

Speaking at Pro Bowl practice, Bonitto offered a candid, lighthearted take on Joseph staying put.

“Selfishly, I’m not [feeling for him], because I love VJ, and I love having him be my DC,” Bonitto told Luca Evans of The Denver Post. “But no, his time will come soon, for sure.”

It is easy to see why Bonitto wants to keep the band together. Under Joseph’s guidance, Bonitto enjoyed a breakout campaign, becoming a consistent disruptive force off the edge. It is easy to see why Nik Bonitto wants to keep the band together.

Under Joseph’s guidance, Bonitto enjoyed a breakout campaign, recording a career-high 14.0 sacks in 2025. In the AFC Divisional Playoff win against the Buffalo Bills on January 17, Bonitto was a game-changer. Bonitto recorded three total tackles and a sack, but his most impactful contributions were the two forced fumbles that kept Josh Allen on his toes all afternoon.

Joseph’s aggressive scheme allowed players like Bonitto and defensive tackle Zach Allen to thrive. Allen, who followed Joseph from the Arizona Cardinals, also voiced his relief regarding the stability in the coaching staff.

While Joseph has previous head coaching experience with the Broncos, his second stint as the defensive play-caller has rehabilitated his image across the league. He has proven he can adapt and lead a top-ten unit. For now, the Mile High City gets to keep its defensive mastermind for at least one more run, and Nik Bonitto certainly isn’t complaining.

The post Broncos Linebacker Nik Bonitto’s ‘selfish’ reaction to Vance Joseph being passed over for HC jobs appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Broncos have announced that David Webb is taking over as offensive coordinator, via the team’ X, formerly Twitter account. Logan Kilgore will be replacing him as quarterbacks coach.

After his playing career ended in 2022, Webb immediately joined the coaching ranks with the Broncos in 2023. He has served as their quarterbacks coach ever since, earning the title of offensive pass game coordinator in 2025.

His work with Broncos quarterback Bo Nix caught the attention of many around the NFL. During the regular season, Nix completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That came after the QB posted a 66.3 completion percentage for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a rookie.

As teams with open head coach vacancies looked for a new leader, Webb’s name came up frequently. While he interviewed for some roles, he ultimately decided to back out of the running for the Las Vegas Raiders’ HC job. That sent a sign that Webb was eyeing a return to the Broncos.

With Denver moving on from Lombardi, a clear pathway to promotion was there for Webb. If he succeeds in the role, his head coach candidacy will become much more legitimate. While it’s unclear if he or Payton will call plays, Webb will now have his fingerprints all over the Broncos’ offense.

The franchise had to fend off plenty of interested parties to secure their new offensive coordinator’s services. But at the same time, coaching for the Broncos is all Webb has known since hanging up his cleats.

The post Broncos’ Davis Webb gets expected promotion to offensive coordinator appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Athletic’s Alec Lewis and Dianna Russini posted an article on Sunday outlining the surprising dismissal. They named a pair of candidates who could become the team’s next GM.

“On Friday, [Vikings President Mark] Wilf did not rule out [Vikings vice president of football operations Rob] Brzezinski emerging as a candidate for the full-time general manager role. Multiple league sources believe he would be deserving of consideration,” Lewis and Russini wrote. “Another name circulating in conversations with league sources is former Vikings executive and current Broncos general manager George Paton, who still has strong internal relationships.

Broncos ownership, and head coach Sean Payton, hold Paton in high regard. Paton is also under contract for the Broncos. Denver will not let another team pry away their general manager so easily.

Russini also reported on Friday that Minnesota may not search for a new GM until after the 2026 NFL Draft.

“The search for a new GM will go down after the draft. Like most teams in this position, expect a pivot, likely the opposite of what they just had,” Russini said. “I’d expect an older school type with a strong scouting background, someone rooted in traditional evaluation and personnel building.”

Russini and Lewis also included some quotes from Vikings sources about Friday’s shocking announcement.

One source thought Kwesi was safe and that the window to fire him had safely passed.

“This is wild,” one team source said. “We all thought the time passed and they decided to keep him. Something changed.”

Adofo-Mensah was clearly under a lot of pressure headed into the offseason. But his colleagues clearly thought he had more time to make changes.

“We knew there’d be a lot of pressure on (Adofo-Mensah) and rightfully so,” another team source said. “But we thought he’d at least see one more season.”

It will be fascinating to see how the Vikings approach the 2026 offseason now that Kwesi is no longer in the picture.

The post NFL rumors: Vikings linked to reunion with Broncos GM after making ‘wild change’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, minutes after the victory over the Bills, the Broncos learned that they would not have their full complement in the AFC Championship game. Quarterback Bo Nix had broken a bone in his ankle and he was not going to be able to play. The Broncos would have to go with backup Jarrett Stidham at quarterback. He has not thrown a pass in an NFL game since the 2023 season and asking him to lead the Broncos to a win over the Patriots under those circumstances was too much to ask.

The conditions of the game turned brutal as the snow came down late in the second quarter and turned into a blizzard in the final 30 minutes. New England kicked an early field goal in the third quarter and that broke a 7-7 tie. It turned out to be the only scoring in the second half and Broncos dropped a 10-7 decision.

While the Broncos had plenty of excuses for the tough loss, head coach Sean Payton was not about to accept them. He parted company with offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi after the game along with receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch.

Broncos need to show improvement at the RB and WR slots

The Broncos had a solid year and exceeded expectations throughout the year, but Payton is an offensive-minded coach and he wants to improve the attack in the 2026 season.

A look at the numbers reveals that the Broncos ranked 14th in point per game at 23.6 and their running game was ordinary. Denver ranked 16th in that area, averaging 118.7 yards per carry.

J.K. Dobbins led the Broncos in rushing even though he only played in 10 games. He rushed for 772 yards with 153 carried and 4 touchdowns. Dobbins suffered a Lisfranc injury in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders and that marked the end of the season. RJ Harvey played in all 17 games and he rushed for 540 yards and 7 touchdowns.

While the Broncos like Dobbins when he is healthy, going after a key free agent at the running back slot makes quite a bit of sense.
Breece Hall might be the perfect addition for the Broncos in the backfield. He has been very solid for the moribund Jets, and getting a chance to play for an excellent team like Denver could light a fire under the explosive running back.

Hall never let up even though he was playing for the 3-14 Jets who finished a woeful 4th in the AFC East. He carried the ball 243 times for 1,064 yards with 4 TDs, and 57 of his carries resulted in first downs. Hall also caught 36 of 48 targets for 350 yards with 1 TD and a long reception of 42 yards.

Hall is scheduled to be a free agent, and so is Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks. However, if the Seahawks win the Super Bowl and Walker has a productive game, the belief is that the Seahawks would make him an offer that he would not be able to refuse.

Broncos could also use a big-play wideout to help Sutton

The Broncos know that they have a game-changing wideout in Courtland Sutton, but there’s no reason they couldn’t bring in another receiver who could increase their big-play capabilities.

Sutton caught 74 passes for 1,017 yards and 7 touchdowns, and opposing defensive coordinators had to look out for him on an every-down basis.

If the Broncos are going to improve their passing game, they need to consider Alec Pierce of the Indianapolis Colts. Pierce has game-breaking speed, runs sharp pass patterns and will fight for the ball. He could become an ideal No. 2 receiver for Nix and help make the quarterback a far more effective on-field leader.

Pierce is one of those rare receivers who will give his quarterback big plays when they are needed most. Even though the Colts did not have the most consistent quarterback play after starter Daniel Jones was injured, Pierce caught 47 passes for a team-leading 1,003 yards with 6 touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 21.3 yards per reception and 41 of his catches resulted in first downs.

Payton will look at Pierce as a player who is capable of making the Broncos’ offense far more dangerous than it was in 2026. His ability to stretch the defense would help Sutton and also give the running game a significant lift.

The post Broncos’ top 2 free agent targets after falling short of Super Bowl goal appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Opinions were split on the Broncos all year, during which they won 12 one-score games, including a gutsy Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills. However, the playoff victory ultimately cost Denver its season, as Bo Nix underwent season-ending surgery immediately after.

The offense was inconsistent, but it seemed to find a rhythm at the end of the year before Nix’s injury. The Broncos’ defense went in the opposite direction, dominating all year before getting picked apart by Josh Allen in the playoffs.

Even more importantly, the Broncos have five starters hitting free agency in the coming months. How general manager George Paton navigates that field significantly impacts his approach to the draft in April.

Before the chaos begins, let’s take a look at the Broncos’ full 2026 NFL mock draft, according to the PFF draft simulator.

Round 1, Pick 30: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

The Broncos made it obvious in the playoffs that they need another consistent receiving threat to take their offense to the next level. Courtland Sutton earned his second Pro Bowl nod with his third career 1,00-yard season in 2025, but Troy Franklin’s slow development and Marvin Mims Jr.’s offensive limitations gave their offense a rigid ceiling throughout the year.

The PFF mock draft simulator has the Broncos addressing those issues with their first-round pick, selecting Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion at No. 30. Concepcion was one of the most dynamic receivers in college football in 2025, with his 15.1 yards per catch ranking 13th among Power Four receivers with 50 or more receptions. Concepcion is elite with the ball in his hands, but route-running could be an issue for him early in his career.

Round 2, Pick 62: CB Keionte Scott, Miami

The Broncos just invested a first-round pick in cornerback Jahdae Barron in 2025, but the PFF mock draft simulator has them going back to the well early in 2026. This time, Paton goes with Miami’s Keionte Scott, who was one of the heroes of the Hurricanes’ College Football Playoff run. Scott entered the draft after a career year in Coral Gables, during which he recorded 64 tackles, five sacks, five pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

With Denver potentially losing impending free agent Ja’Quan McMillian, Sean Payton could have a hole to fill in his defensive lineup. If the Broncos do not like what they have in Barron, who only started five games as a rookie and never played more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps, Scott would be a solid Day Two addition.

Round 3, Pick 94: RB Seth McGowan, Kentucky

RJ Harvey will return to lead the Broncos’ backfield in 2026, but they could potentially lose J.K. Dobbins, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie in the offseason. Payton has historically favored a two-running back offense, making it within reason for Denver to address the position with Kentucky’s Seth McGowan in the third round.

McGowan’s production decreased in his lone season in Lexington, but he punched in a career-high 12 touchdowns. His frame and aggressive play style are coveted by scouts, who could see him rise in the pre-draft process. McGowan, whose powerful running style would be a perfect complement to the shifty Harvey, is a solid target for Paton and Payton late in round three, especially if Dobbins hits the open market.

Round 4, Pick 108: TE Marlin Klein, Michigan

The Broncos could clearly stand to upgrade at tight end after Evan Engram disappointed with just 461 receiving yards and one touchdown in 2025. Engram is still under contract in 2026, but it would be surprising if Denver avoids the position in the 2026 NFL Draft. Paton gained an additional fourth-round pick in the trade that sent Devaughn Vele to New Orleans, and the PFF mock draft simulator has him using one on Michigan tight end Marlin Klein.

Klein’s numbers are not impressive; he managed just 248 receiving yards and one touchdown in 2025. But on a Michigan team that had just 2,428 passing yards and often deploys multiple tight ends, the athletic Klein was the third-leading receiver for freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. Klein’s numbers are similar to those of former Wolverine products Colston Loveland and AJ Barner, who have gone on to achieve success in the NFL.

Round 4, Pick 130: QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson

The PFF mock draft simulator has the Broncos making an interesting decision late in the fourth round by taking Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik. Klubnik was once viewed as a surefire first-round pick, but his regressive senior season has him in the early Day Three range.

Drafting a quarterback in the fourth round this early in Bo Nix’s career might appear hasty, but the Broncos have a lot of questions at the position entering the offseason. Drafting a proven leader like Klubnik makes sense if Payton is ready to move on from Jarrett Stidham as Nix’s backup, following a disastrous AFC Championship Game. Denver is optimistic that Nix will be back to 100 percent by Week 1, but it still needs a quality insurance plan after his season-ending ankle surgery.

Round 5, Pick 168: TE Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss

One round after selecting Marlin Klein, the PFF mock draft simulator has the Broncos doubling down with Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright. Like Klein, Wright is one of the most athletic tight ends in the class whose stock could grow at the NFL Combine.

Wright will not be an every-down NFL tight end, but he has proven his value in the red zone. The 6-foot-4 target has nine touchdowns to his name in two years at Ole Miss, including the go-ahead score against Miami in the fourth quarter of the Fiesta Bowl. Wright has the physicality to become a good blocker, but he needs work in that part of his game, which could determine his success at the next level.

Round 7, Pick 246: RB Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech

After doubling up on tight end in Round 5, PFF projects the Broncos go back to running back in Round 7 with Georgia Tech’s Jamal Haynes. Although undersized, the 23-year-old has been on scouts’ radars for years, since he burst onto the scene with 1,059 rushing yards after converting to running back in 2023. Unfortunately, injuries never let him kick into second gear in 2025, resulting in a disappointing 531-yard season to end his college football career.

If Dobbins, McLaughlin and Badie all leave in free agency, it would make sense for the Broncos to take multiple running backs in the 2026 NFL Draft. Haynes provides great value this late in the process and could carve out an offensive role in 2026 with the right coaching staff. Haynes’ statistical regression each year at Georgia Tech is concerning, but there is little risk in the seventh round.

Round 7, Pick 251: TE RJ Maryland, SMU

The PFF mock draft simulator has the Broncos selecting not one, not two, but three tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft. Perhaps Paton trades or releases Engram in the coming months, both of which are possible. Either way, the mock has SMU prospect RJ Maryland joining Marlin Klein and Dae’Quan Wright in the seventh round.

Like Klein, Maryland’s numbers were stunted in a two-tight-end offense. He often shared the field with Matthew Hibner, resulting in just 322 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2025. Maryland is a subpar blocker, but he is a quick, athletic receiver who plays with energy on every snap. While unlikely that Denver drafts three receiving tight ends, Maryland is the type of player who could contribute on special teams.

Round 7, Pick 256: RB Noah Whittington, Oregon

After taking three tight ends, the Broncos conclude the 2026 NFL Draft with a third running back, according to the draft simulator. Their final selection of the draft is Oregon’s Noah Whittington, who ended his six-year college football run with a career-high 829 rushing yards in 2025.

As one of the oldest prospects in the class, the 24-year-old would be lucky to hear his name called on Day Three. Whittington is a solid runner with a high IQ, but he benefited from working behind an elite offensive line that masked his limited speed and lateral quickness. Whittington did return kicks at Western Kentucky and Oregon, which he will likely need to do at a high level to make an NFL roster.

The post Broncos’ 7-round 2026 NFL Draft according to PFF mock draft simulator appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Of course, the Broncos’ Super Bowl hopes were severely hampered when Bo Nix went down with an ankle injury at the end of the win over the Bills. Nix has since had surgery, and Jarrett Stidham was forced into action for the conference title game where Denver was already without JK Dobbins.

While the loss will be tough to take, especially with the injury to Nix and the blizzard that eventually brought the AFC Championship Game down to a halt, the Broncos still have plenty to look forward to heading into 2026. Nix improved dramatically from his first season, and Denver is slated to retain a lot of the core of a 14-3 team that stood atop the AFC in the regular season.

However, as with all teams, there are still a few key free agents hitting the open market for the Broncos. Here are three of them that Denver needs to re-sign heading into next year.

DL John Franklin-Myers

Franklin-Myers is one of the more underrated players on this Denver defense, but his production speaks for itself. The former Rams and Jets defensive tackle has brought this defensive line together and was a big part of a unit that recorded a league-high 68 sacks this season.

Franklin-Myers has played in 33 games over the last two seasons with the Broncos, notching 14.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss during that time. The Broncos are already spending a lot of money up front and will need to pay Nik Bonitto a lucrative contract extension soon, but doing the hard work to keep Franklin-Myers around is necessary for this team.

One of the arguments against re-signing Franklin-Myers is that Zach Allen and DJ Jones, the team’s other two top interior defensive linemen, are already two of the highest-paid players on the defense. Franklin-Myers will be expensive to retain, but it is well worth the investment.

LB Alex Singleton

Singleton isn’t a perfect player, but he is the heart and soul of this Broncos defense and Denver would be wise to bring him back. The Broncos have a big hole at linebacker, so it would be worth bringing the 32-year old back on a short-term deal while the Broncos figure out what the future of that position looks like.

Singleton is limited in coverage, but he is still a thumper in the run game and a very productive player when he is at his best. He played in 16 games in 2025, missing one game after he had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor midseason, and made 135 total tackles.

The Broncos will have Dre Greenlaw back at linebacker, so bringing Singleton back alongside him would give the Broncos a physical duo in the middle of their defense while they groom a younger linebacker that they presumably take in the NFL Draft. With defensive coordinator Vance Joseph seemingly sticking around despite some head coaching buzz, bringing Singleton back would help a very good defense keep some of the continuity that made it formidable in 2025.

RB JK Dobbins

The Broncos could look to move on from Dobbins and swap him out for another running back in free agency given his injury history, but the proof of concept with the former Ohio State back suggests that bringing him back would be a smart move. Dobbins played in just 10 games this season before a season-ending foot injury, but he still ran for 772 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

Dobbins isn’t an explosive player at this stage, in large part due to his injury history, but the Broncos severely missed his ability to get north and south and get the hard yards late in the season. He is a good complement to RJ Harvey in the backfield, and a very good Denver offensive line should allow Dobbins and Harvey to have a lot of success next season if that is the pairing in the backfield.

Dobbins shouldn’t be super expensive in free agency, so he would be a realistic target for Denver to bring back into the fold.

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With rookie sensation Bo Nix sidelined after an injury in the Divisional Round, veteran backup Jarrett Stidham did admirable work, but the offense simply ran out of firepower when it mattered most.

While the defense, led by coordinator Vance Joseph, played championship-caliber football, the loss exposed a glaring weakness that has plagued the team for years: the lack of a true, game-changing alpha wide receiver. That unit ranked second in total defense and third in scoring defense, allowing just 18.3 points per game. They surrendered a stingy 278.2 yards per contest, suffocating opponents week in and week out.

As the Broncos head into the 2026 offseason, general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton have a clear mandate. To maximize Bo Nix’s rookie contract window and take the final step toward a Super Bowl, the Broncos must execute a blockbuster trade for Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown.

A glaring need for a true No. 1 receiver

Payton didn’t mince words in his postgame press conference, acknowledging that dropped passes and an inability to separate were fatal flaws against the Patriots’ disciplined secondary. Despite the best efforts of Courtland Sutton and the occasional flash from young players like Marvin Mims Jr., the Broncos’ receiving corps lacked a terrifying presence.

The numbers back up the eye test. The tight end position, specifically Adam Trautman, has been a non-factor, totaling just 55 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns across 51 games over three seasons. While the running game found some rhythm with J.K. Dobbins, the passing attack often stalled in critical moments.

In the modern NFL, you cannot win consistently without a receiver who commands a double team and still wins. The Patriots were able to suffocate the Broncos’ limited options because they didn’t fear any single playmaker taking the top off the defense or turning a slant into a 60-yard touchdown.

This isn’t just about fixing the drops; it’s about altering the geometry of the field for Nix. The QB showed tremendous promise in his rookie campaign, displaying the processing speed and accuracy that made him a first-round pick. But to expect him to develop into an elite quarterback without an elite weapon is a gamble the Broncos shouldn’t take. They need a “separator,” a player who can bail out the quarterback when the play breaks down.

Why A.J. Brown is the perfect fit for Bo Nix

The Philadelphia Eagles receiver appears ready for a change of scenery, and Denver should be the first team on the phone. Brown fits the Payton archetype perfectly: he is big, physical, and dominant after the catch. At 29 years old, he is still in his prime and offers the kind of immediate impact the Broncos need.

Brown has been a model of consistency, posting four straight 1,000-yard seasons. He isn’t a project like some draft picks, nor is he a risk-reward gamble like some younger trade targets who haven’t fully broken out. He is a proven commodity. Pairing Brown with Sutton would give the Broncos one of the most physical receiver duos in the league, a nightmare for the smaller defensive backs.

Imagine the effect on the offense. With Brown demanding safety help over the top, the box lightens for the running game. The intermediate zones open up for the tight ends. Most importantly, Nix gets a security blanket who wins 50/50 balls at an elite rate. In a conference loaded with offensive juggernauts, the Broncos can no longer afford to bring a knife to a gunfight.

Balancing the books: The defensive sacrifices

Of course, acquiring a player of Brown’s caliber requires financial gymnastics. The Broncos are entering an offseason with several key defensive free agents, most notably linebacker Alex Singleton and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers.

Singleton has been the heart and soul of the defense. After being diagnosed with testicular cancer during the season, he missed only one game and returned to finish 13th in the NFL in tackles. His efficiency was elite, boasting a 58% positive play rate, which ranked fifth among linebackers with at least 100 tackles. His performance in the playoffs was nothing short of heroic, as he racked up 26 tackles in just two postseason games.

Similarly, Franklin-Myers has been a force in the trenches. He has recorded 14.5 sacks over his two seasons in Denver and ranked eighth among interior defensive linemen in pass-rush win rate in 2025.

However, the reality of the salary cap means Denver likely cannot keep everyone. To afford A.J. Brown’s contract and the necessary offensive upgrades, the Broncos might have to let fan favorites like Singleton or Franklin-Myers walk in free agency.

The Broncos have a rare opportunity. They have a talented young quarterback on a rookie deal, a championship-winning coach, and a roster that just reached the AFC Championship. The window is wide open, but it won’t stay that way forever. Trading for Brown signals to the locker room and the fanbase that the Broncos are done with “almost.” They are ready to win now.

The post Perfect offseason trade Broncos must make after losing AFC Championship to Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Earlier this week, after the loss, Broncos head coach Sean Payton talked about Nix’s injury past to the media. As it turns out, Nix is not a fan of Payton’s comments.

“Sean (Payton) shouldn’t have said how many surgeries I’ve had because he doesn’t know,” Nix said to the media.

Here is what Payton told the media on Tuesday that Nix was referring to.

“What was found was a condition that was predisposed – they always find a little more when they go in,” Payton said. “It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. When you look at the play and you’re trying to evaluate it – the operating surgeon said that this was going to happen sooner than later. Now, you go about the rehab, proper orthotics, all those things.”

The relationship between the head coach and quarterback must be perfect to be successful. If there is any tension between Payton and Nix, they must squash it immediately. The Broncos are too talented a team for any tension to get in the way.

According to Nix, he should be healthy about 4-6 weeks and ready to begin offseason training.

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Now, there is insight into Nix’s reaction when he found out about his injury, per Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. After defeating the Bills, Nix was jubilant as can be, until he found out he had broken his ankle.

“It’s a bummer,” Nix said. “It’s crushing, it’s defeating.”

As a result, Nix wasn’t available to play in the AFC Championship. Instead, the Broncos went with Jarrett Stidham. Altogether, Stidham threw for 133 passing yards and one touchdown pass.

During the season, Nix threw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns. Additionally, he has a pass completion rate of 63.4% and a QB rating of 87.8. It’s also reported that Nix had a preexisting condition that made his injury likely to happen. This was based on conversations between doctors and head coach Sean Payton.

However, Nix refuted that assertion on Wednesday, per Josh Alper of NBC Sports.com. Despite some concern, Nix says that he isn’t injury-prone.

“With the durability, it’s been about, I’d say four years, probably over 60 games straight of me getting to play and not missing games,” Nix said, via Luca Evans of the Denver Post.

Recently, Nix underwent a successful surgery and is now recovering. The Broncos ultimately finished the season at 14-3 and were the AFC West champions.

The post Bo Nix reveals ‘crushing’ reaction to initial injury diagnosis appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Although the Broncos won that contest, 33-30 via overtime to move on to the AFC Championship game, they did so with Nix done for the rest of the playoffs due to an injured ankle.

That paved the way for backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to take over the gig under center for the AFC title game where Denver saw its season end in a loss at the hands of Drake Maye and the New England Patriots.

Nix, meanwhile, already went under the knife to address his injury. He now looks forward to his rehabilitation from the surgery, which he described as a “very quick procedure,” per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. The former Auburn Tigers and Oregon Ducks star quarterback also said that he will be training again in four to six weeks and that he does not see the surgery impacting his offseason training.

“I don’t see it being an issue at all. It won’t affect my training. Won’t affect my season at all,” Nix said (h/t Zac Stevens of DNVR Broncos).

That is at least great to hear for the Broncos and their fans, as they can expect Nix to be back to 100% form in time for the 2026 season.

Selected 12th overall by the Broncos in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Nix, who will be 26 in February, threw for 3,931 passing yards and 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 17 games in the 2025 campaign.

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A longtime associate of head coach Sean Payton from their days in New Orleans, Lombardi spent three seasons in Denver. While Payton calls the plays, the offense struggles in the playoffs, with backup Jarrett Stidham seemingly necessitating a change in leadership.

Speaking to Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette, Lombardi was candid about the dynamics leading to his exit. “He was in one of those moods where he felt like some changes needed to be made, and I guess he decided one of those was me.”

Lombardi also told Tomasson that ”Sean decided to move on” and that it wasn’t a surprise.

”I don’t think it’s ever a surprise you could tell he was in one of those moods where he felt like some changes needed to be made, and I guess he decided one of those was me. I’ve been around him long enough to kind of read the tea leaves.”

In a separate statement to Tomasson, Lombardi rejected the narrative that he was taking the fall for the loss. He questioned the need for a scapegoat, pointing out that the team reached the AFC Championship and had a successful season.

“We made it to the AFC Championship. I don’t know why there needs to be a scapegoat, so I’m not sure what I’m being scapegoated for I thought it was a good season. So no, I didn’t feel like that (Payton) just wanted to go in another direction.”

The decision may also be a strategic move to retain rising talent. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the firing is related to keeping quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, who is currently interviewing for the head coaching job with the rival Las Vegas Raiders.

Webb is credited with helping develop Bo Nix, and Rapoport suggests that opening the coordinator role allows Denver to incentivize Webb to stay.

So, the Broncos team must follow hiring protocols, and this move signals a desire to solidify a succession plan for whenever Payton eventually retires.

The post Former Broncos Joe Lombardi sounds off on Sean Payton after firing – ‘He was in a mood’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Just a few years ago, Webb was trying to carve out a niche as a bright young mind under the tutelage of coach Sean Payton. Now, he has become a sought-after drillmaster.

After getting interviewed by the Las Vegas Raiders and the Buffalo Bills for their coaching vacancies, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, and the Baltimore Ravens have also requested to interview Davis for their offensive coordinator openings.

After Broncos passing game coordinator and QB coach Davis Webb interviewed this week for the Raiders and Bills head coaching jobs, he received interview requests for offensive coordinator jobs with the Eagles, Giants, and Ravens.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 28, 2026

The 31-year-old Webb played a major role in the Broncos’ advancing to the AFC Championship for the first time in a decade. He is widely credited with molding Bo Nix into an elite signal-caller in just his second season in the NFL.

Many believe that the Raiders are the frontrunners in acquiring Webb, who played six years in the NFL. Las Vegas fired Pete Carroll after just one year at the helm after the team spiraled to a 3-14 record.

The Giants, meanwhile, could be a dark horse because of Webb’s familiarity with the organization. New York drafted him in the third round in 2017 and had a second stint with the squad in 2022 before retiring. Additionally, the opportunity to develop another fast-rising quarterback in Jaxson Dart could be enticing for Webb.

However, with the Broncos’ firing of Joe Lombardi as offensive coordinator, Davis could be spurred to stay in Mile High City if he gets offered the job.

Promoting him would keep continuity for the Broncos’ young core and reward one of their own.

The post Broncos’ Davis Webb receives even more interview requests from Eagles, Giants, Ravens appeared first on ClutchPoints.

From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: While Davis Webb interviews with the rival #Raiders, the #Broncos fired OC Joe Lombardi. pic.twitter.com/hb0X0pjxV1

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 27, 2026

“It’s not just Lombardi, I believe at least one more, potentially another coach also out,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. “The Broncos are going to hire another offensive coordinator, and they need to run a process. So, based on NFL rules, they can’t just say Davis Webb, it’s your job. What they can do is incentivize him to stay and then potentially end up giving him the job. The fact that he is in the building right now for a rival interviewing for a head coaching opportunity and a strong candidate, these things are all related.”

Sean Payton calls the offensive plays for the Broncos, so the new offensive coordinator won’t have that responsibility. But Webb is seen as a high-profile candidate now and in the future. The Raiders are interviewing the former backup quarterback, but if Webb wants to keep working with Bo Nix, he now has that opportunity.

Lombardi was the Broncos’ offensive coordinator for three years, helping develop Bo Nix into the division champion he has become. Webb also gets credit for that as the quarterbacks coach and has parlayed that into interviews across the league. He was a serious candidate for the Buffalo Bills head coach opening, but Joe Brady landed that role on Tuesday.

The Broncos have Sean Payton, who won’t be going anywhere for a bit. But when he does decide to retire, they are going to want to have a succession plan in place. This move signals that they see Webb as a part of the organization for years to come. But will it work in keeping Webb in Colorado?

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The Broncos have officially fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, according to Tom Pelisssero of NFL Network.

Lombardi had been the offensive coordinator in Denver for three seasons after Sean Payton brought him on staff. Lombardi spent a lot of time working under Payton in New Orleans, so the pairing made a lot of sense. However, the Broncos’ offense was wildly inconsistent in 2025 despite the team finishing with a 14-3 record and earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and now things will have a bit of a different look in 2026.

Of course, Lombardi isn’t the one calling the plays in Denver, as Payton has always been the architect of all of his offenses dating back to his Saints days. However, it appears Lombardi is the one taking the fall for how the offense performed this season and in Denver’s playoff loss with Jarrett Stidham playing quarterback.

Denver still has another well-respected offensive mind on staff in quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, a young assistant who has even garnered some head coaching interest in this cycle. Webb would now be an obvious candidate for a promotion to offensive coordinator in Denver if he doesn’t land a head coaching gig, but it remains to be seen what direction the offense will go in.

No matter who ends up being the OC for the Broncos, there is still reason for optimism in Denver coming out of a successful 2025 season. Bo Nix improved in year two, the offensive line should still be mostly intact heading into next season, and the receiving core should mostly be back as well.

Running back JK Dobbins, who was sorely missed in the playoffs, is a free agent, so it remains to be seen whether he is back in the Mile High City next season. Regardless, it’s clear that Payton is not satisfied with the offensive production in 2025 and is working to improve it heading into next season.

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These days it’s all about percentages and likelihoods. But there is a glaring weakness with analytics. Every time you hear or see this: “The analytics say, …” you’re only getting history.

It may seem like it’s a right-now thing. But there’s no true right-now element to it. It’s predictive of what should happen, based on what has already happened in similar situations.

So, it’s the past trying to influence the future. And it’s only ever similar. Because it can never be the exact situation with so many human elements.

Coaches should not bow the knee to analytics

For example, on a given play, there are 22 grown men on the field. Fifteen of them may be fired up, tuned in, healthy, and motivated. Three of them might be hurting from the previous play. Two others might be playing with enough of an injury to be on the sidelines. One might be ready to quit the game and retire. And another might be focused on something other than football.

And when all of those individual things come together, the analytics can’t see those things.

Plus, nobody knows when a defensive player is going to make the play of his NFL life on fourth and one.

Simply put, numbers and data can’t precisely predict human outcomes. It’s probability. And for every 65 times out of 100 a situation worked, that means it failed 35 times. And who’s to say which side the coin will land on this time?

That’s where the coach’s gut instinct plays better. When analytics get too far up into the business of the most physical sport in the world, it distracts from the game. In fact, NFL teams should try their level best to prove that analytics aren’t as helpful as some portray them to be.

Just the word itself can lead to an air of superiority, according to the NBC Sports YouTube page.

“When did analytics become a bad word, here in sports?” Dan Patrick said. “Analytics sounds like, ‘I’m smarter than you.’ As opposed to (saying something like) ‘probability.’ We don’t recoil when we hear probability.”

For example, let’s use Sean Payton’s decision Sunday for the Broncos against the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. In the days before analytics, a grizzled veteran like Payton might have gauged the situation differently.

But there was more to the analytics than whether Payton should go for it. There was also the question of HOW he should go for it.

“A large part of the decision-making process in analytics, as you say, is the conversion probability,” TNF analytics expert Sam Schwartzstein said. “In that fourth and one, the Next Gen stats model had them 65% to convert. But when you look at it from a run versus pass scenario, 70% on the run and 55% on the pass. And they choose to call a pass play.”

Therefore, Schwartzstein opened another issue with analytics. Now, the analytics could almost be used as an “out” for a coach. Payton just followed the analytics, in this case. But the analytics on the type of play call is just another question for the coach to answer if things go wrong.

Where the analytics model falls short

But does the model account for field conditions, crowd noise, which end of the stadium, wind factor, maybe the quarterback injured his finger on the previous play, or maybe the running back dinged his ankle? How would those things alter the analytics? They don’t, according to a post on X by the Dan Patrick Show.

“You get this sample size of data,” former NFL offensive lineman Mark Schlereth said. “But if I haven’t blocked your defensive front all day long, that data changes. If my guards can’t handle your 3-techniques. And my tackles can’t handle your defensive ends. That math doesn’t work. Math has never made a tackle. Math has never blocked anybody. You gotta understand the feel of the game. Take the points.”

At the end of the exhausting number of factors that go into the actual outcome, you’d basically need four or five different analytics numbers. And how would a coach juggle all of that in 30 seconds?

The heart of the matter is this: Analytics are computer-driven decisions in a human game. Just as no coach should ask Chat GPT what play to call, he shouldn’t rely on the analytics.

Analytics have infiltrated the game

The problem is the widely accepted usage of analytics. Who cares what that data says? Who cares about the past? The coach, in the heat of the moment, should have his finger on the pulse of his team.

You can just see old-school New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells noticing the slumping shoulders of a defensive tackle. The heaving breathing. Or old-school Washington head coach Joe Gibbs, knowing his offensive tackle has won against the man in front of him on eight straight running plays. These old-school gut feelings are what coaching is all about.

Think about it for a minute. When Washington went for it on fourth and one behind The Hogs, there was a belief among every player on the field, and every fan in the stadium — a little hyperbole, I know — that the play would succeed. It had nothing to do with percentages. It was, “My guy is tougher, meaner, stronger, and in better shape here in the fourth quarter than your guy. We’re going to pound the rock and get the first down.”

Can you imagine Gibbs having a skinny kid with a dot-matrix printout running up to him on the sideline?

“Coach Gibbs, the analytics say this gives us a 75% chance of winning if we make it!”

Yeah, not happening. The only thing Gibbs would have done is call stadium security.

This isn’t to say that head coaches these days are a bunch of number-crunching nerds. Maybe some are. Looking sideways at you, Mike Macdonald.

But it would be refreshing for somebody like Patriots coach Mike Vrabel to say, “Get out of my face with the analytics. Run the ball and get the first down.”

Analytics have their place

They do, and they can be helpful. Vrabel explained it like this when he first took over as Patriots head coach, according to patspulpit.com.

“We want to use as much information as we can to make great, informed decisions in real time, with real people,” Vrabel said during an appearance on WEEI. “Things change — the weather, the backups, who you have in the game, how their defense is playing, how their offense is playing, have you stopped them? We will always try to use that information.”

But at the end of the day, coaches are hired and fired based on whether they win or lose. No coach will keep a job based on, “I just followed the analytics.” So, NFL coaches should ignore them in the critical moments of the game.

The post The NFL’s analytics obsession is breaking football appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Nix broke his ankle in the win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Broncos head coach Sean Payton has now said that there was a preexisting concern that led to the ankle injury.

“What was found was a condition that was predisposed – they always find a little more when they go in,” Payton said. “It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. When you look at the play and you’re trying to evaluate it – the operating surgeon said that this was going to happen sooner than later. Now, you go about the rehab, proper orthotics, all those things.”

Payton followed up by discussing Nix’s future and how he believes the current injury won’t be a concern for the future because of the way he plays on the field.

“So listen, he’ll rehab his tail off and get ready and get back to being healthy,” the head coach said. “I think for someone who runs with the ball, I think he’s done a pretty good job of protecting himself, not all the time, but for the most part, he’s done a pretty good job of sliding and understanding playing for another day.”

Broncos assistant head coach Jim Leonhard is a serious candidate to become the Bills’ defensive coordinator.

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The team decided to hire from within, and now, the team will be looking for a new offensive and defensive coordinator. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a certain Broncos coach could be a serious candidate for the job.

“Sources: Broncos defensive pass coordinator Jim Leonhard is expected to be a leading candidate to become the next defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.”

Jim Leonhard is a former NFL player who played for a handful of different teams from 2005 to 2014. He was an undrafted safety who played for the Bills in two separate stints, the Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Cleveland Browns.

Leonhard quickly became a coach at Wisconsin from 2016 to 2022. He was promoted to interim head coach at Wisconsin in 2022. After that, he became a senior football advisor for Illinois in 2023. In 2024, he joined the Denver Broncos’ defensive staff.

In 2025, Leonhard was Sean Payton’s assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator. Over his years of coaching, Leonhard has worked his way up and put himself in a position to learn to be a coordinator or head coach in the NFL. Leonhard coached a very good defense this past season with the Broncos under Vance Joseph. Joseph should remain the DC for the Broncos and has a chance to become a head coach next season. His name was not floated around for HC jobs since his time as the head coach for the Broncos.

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On a snowy Sunday in Denver, the Broncos came up on the short end of a 10-7 decision against the Patriots. It left them one win short of their goal, and now they’ll have to try to construct a roster that gets them there. And that means hitting at least one home run in the free-agent market.

And there is one position where the Broncos could use a game-changing upgrade.

Broncos should target Falcons TE Kyle Pitts

What a difference the best version of Pitts could make for the Broncos’ offense. Of course, you also get the least version of him sometimes. Still, with the way he came on toward the end of the 2025 season, it’s worth taking a shot as long as the price tag isn’t too high.

Remember, Pitts is only 25 years old. The best may be yet to come, according to NFL.com.

“Pitts was the best tight end prospect I’d ever seen when he entered the draft in 2021,” Marc Ross wrote. “And he enjoyed a solid rookie campaign before underwhelming the next three seasons. That’s why it was great to see him finally get back on track in 2025, hauling in 88 balls for 928 yards and five touchdowns.

“His production wasn’t necessarily off the charts, but he played a huge role in Atlanta’s offense, with Drake London in and out of the lineup in the second half of the season. For proof, look at his 11-catch, 166-yard, three-TD performance in Week 15. Pitts might be risky because of the inconsistency, but his upside is worth the investment.”

Other possible tight end targets for the Broncos could be Isaiah Likely, David Njoku, and Dallas Goedert.

WR George Pickens becomes a Broncos priority if he hits the open market

Talk about a player who could put the Broncos over the top, Pickens is that guy. He would give Bo Nix a legitimate No. 1 target. Courtland Sutton tried to fill that role this year, but didn’t find a consistent level.

For the Broncos’ offense to take off, Nix needs a game-breaker. And Pickens would supply that.

“Maturity issues aside, Pickens’ on-field production is hard to ignore,” Ross wrote. “After getting traded to Dallas last offseason, he proved he can succeed as a No. 1 receiver and as part of a dynamic receiving tandem alongside CeeDee Lamb.”

Pickens had career highs in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (nine). But as Ross added, it’s “a buyer-beware situation.”

Still, Sutton’s 74 catches for 1,107 yards don’t quite carry the same bite.

Of course, the Broncos could target a first-round receiver. But they will have a low pick and might find it difficult to land a legitimate No. 1 at No. 30.

Broncos could boost strong defense with safety Jaylinn Hawkins

Hawkins ranked No. 5 among safeties, according to Pro Football Focus, with a grade of 82.4.

Patriots special teams coach Jeremy Springer spoke highly of Hawkins, according to masslive.com.

“I knew when (Patriots head coach Mike) Vrabel came here, how he talked about what he was trying to build, the first guy that came to my mind was Jaylinn Hawkins,” Springer said. “Jaylinn Hawkins would play four core, play every play, every play on special teams right now, and then play 100% of the snaps on defense. He’d just do it because he cares so much. That’s the kind of guy he is. He did it for me last year while he was playing safety, and he’s never missed a meeting. He never misses practice.

“There’s nothing bad I can say about the guy, there’s really not. That to me personifies this team right now – a bunch of guys who are selfless. That’s why when I was asked, when that time came around, this past offseason, I was like, ‘Coach, this is a no-brainer. You’re going to love this guy. Whether he plays special teams or defense, you’re going to want this guy on the team.’”

Whatever direction the Broncos go, they were knocking at the door this year. And they probably would have gotten there if not for the Bo Nix injury. They only need a few pieces to make another strong run at the Super Bowl in 2026.

The post Broncos’ top 3 free agent targets after crushing AFC Championship Game loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Denver doesn’t need a teardown. It just needs reinforcement. This three-round mock draft, generated via the PFF mock draft simulator, reflects a front office intent on stabilizing the trenches, supporting its young quarterback, and protecting the elite defense that powered a historic turnaround.

Season recap

The Broncos’ 2025 season will be remembered as one of the greatest worst-to-first stories in recent NFL history. Finishing 14-3, Denver tied a franchise record for wins and secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed behind second-year quarterback Bo Nix. He authored an NFL-record 12 comeback victories. For the first time in a decade, the Broncos were not just relevant but were feared.

Denver survived a dramatic Divisional Round battle against Buffalo. They escaped with a 33-30 overtime victory that showcased both resilience and toughness. However, the celebration was short-lived. On the penultimate play of that win, Nix suffered a season-ending ankle fracture. That instantly altered the team’s Super Bowl trajectory.

They were forced to start backup Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship Game. With that, the Broncos leaned on defense in a snowy, physical contest at home. Despite an early touchdown to Courtland Sutton and a stout defensive effort, Denver’s offense stalled. Two missed field goals by Wil Lutz proved fatal in a 10-7 loss to New England. That ended a dream season just shy of Super Bowl LX.

Draft needs

The heartbreak against the Patriots clarified Denver’s roster priorities. First and foremost, linebacker is a looming concern. With both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad hitting free agency, the Broncos need youth, range, and playmaking ability at the second level.

The defensive line is another area demanding attention. Veterans like DJ Jones and John Franklin-Myers are either nearing the end of their deals or facing potential cap casualties. Vance Joseph’s scheme thrives with disruptive interior players. Right now, Denver lacks a long-term anchor in the 300-pound range.

On offense, the gaps are equally clear. Denver never established a consistent run game in 2025. That placed too much strain on Bo Nix. A true three-down back is needed. Tight end also remains a glaring hole after Evan Engram failed to provide consistent impact. Finally, with expensive veteran contracts along the interior offensive line, drafting a center or guard on a rookie deal is essential for cap sustainability.

Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Broncos’ 3-round mock draft based on the PFF 2026 NFL mock draft simulator.

Round 1, pick 30: DL Christen Miller, Georgia

Denver opens the draft by investing in the trenches with Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller. Long overshadowed by the Bulldogs’ loaded defensive pipeline, Miller finally steps into the spotlight as a legitimate NFL interior presence.

At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Miller offers alignment versatility as either a nose tackle or 3-technique in a four-man front. His arm length stands out for an interior defender. Sure, “twitch” is not commonly associated with defensive tackles. However, Miller shows it in both his first step and hand usage. He wins early with leverage and processing. He also reads blocking schemes quickly and disrupts run fits.

Yes, his true anchor strength still needs refinement. That aid, Miller’s football IQ and movement skills make him a strong projection for Denver’s scheme. He would immediately rotate into the defensive line and has the upside to become a long-term starter.

Round 2, pick 62: TE Max Klare, Ohio State

Denver addresses one of its most glaring offensive needs by selecting Ohio State tight end Max Klare. In a league increasingly defined by mismatch tight ends, Klare brings the receiving profile the Broncos have lacked.

Klare’s PFF receiving grades and high usage in 2024 highlight his readiness as a passing-game contributor. He separates with fluid athleticism and nuanced route-running. That gives quarterbacks clear throwing windows. That is an especially valuable trait for a young signal-caller like Nix returning from injury.

The concern, as always with Klare, is blocking. His in-line and slot blocking have been inconsistent. That limits his ability to function as a true every-down tight end. Still, Denver doesn’t need perfection immediately. Klare can contribute early as a move tight end and grow into a TE1 role if his blocking improves.

Round 3, pick 94: CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana

The Broncos close out their three-round haul with one of the more polarizing prospects in the class. D’Angelo Ponds doesn’t look like a typical NFL corner. At 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds he won’t scare anyone. His tape, though, demands attention.

Ponds has succeeded at outside corner at multiple stops. However, his best NFL role likely comes in the slot. His track background is evident in his burst and long speed, and he consistently produces on the ball, tallying interceptions and forced incompletions. Perhaps most impressive is his tackling efficiency, with a surprisingly low missed-tackle rate given his size.

The question is projection. How does Ponds’ game translate when the physical margins shrink even further at the NFL level? For Denver, the risk is worth it. Ponds offers immediate sub-package value and long-term upside in a secondary that thrives on speed and versatility.

Final thoughts

Denver’s 2026 draft strategy isn’t about chasing headlines. It’s about finishing what 2025 started. Christen Miller fortifies the defensive interior. Max Klare gives the offense a modern weapon. D’Angelo Ponds adds speed and ball skills to the secondary. Together, they represent a class designed to stabilize a contender, not rebuild a franchise.

The Broncos’ fairytale season may have ended in heartbreak. However, with smart drafting and patience, it may only be the beginning.

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The Broncos boasted the league’s second-ranked overall defense in 2025. And Denver’s success has led to opportunities for defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who interviewed for several head coaching jobs.

Joseph hasn’t been announced as a new head coach yet. But Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper seemingly let the cat out of the bag during a post-AFC title game interview. “He’s the best DC I’ve had, you know. And I’m happy that he’s… um, I don’t know exactly what to say ‘cause I don’t know all that he’s said. But he’s a great coach,” Cooper noted, per DNVR Broncos.

Will Vance Joseph be the next head coach hired?

Cooper’s remarks certainly make it seem as if Joseph is about to be named a head coach. The veteran defensive coordinator interviewed for the Baltimore Ravens job. But Baltimore hired Chargers DC Jesse Minter to replace John Harbaugh.

Joseph also met with the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans but those teams hired Harbaugh and Robert Saleh respectively. While the Bills, Raiders and Browns are still searching for a new head coach, Joseph has been linked to the Arizona Cardinals job.

Joseph spent four seasons as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator (from 2019-2022). And the team is looking for an experienced leader to take over the organization after an ugly three-year run with first-time head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Joseph has head coaching experience, as he spent two seasons at the helm with the Broncos. During his second stint in Denver, this time as defensive coordinator, Joseph turned the team around. The Broncos ranked 29th in overall defense during his first year running the unit. They were seventh in the league in 2024 and finished second this season.

If Cooper did accidentally say too much during his interview, Joseph is likely to be announced as a head coach soon. And it appears increasingly likely that he’ll be leading the Cardinals in 2026.

Meanwhile, the Broncos’ staff could look quite different next year. In addition to Joseph, assistant coaches Davis Webb and Jim Leonhard could leave Denver for new gigs this offseason.

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One of their key players that they would love to keep around is safety Talanoa Hufanga. The former San Francisco 49ers defensive back has been integral to the Broncos’ lockdown defense. Hufanga was asked about free agency. His response seems to indicate that he does want to return to the team for the long haul.

“We’re not trying to make this a one-and-done deal,” Hufanga said, per Zac Stevens. “We’re trying to make this an era.”

Hufanga also praised quarterback Bo Nix during his interviews. Nix suffered an injury in the Divisional Round, but he’s done enough to earn the trust of his veteran teammates.

“A dude that just goes out there and like, regardless of the situation, it’s these fourth quarters, and this dude pulls this game out,” Hufanga said.  You’re just like, how does he do it? And it’s just because he’s confident in his abilities and practices it. Are they perfect? No. Was the defense perfect at times? Never. And so that’s what’s really cool about this sport. Just to see the guys in this building, and guys gravitate towards him. And he’s the leader in this locker room for sure.”

Talanoa Hufanga calls Bo Nix special. Talked about how impressive his comebacks were. pic.twitter.com/vtZLxjuNOo

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) January 26, 2026

Hufanga signed with the Broncos in the offseason after four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. The safety had a career year in Denver, recording 67 tackles, 11 passes defended, one forced fumble, and two sacks. He was named to the Associated Press Second Team All-Pro as the safety for his efforts.

The Broncos finished the season with one of the best defenses in the league. That much remained true until the very end, holding the Patriots to just 10 points in the AFC Championship game. However, that unfortunately wasn’t enough, as the offense without Nix struggled to generate points against the Pats. Because of that, Denver’s season ended just short of their ultimate goal.

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One player who may, or may not, return in March, depending on how free agency shakes out, is John Franklin-Myers, the underrated defensive lineman who can play inside or out in Vance Joseph’s scheme.

Discussing JFM’s future in Denver after the team’s loss to the New England Patriots, star defender Zach Allen gave props to his teammate and urged the front office to bring him back, as the Pro Bowler wouldn’t be as good without No. 98 next to him.

“Yeah, the past two years kind of speak for itself what JFM and I have done together inside. So obviously, you know, it would be incredible. But at the end of the day, it’s a business and stuff like that,” Allen noted.

“But I stand by everything I’ve said in the past. He’s my favorite teammate ever, and the reason I’ve had my success is because of him, and I’m forever grateful for him. And, you know, when I’m living in a beach house at the end of my life, I’ll call up the JFM House because he helped me get it. So, no, I, no, seriously, JFM’s the best, man. So, yeah, we’ll see how things work out.”

Initially drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Franklin-Myers was traded to the Broncos in 2024 from the New York Jets for a 2026 sixth-round pick. While JFM didn’t set the world on fire in Denver, amassing 65 tackles and 14.5 sacks over 33 games, he’s been a crucial part of the defensive formula, helping players like Allen shine with his connective contributions. If Allen wants Franklin-Myers back, the Broncos would be wise to strongly consider making it happen.

"My favorite teammate ever… when I'm living on a beach house at the end of my life I'll call it the 'JFM House' because he helped me get it"

Zack Allen makes it clear he wants John Franklin-Myers to remain a Denver Bronco pic.twitter.com/XO8IOh3a6e

— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) January 26, 2026

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Evan Engram was a non factor in the 10-7 loss. The veteran tight end caught two passes for 19 yards, giving him three receptions for 26 scoreless yards across the Broncos’ two playoff games. It capped an uneventful season for the two-time Pro Bowler. And Engram spoke about his role with the team being different than he envisioned when signing with Denver.

“I mean, a lot of the stuff that was different was out of my control. I can only do the most with the opportunities I get. There were times when I had opportunities, there were times when they were a little slim. But, yeah, I think that’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned is, always stay in the moment. Being ready for when my number is called,” Engram said, per The Denver Post’s Luca Evans.

Evan Engram overlooked in Broncos offense

Engram signed with the Broncos after a conversation with Sean Payton led him to believe the team planned to use him as a vertical threat. However, he finished the season with 50 receptions for 461 yards and one touchdown in 16 games. Those numbers just barely topped his 47/365/1 line in nine games with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024.

Engram was surprisingly released by the Jaguars last offseason. While his 2024 campaign was cut short by injuries, he caught 114 passes for 963 yards and four scores the previous season, earning his second career Pro Bowl nod.

“I just feel like I made a lot of big plays this year that put us in great spots and helped the team or whatever. So, yeah there were some tough moments in there,” Engram acknowledged. “Every week I wanted to contribute to the team. But a lot of that stuff is out of my control and I kinda had to stop trying to figure out what that was and just focus on what I was asked to do.”

Engram signed a two-year, $23 million deal with the Broncos last spring. In 2025, he took a back seat to Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin during the regular season. And Marvin Mims emerged as a primary target during the playoffs.

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Denver fell 10–7 to the New England Patriots at Empower Field at Mile High, missing the team’s ninth Super Bowl appearance by three points. The Broncos entered the matchup as the AFC’s top seed after a dominant 14–3 regular season where they claimed the AFC West crown, but the absence of second-year quarterback Bo Nix significantly altered the offensive game plan. Jarrett Stidham stepped in under center and competed, yet Denver generated only one touchdown as the offense struggled to find rhythm.

While the offense labored, the Broncos’ defense delivered a performance worthy of a championship stage. The unit gave up just one touchdown and a field goal despite playing in freezing conditions, repeatedly giving the offense opportunities to respond. A late fourth-quarter interception ultimately ended Denver’s comeback hopes and sealed the season-ending loss.

Denver Sports 104.3’s Andrew Mason shared Bolles’ full remarks on X (formerly known as Twitter), which revealed the emotional toll the defeat took on one of the team’s longest-tenured leaders. Bolles did not hold back in expressing the pain of falling so short after such a special season.

Broncos LT Garett Bolles: "I'm pretty angry and frustrated. There's a lot of tears that came down my face yesterday. I've been here for a long time. And to get that close hurt really bad. But at the same time, I know exactly where this team is going. I know the future that we… pic.twitter.com/3lLv57eaF4

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 26, 2026

“There’s a lot of tears that came down my face yesterday. I’ve been here for a long time. And to get that close hurt really bad. When you’ve got a phenomenal quarterback in Bo, people don’t give him the credit he deserves. The season that he had was phenomenal. The sky’s the limit for this team.”

Nix’s absence clouded the AFC Championship, but Bolles’ message framed the defeat as inspiration rather than failure. His response underscored the unresolved issues and the Broncos’ confidence in their team’s ability to reach this level again.

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That meant that field goals would be crucial, and for the Broncos, Will Lutz would have to execute. Unfortunately, Lutz missed two field goals in the game, and one of them happened late in the fourth quarter, which would have tied the game.

After the game, Lutz mentioned that the field goal operation may have been a yard shallow on the fourth goal try. A day later, he came to social media to clear up those comments and took responsibility for the miss.

“Just to clarify so my words aren’t taken out of context….i was absolutely gutted during my media session after the game. I take full responsibility for the missed kick at the end of the game. We were lined up correctly after looking at the tape. The conditions made it tough to see the lines, but that can never be an excuse. This is on me and no one else. The result of any kick always ends with me. This has been an amazing year that ended in heartbreak for our team. We cannot wait to get back to work and back in front of Broncos Country,” Lutz wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The first field goal Lutz missed was right before halftime, and that would have given the Broncos the lead. Of course, nobody knows what the outcome would be if he did make that kick, but it would have changed a few things about the game, especially with the snow coming in the second half.

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While the injury was initially diagnosed as season-ending, Dobbins was asked during his exit interview after the Broncos’ loss to the New England Patriots if there was a chance he could have tried it in the Super Bowl. His answer? A resounding yes.

“Yeah, I was 100% playing in the Super Bowl,” Dobbins declared.

So, will the win over Las Vegas go down as Dobbins’ final game in a Broncos jersey? While Dobbins doesn’t know just yet, as he did only sign a one-year deal with the team, he has loved his time in Denver and would like to continue playing for Sean Payton into the future.

“I’m a Buckeye, and I’m a Bronco. I wasn’t drafted here, but I do firmly believe that I’m a Bronco. I love everyone here,” Dobbins noted. “I even love you guys. Because, as I can recall, at the beginning, like in the summer, you guys were predicting like 700 yards for me, rushing throughout the whole year. I got that in 10 weeks. Almost 800. So it is hard to be, you know, hard to like you guys, but I like you guys. That’s how great it is here.”

Initially drafted into the NFL by the Baltimore Ravens, Dobbins has played for a different team in each of the last three seasons, going from the Charm City to the Los Angeles Chargers, and then the Broncos from 2023-25. While injuries remain a concern, and could keep him trapped on a one-year contract for the rest of his career, Denver found great success with Dobbins on their roster and could opt to keep him as a result.

J.K. Dobbins: “Yeah, I was 100 percent playing in the Super Bowl.” pic.twitter.com/yQ70nhJS0n

— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) January 26, 2026

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So what’s the difference between the two coaches? Especially since both garnered a reputation for their offensive wizardry?

Greenlaw detailed how both coaches differentiate themselves from one another via Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post Monday.

“Sean’s old school,” Greenlaw began before elaborating further. “He’s going to do six days on, one day off. He’s got his way of doing things. You’re going to be practicing three hours on Wednesday, three hours on Friday. Shanahan, he’s the complete opposite.”

Broncos’ Dre Greenlaw shares similarity between Sean Payton, Kyle Shanahan

However, Greenlaw later dished a unique description of what makes both coaches similar.

“Then understanding of the defense, it was like freakin’ Spanish when I first saw it,” Greenlaw said.

Another words, both coaches hold near same terminology when it comes to attacking Greenlaw’s side of the football.

“But I feel comfortable with the progress that I did make and the steps that I did take,” Greenlaw said, implying he became a lot more cerebral on the field facing offenses.

Greenlaw faced a tough transition in getting used to Payton’s methods. The Broncos signed him to a $35 million deal in March as 2025 free agency launched.

His arrival ignited a new “Orange Crush” in the Rocky Mountains — one that saw a No. 2 overall ranking and teaming with rising star Nik Bonitto at LB.

Greenlaw tallied six tackles, but none solo in the 10-7 loss to New England.

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She posted a picture of her view of the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High. Izzy was seemingly feeling reflective as the snow fell. “Until August,” she wrote, “mile high [orange heart emoji].”

Nix and the Broncos won’t take the field again until August, when the preseason starts. So, fans will have to wait a while to see their favorite team back in action.

Bo Nix watched as the Broncos’ season ended in the AFC Championship

Unfortunately, Nix couldn’t help his team on the field in the AFC Championship game after suffering an ankle injury in the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills.

The Broncos hosted the Patriots with a chance to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl on the line. Jarrett Stidham, who had not played meaningful snaps since the tail-end of the 2023 NFL season, admirably started in the snow game.

His stats didn’t pop off the screen, completing 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards. He threw a touchdown and an interception. The key play was a fumble he had in the second quarter.

At the time, the Broncos were up 7-0. The fumble gave the Patriots good field position, as they only had to drive 12 yards to score a touchdown.

It became a slugfest as the game reached the final quarter. The Patriots took a 10-7 lead on the first possession of the second half and never looked back. Stidham sealed the Broncos’ fate with an interception late in the fourth quarter on a deep pass.

This ended a promising season for Denver. Nix stepped up in his second year in the league. He passed for 3,931 yards (averaging 6.4 yards per attempt), 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Additionally, he rushed for 356 yards and five touchdowns.

Nix was drafted by the Broncos with the 12th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Oregon. He had transferred to Oregon from Auburn before the 2022 season. In two seasons with the Ducks, he passed for over 8,000 yards, 74 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions.

The post Broncos QB Bo Nix’s wife Izzy sends 4-word message after snowy AFC Championship loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

First, they had to play the game without their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, after he suffered a broken ankle in the Divisional Round last week. That means Jarrett Stidham took over the reins after not taking any real snaps during the season.

As much as it was a pretty even game throughout, things started to change for both teams in the second half as the elements began to take over. Snow began to pile up, and it was obvious that it had a real effect on both teams. Unfortunately for the Broncos, the Patriots were able to squeeze in a field goal, which was basically a deciding factor in the game.

Looking back at the game, there are a few people (and things) to blame for the Broncos’ loss in the championship game.

Empower Field at Mile High needed a roof

It’s understandable that both teams had to battle through the conditions, but it’s hard not to blame the snow for the lackluster outcome of the game. There was no way that the Broncos could have prepared for the weather, especially since it started in the second half of the game instead of hours before. Nothing was getting done on the offensive end with the snow coming down, and players could barely see what was going on.

If the Broncos had a roof on the stadium, it’s not a sure thing that they win the game, but they may have more of a fighting chance.

Jarrett Stidham had us in the drive, but not the rest of the game

Stidham came out with a near-perfect start to the game to get the Broncos on the board, but that was about it. The Broncos’ defense did all they could against the Patriots, and they kept the team in the game. All Stidham had to do was play a turnover-free game and make the right reads, but before the snow covered the field, he was having a hard time with that.

The Broncos could have gone into halftime with the lead, but a crucial turnover in the second quarter by Stidham helped the Patriots score a touchdown. From there, all the Patriots needed was the field goal in the third quarter, and the snow basically mucked up the rest of the game. As much as the snow didn’t give the Broncos a chance, Stidham didn’t either.

Will Lutz couldn’t hit one through the uprights 

Lutz had a chance to give the Broncos the lead going into halftime, but he missed a 54-yard field goal late in the second quarter. That field goal could have changed a lot for the game, but they had to play from behind after that. Lutz then missed another field goal late in the fourth quarter that could have tied the game, but at that point, it was obvious the snow had a major effect on any outcome.

It’s hard to blame Lutz for the second field goal, but if he makes that first one before halftime, who knows what could have happened.

The post Broncos most to blame for ugly AFC Championship Game loss to Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Broncos kicker Will Lutz explained how Sunday’s snowy conditions may have had a sneaky impact on a crucial blocked field goal during the fourth quarter.

Lutz said after the game that Denver may have lined up a yard short on that crucial field goal attempt. The reason why? They simply couldn’t see the lines on the field because of the snow.

“Looks like Broncos kicker Will Lutz was onto something here,” Patriots reporter Phil Perry posted on social media on Monday. “Denver kicks earlier in the game had been from eight yards off the line of scrimmage. This one looked like it was closer to seven.”

That small difference gave Patriots defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III just enough time to tip the kick, driving it off course.

If the ball had been just one yard farther back, Denver may have scored a crucial game-tying field goal.

Taylor was full of excitement when talking about his huge special teams play after the game.

“I just jumped in the air and I got a taste of the ball, no diddy,” Taylor said about his iconic blocked field goal.

Taylor was then asked what it felt like to make such an important play.

“It was exciting man,” Taylor replied. “Just the rush and the adrenaline coming through my body knowing that I helped the team.”

The Broncos scored their lone touchdown on their second offensive drive of the game. Unfortunately, Jarrett Stidham could not lead Denver back into the end zone for the rest of the game.

Broncos fans are now left wondering what could have been if Bo Nix had not injured his ankle last weekend.

The post The sneaky way the blizzard messed up Will Lutz on Patriots’ blocked field goal appeared first on ClutchPoints.

ESPN’s Seth Wickersham wrote a fascinating piece about fourth-down decision making in the NFL on Monday. He offered an inside look at Sean Payton’s decision to go for it on fourth down against the Patriots during the second quarter.

One interest part of the article focuses on comments Payton made about Chicago’s loss against LA in the Divisional Round. Specifically the Bears’ decision to go for it on fourth down on the first drive of the game.

“Payton saw the Bears line up on offense, and he squinted. ‘Kick it,’ he said” Wickersham wrote.

Bears QB Caleb Williams threw an interception on the play. That decision effectively cost the Bears three points in a game where they could have really used them.

“Why are coaches not kicking field goals?” Payton said, turning back to game preparation.

That is now painfully ironic because Payton made a very similar mistake against the Patriots on Sunday.

Denver went for it on fourth down while up 7-0 during the second quarter. The Broncos were deep in Patriots territory and could have easily nailed a short field goal. But Payton wanted a touchdown.

“I wanted 14-0,” Payton told Wickersham.

Payton initially called a running play, but ended up calling a timeout to give himself more time to think. He ended up switching to a passing play that ended up failing.

Just like Chicago, Denver could have really used those three points.

“I wish I’d stayed with the initial play call,” Payton said softly, leaving the stadium. “The look they showed on film, and the look we saw, wasn’t the look we got.”

Payton also said “there’s always regrets” during his postgame remarks when talking about that fourth-down decision.

Broncos fans are now left wondering about what could have been after barely missing a chance at the Super Bowl.

The post Sean Payton’s snap judgment on Bears’ early 4th-down fail vs. Rams is now painfully ironic appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“They just found a way to win. And we didn’t.”

Despite a defensive performance that limited the Patriots to just ten points, the night was defined by Denver’s inability to capitalize on early chances.

Head coach Sean Payton pointed to the first half as the deciding factor, admitting that “momentum and field position didn’t yield what it needed to yield,” as the team failed to score again after an initial first-quarter touchdown.

According to a report from ESPN, Payton’s deepest regret centers on a second-quarter sequence while Denver led 7-0. Facing a fourth-and-one at the New England 14-yard line, Payton initially ordered a run play, but after a timeout, he switched to a bootleg pass.

The decision failed as the Patriots countered with a zone defense that blanketed the receivers.

“I wish I’d stayed with the initial play call,” Payton admitted later, explaining that “the look they showed on film, and the look we saw, wasn’t the look we got.” Payton’s aggressive mindset was clear—”I wanted 14-0″—but the missed conversion meant Denver left the red zone without points, a missed opportunity they never regained.

The loss was compounded by two missed field goals and critical turnovers, leaving at least nine points on the table. While Payton spent the moments after the game in silence, staring at his office floor and whispering, “I can’t believe we lost,” the focus now shifts to a 2026 offseason with significant resources.

While the 10-7 result at Empower Field remains a haunting memory, the organization has successfully re-established itself as a powerhouse in the AFC, even if the “Orange Crush” revival fell one victory short of the ultimate goal.

The post What Broncos HC Sean Payton regrets about failed 4th down vs. the Patriots, and it wasn’t going for it appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“They just found a way to win,” Cooper said. “And we didn’t.”

It was a simple statement that perfectly captured a game defined by inches, execution, and missed chances.

The loss stung because Denver’s defense largely did its job. In blizzard-like conditions, Cooper and Nik Bonitto repeatedly pressured Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. They held one of the league’s hottest offenses to just 10 points. The Broncos won at the line of scrimmage for long stretches. They forced punts and gave their offense opportunities that never quite turned into decisive moments.

That frustration stood in stark contrast to what had been a remarkable 2025 season. Under head coach Sean Payton, Denver finished 14-3. They earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed and snapped a decade-long playoff drought. Even after losing Bo Nix to a late Divisional Round injury, the Broncos leaned on defense and belief. Against New England, though, missed kicks and a late interception proved fatal.

For Cooper, the season was still career-defining. His eight sacks, relentless edge presence, and steady leadership powered Denver’s revival. Yet his postgame words reflected a veteran who understands how fleeting championship windows can be. The Broncos are back. However, Sunday night was a painful reminder that being close is never really enough.

The post Broncos’ Jonathon Cooper offers sobering takeaway after AFC title game loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Following a heartbreaking 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, a video surfaced of rookie quarterback Bo Nix that gutted the Mile High faithful. The clip shows Nix, his right knee heavily plastered and propped up on a roller, shaking his head in dejected silence as he wheels himself toward an elevator.

For Broncos fans, it was the definitive image of a “what if” season. Nix, who transformed the offense this year, could only watch from the sidelines as the Denver Broncos’ offense stalled when it mattered most.

“Bo and this team didn’t deserve this ending,” one fan lamented on social media. “Life just isn’t fair sometimes.”

Definitely carried this offense. pic.twitter.com/2l2JI0zO5l

— Esteban (@Silver8ullet05) January 26, 2026

Hopefully today put things into perspective for the haters but I doubt their egos will allow them to

If there was any doubt about how much Bo Nix means to this offense, today erased it

10 isn’t just the QB, he’s the offense

His impact isn’t hypothetical anymore, it’s obvious pic.twitter.com/O047smfqaE

— SleeperBroncos (@SleeperBroncos) January 26, 2026

This game would be 24-0 for the Broncos if Bo Nix was playing. pic.twitter.com/f8VJ9ZJBJe

— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) January 25, 2026

The Patriots saying thank you to the Bills for taking out Bo Nix in the Divisional Round pic.twitter.com/0dOtpwY4DL

— NFL Memes (@NFLMemes) January 25, 2026

With Nix sidelined, head coach Sean Payton turned to Jarrett Stidham. While the defense held the Patriots to just 10 points, the offense failed to find the end zone. Stidham finished 17-of-31 for 133 yards and a costly interception. The missed opportunities were glaring; Denver entered the red zone twice but settled for field goals both times.

Just unbelievable how the season just ends like that

All the Broncos were missing in this game was their starting QB to put them over the hump

We were a Bo Nix away from going to the Super Bowl

#BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/BLleSe8Fpg

— SleeperBroncos (@SleeperBroncos) January 25, 2026

pic.twitter.com/BynXhsuUVn

— HERBONOMICS (@Herbo4President) January 25, 2026

The last pregame handshake of the season between Bo Nix and Sean Payton this season…

These two have made Broncos football feel like Broncos football again #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/4Im8g4ZdyY

— SleeperBroncos (@SleeperBroncos) January 21, 2026

The frustration among the fanbase was palpable, specifically regarding the lack of offensive depth. One fan noted, “Losing J.K. Dobbins without getting someone to take his place was the beginning of the end.”

“He’s shaking his head thinking, ‘You’re telling me all I had to do was put up 13 points and I would have gone to the Bowl,'” another supporter posted.

“Yeah, his backup blew the game,” a fan concluded. “They’d be coasting to a Super Bowl appearance with him.” Instead of a trip to New Orleans, the Broncos head into an offseason defined by “almosts.” The sentiment across Denver remains bittersweet: pride in a rookie quarterback who changed the culture, but anger over a finish that felt preventable.

The post Broncos fans react to heartbreaking Bo Nix moment after loss to Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

After the game, referee Alex Kemp addressed the ruling in a pool report interview with Jeff Legwold (h/t Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports) , acknowledging the initial error.

“I initially ruled it as a forward pass, which was incorrect,” Kemp explained, via Zac Stevens. “I proceeded to go through the administration of an intentional grounding foul. The down judge and the umpire came and talked to me and provided more information. The down judge explained that he extended his right arm to signal that he had a backward pass, and at that point, we determined that New England had picked up the then backward pass. We awarded possession to New England with no advance, because at that point, we are not allowed to permit an advance.”

Denver appeared firmly in control early on Sunday. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, starting in place of the injured Bo Nix, opened the game confidently by connecting on a deep pass and later finding Courtland Sutton for a first-quarter touchdown. The Broncos’ defense complemented that start, setting the tone for what looked like a favorable afternoon at home. Everything shifted midway through the second quarter.

Under pressure, Stidham scrambled and attempted to get rid of the football as he was being dragged down. From the broadcast angle and on-field reaction, confusion followed immediately. One official treated the play as a fumble, others signaled an incomplete pass, and whistles blew as the Patriots scooped the loose ball and ran it into the end zone.

Play is ruled a fumble and @Patriots ball

NEvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/KIe2UPl47Q

— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2026

Initially, officials ruled the play an incomplete forward pass with intentional grounding. Moments later, that decision was reversed. Replay showed the ball traveled backward, and New England was awarded possession deep in Denver territory, but not the touchdown, because the play had been whistled dead.

When asked whether an inadvertent whistle affected the outcome, Kemp added, “The whistle stopped the play, but it was after the New England player picked up the ball.”

While the Patriots eventually capitalized with points, the sequence drew heavy criticism. In situations involving potential turnovers, officials are typically instructed to allow plays to continue so replay can correct mistakes — something that didn’t happen here.

Stidham accepted responsibility for the play afterward, but the ruling remains a sore point for Broncos fans, especially in a game decided by slim margins.

The post Referee’s explanation of Jarrett Stidham fumble won’t make Denver Broncos fans feel better appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Stidham opened the game brilliantly. After an early exchange of punts, he completed a 52-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr., setting up first-and-goal. Two plays later, Stidham threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton, giving the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 10:19 remaining in the first quarter. Denver’s defense backed the start by forcing multiple punts and recording three sacks in the first half, holding New England scoreless through most of the opening two quarters.

The turning point came in the second quarter with the Broncos leading 7-0. Facing third-and-four from his own 33-yard line, Stidham took the snap out of shotgun and was immediately pressured. Attempting to get rid of the ball, he released what officials later ruled a backward pass. The Patriots recovered the fumble at Denver’s 12-yard line. Two plays later, New England quarterback Drake Maye scored on a six-yard run, tying the game at 7-7 just before halftime. Outside of that short-field touchdown, the Broncos’ defense limited the Patriots to a single scoring drive that resulted in a field goal.

After the game, Stidham took full responsibility for the play.

“Obviously, I can’t put our team in a bad position like that,” he said. “I was trying to throw it away to (Tyler Badie), he was in the area, and yeah, the pressure he just got on me real fast. And I was just trying to get rid of it, and like I said, I just can’t put the ball in a position like that. So, that was completely on me.”

“I thought I had thrown it forward, and obviously, the replay or whatever said differently,” Stidham said when asked if he thought it was a forward pass. “Probably should’ve just eaten the sack anyway and let Jeremy (Crawshaw) and the punt team punt it down the field and flip the field. But like I said, I can’t do that.”

It was a close game the whole way through. Both teams missed long field goals in the first half, including a 54-yard attempt by Denver’s Wil Lutz and a 63-yard try by New England’s Andres Borregales. Snowfall in the second half slowed offenses, and the Patriots opened the third quarter with a 16-play, 64-yard drive that consumed over nine minutes and ended with a 23-yard Borregales field goal, giving New England its first and only lead at 10-7.

The Broncos had opportunities late. Lutz missed a 45-yard field goal with 4:42 remaining, and on Denver’s final drive, Stidham threw an interception to Christian Gonzalez. The Patriots then ran out the clock. Stidham finished the game with 133 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

The wait continues for the Broncos’ Super Bowl dreams. Meanwhile, New England heads to Santa Clara, California, for Super Bowl LX, where the Patriots will meet either the Seattle Seahawks or the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8.

The post Broncos’ Jarrett Stidham speaks up on huge blunder in loss to Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

After a narrow 10-7 defeat to Mike Vrabel’s New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High, Bonitto spoke candidly in the locker room about the disappointment of watching a season slip away despite believing Denver had the edge.

“It’s Sickening to think that all we fought through this year, all the games we had to win, knowing we were definitely the better team, but it just didn’t work out that way today,” said Bonitto, via Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports.

Nik Bonitto said it’s sickening because “Knowing we’re definitely the better team.“ pic.twitter.com/eW3incCxir

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) January 25, 2026

Bonitto’s frustration echoed a locker room grappling with missed chances in brutal, snowy conditions. Denver finished the season 15-4, earning the top seed, but couldn’t capitalize offensively after scoring once in the opening quarter.

The Broncos struck first when backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham connected with Courtland Sutton for a six-yard touchdown, as he replaced their star QB Bo Nix due to an devastating ankle injury he suffered late in the divisional round matchup against the Buffalo Bills. It was Sutton’s first career postseason score and briefly gave Denver control.

From there, points were hard to come by. Denver’s defense, led by Bonitto and a unit that forced repeated punts, held Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to just 86 passing yards. Linebacker Que Robinson added his first career postseason sack, reinforcing a dominant defensive effort that limited New England to 10 points.

Still, Denver’s offense stalled after the opening drive. A critical fourth-down decision by Sean Payton early in the second quarter backfired, and a miscue by Stidham on a backward pass handed New England short field position. Maye capitalized with a rushing touchdown to tie the game.

Special teams ultimately decided the outcome. Patriots kicker Andy Borregales made one of three field goal attempts, while Will Lutz missed twice in worsening snow, including a late 45-yard try that could have tied the game.

New England advanced to Super Bowl LX, while Denver was left to wonder how close it came despite playing without its starting quarterback. For Bonitto and the Broncos, the pain of this loss won’t fade quickly.

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Mike Vrabel on the Patriots' remarkable return to the Super Bowl:

"You have to believe things, sometimes, before you can see them. And you have to believe that what you're doing is the right thing."

@Pats_Radio
USA Today Sports pic.twitter.com/etkQdzFIoY

— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub) January 26, 2026

The Patriots will be playing in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium Feb. 8, and it appears that the team has surprised their coach in getting to this position in his first year at the helm.

Vrabel attempted to explain his team’s accomplishments as he met the media after the game. He seemed a bit incredulous that the Patriots had come so far in such a short time. New England had been a last-place team a year ago with a 4-13 record and now they will attempt to win the 7th Super Bowl in franchise history.

“You have to believe things, sometimes, before you can see them. And you have to believe that what you’re doing is the right thing,” Vrabel said.

Vrabel was a part of 3 Super Bowl-winning teams with the Patriots as a player. He will be attempting to become the first individual in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player and as a head coach with the same team.

The Patriots and Broncos went into the locker room at halftime with the score tied at 7-7. QB Drake Maye was able to drive the Patriots 64 yards on 16 plays on the first possession of the second half. They took the lead on an Andy Borregales 23-yard field goal.

The weather turned brutal shortly after the go-ahead three-pointer and neither team was able to score after that.

The post Mike Vrabel makes eye-opening take after Pats’ Super Bowl return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

But also sparking a promise from the NFL All-Pro defender after the AFC Championship game loss to N.E.

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year from 2024 fired off this vow via Zac Stevens of DNVR.

Patrick Surtain II, Broncos struggled with this aspect vs. Patriots

The post Patrick Surtain II makes promise after losing AFC Championship to Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

While talking with media members after the game, the 62-year-old head coach admitted that the Broncos simply didn’t capitalize on the good field position or the momentum the team had early in the contest, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Although Denver did get off to an early lead, the club failed to record a single point after the first-quarter touchdown.

“That first half, momentum and field position didn’t yield what it needed to yield,” said Payton.

The Broncos had several opportunities to put points on the board. Especially in the first half of the game. There was a situation where Sean Payton decided to go for it on fourth and one in the red zone. But it resulted in a turnover, which prevented the Denver offense from scoring a single point.

Additionally, as the game progressed, kicker Will Lutz missed both of his field goal opportunities. Between the failed fourth-down conversion and the two missed field goals, the Broncos left at least nine points on the table against the Patriots. It’s not an ideal situation, as Denver certainly had several chances to tie or take the lead over New England.

Sean Payton and the Broncos now head to the offseason. The good news is that quarterback Bo Nix is expected to be healthy well before the start of the 2026-27 campaign. With a projected cap space of about $47 million, the front office will have plenty to work with to address roster needs and depth.

The post Sean Payton points finger at 1st half opportunities for Broncos’ AFC Championship loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Those were the only points scored in the second half. After the Patriots’ field goal, the weather conditions worsened dramatically and neither team was able to mount much of an offense.

Maye will lead the Patriots to the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, Feb. 8. He will be the second-youngest starting quarterback in the Super Bowl at the age of 23 years, 162 days. Dan Marino, who led the Miami Dolphins to an appearance in Super Bowl IX following the 1984 season, was the youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. He was slightly younger than Maye at 23 years, 127 days.

Marino and the Dolphins lost that Super Bowl appearance to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers by a 38-16 margin. Marino completed 29 of 50 passes for 318 yards with 1 TD and 2 interceptions in that game. Montana had a brilliant day and he completed 24 of 35 passes for 331 yards and 3 TDs while avoiding any interceptions. Montana won the Super Bowl MVP award. Marino would never make another appearance in the Super Bowl.

Weather conditions limited offensive production

Maye was limited to completing 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards in the win over the Broncos. While he did not throw a touchdown pass, he ran for a touchdown in the first half and he rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson led the Patriots with 71 yards on 25 carries.

Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham started in place of the injured Bo Nix. He completed 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. His backwards pass in the second quarter was ruled a fumble and recovered by the Patriots at the Denver 12. Maye scored his touchdown two plays later on a 6-yard run.

The post Patriots’ Drake Maye will be youngest Super Bowl starting QB outside Dan Marino appeared first on ClutchPoints.

With the offensive lineman speaking to the media after the game, McGlinchey would harp that Denver lost as a team, saying how solely pointing out Stidham is “bulls***.”

“Mike McGlinchey stated the Broncos lost as a team: ‘As a team. We didn’t get this done. If anyone is going to try to put it on Stiddy, that’s bulls***’,” Zac Steven wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

In total, Stidham threw for 133 yards to go along with a touchdown pass and an interception while completing 17 of 31 pass attempts in the AFC title game against the Patriots. He started the contest after starting quarterback Bo Nix had season-ending ankle surgery after the divisional win over the Buffalo Bills.

Besides an already hard hurdle for Stidham, the game would see immense weather changes, which head coach Sean Payton pointed out.

“Sean Payton on Jarrett Stidham: ‘I thought he fought hard. Tough conditions,'” Steven wrote.

Besides the passing attack, the rushing game wasn’t great either as the Broncos totaled 79 yards on the ground, much to the dismay of Payton.

“Sean Payton was frustrated with the lack of success on the ground: ‘We felt like we had one of our better run plans going in,'” Stevens wrote.

Consequently, Denver now is sent home, being one game away from the Super Bowl, which gives them championship asprations for next season.

The post Broncos’ Mike McGlinchey is shielding Jarrett Stidham from ‘bulls**t’ after AFC Championship loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

After the game, Payton would speak to the media about the loss and, more specifically, the first drive of the second quarter, where Denver went for it on fourth-and-one on New England’s 14-yard line. The team could have easily taken a 10-0 lead at that point, but decided to go for it and failed, leading to Payton being asked if he regrets the decision.

“Sean Payton was asked if he regrets not kicking the FG to take the 10-0 lead: ‘There’s always regrets,'” Zac Stevens wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “‘They’ll always be second thoughts’.”

It was no doubt a highly successful season for the Broncos, obtaining the No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record, winning the AFC West, and eventually beating the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round. However, with Nix’s injury, there was a belief that their season would be over on Sunday, and while it did happen, the game was a close one, which made decisions like those mentioned before hurt even worse.

“Sean Payton on where he’ll be hard on himself looking back: ‘Decisions like that. The tough ones. 4th and 1,'” Stevens wrote.

At any rate, Denver looks to take this season and now aims to further improve for next season, as with the team having been one win away from a Super Bowl appearance, there are going to be championship aspirations for sure. First, fans will be wondering about the recovery of Nix.

The post Sean Payton’s blunt response to Broncos’ failed 4th-and-1 – ‘There’s always regrets’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In a now-deleted Instagram Story, Meinerz revealed his opposition to ICE by reposting a graphic from the far-left clothing brand CHNGE. The graphic called attention to the killing of Minnesota resident Alex Pretti on Saturday and ended with the statement, “ABOLISH ICE.”

Meinerz’s post was discovered and shared by ESPN’s Mina Kimes on the social media platform Bluesky before it was deleted.

Haven’t seen many athletes comment on the news in Minneapolis outside of Haliburton, but here’s two time All/Pro Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz, who takes the field in an hour:

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T19:05:59.619Z

Pretti lived in Minnesota but is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Meinerz was born and raised in Hartford, Wisconsin, and played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Meinerz’s post went up within hours of the Broncos’ upcoming game against the Patriots.

By doing so, Meinerz became one of the first athletes to speak out against ICE since the third shooting in Minnesota in the last month. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, WNBA star Breanna Stewart, Utah Jazz forward Kyle Anderson, and others notably voiced their displeasure with the situation.

Meinerz is not an outspoken player, but he is never afraid to give his thoughts on controversial topics. He has been seen wearing t-shirts reading “End gun violence” and “Men of quality don’t fear equality” while walking to games.

Meinerz is two weeks removed from his second consecutive first-team All-Pro nod. The $80 million guard was also named to his first Pro Bowl at the end of the regular season.

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Considering that he hasn’t thrown a pass in the NFL in two seasons, many fans were understandably skeptical about Stidham’s abilities coming into this game, and that didn’t get improved when the Broncos went three and out on their first drive.

However, everything changed on Denver’s second series, when Stidham found Marvin Mims Jr. for a 54-yard completion down the field.

JARRETT STIDHAM'S FIRST COMPLETION GOES 54 YARDS pic.twitter.com/ROx4eWCXGq

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 25, 2026

A couple of plays later, the Broncos reached the endzone when Stidham connected with Courtland Sutton to put Denver up 7-0.

Many anticipated that in order to win this game, the Broncos would have to turn the game into a defensive slugfest, relying on their elite pass rush to get after Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and force turnovers.

While that will still certainly help out the cause, Stidham wasted little time in proving that he is more than capable of leading the Broncos’ offense down the field and making explosive plays against a Patriots defense that had shut down CJ Stroud and Justin Herbert so far this offseason.

If Stidham is able to keep upthe big playmaking, the Broncos will have a legit chance to go to the Super Bowl.

The post Broncos’ Jarrett Stidham mania takes off with epic bomb, TD vs. Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, one of Denver’s top weapons won’t be out there catching passes for Stidham on Sunday when the Broncos take on the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Wide receiver Troy Franklin is officially inactive due to a hamstring injury, the team announced before the game.

Franklin was the Broncos’ second-leading receiver during the regular season with 709 yards and six touchdowns on 65 catches. Look for Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant to get a lot of work at receiver with Franklin out of the lineup.

Franklin is a good complementary piece in this Broncos receiver room as someone who can both stretch the field vertically and work over the middle of the field. His chemistry with Nix, which dates back to their time together at Oregon, has been a huge asset to this Broncos offense.

Mims can provide the speed that the Broncos will be missing without Franklin, but he isn’t the same bigger body that the Oregon product is. Bryant, who is back from a concussion he suffered in the Divisional Round against the Bills, is the kind of possession receiver that a backup quarterback can lean on in a big game.

Star receiver Courtland Sutton will have to have a much more productive game than he had against the Bills, when he caught just four balls for 53 yards. Stidham will likely be looking Sutton’s way time and time again in this game, even with the Broncos’ No. 1 lined up against star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, and he will have to make the necessary plays.

The Broncos are relatively healthy outside of this Franklin injury, especially after getting starting center Luke Wattenberg back from injured reserve in this game. That should give Denver a chance against a formidable New England squad on Sunday.

The post Broncos WR Troy Franklin adds to Bo Nix injury woes for AFC Championship vs. Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

While Stidham lacks experience — he has just four starts in his seven-year career — the Broncos doubled down on him as Nix’s backup in the offseason. Denver has had “tremendous confidence” in Stidham in practice and plans to be “very aggressive” with him on Sunday, Steve Wyche of the NFL Network reported.

“There’s been tremendous confidence coming out of the Broncos’ locker room this week, in part because Sean Payton has had history with a very similar circumstance,” Wyche said. “In 2019, when Payton was with the Saints, Drew Brees got hurt, and backup Teddy Bridgewater came in and won five consecutive games… Bridgewater told me Sean Payton will come up with a game plan for Stidham, and everything coming out of Denver’s locker room is that they’re going to be very aggressive with that game plan, pushing the ball downfield.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton has been through a similar QB situation as he is today with Jarrett Stidham back in 2019. I spoke to Teddy Bridgewater, who won 5 games filling in for Drew Brees in New Orleans, as to why Stidham could follow his route to success. pic.twitter.com/rNSppHvrBn

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) January 25, 2026

Stidham has also gained the approval of other analysts throughout the week, including former quarterback Chase Daniel, who predicts the Auburn alum will “surprise people” in the AFC Championship Game. Daniel praised Stidham’s ability to analyze coverages, go through his progressions and throw the ball quickly while breaking down film.

Stidham has not started a game in his two seasons with the Broncos. However, in his two most recent starts, he averaged 248 passing yards, 1.5 touchdowns and 0.5 interceptions with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.

Stidham also has an opportunity to face the team that drafted him in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots selected him as a potential Tom Brady successor in 2019, before offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels organized a trade for Stidham after accepting the head coaching position in Las Vegas.

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“The recovery, not the surgery, is thought to be the most challenging part of this injury. Nix is not supposed to put any weight on his ankle for at least four weeks, and he will miss 12 weeks altogether before he can return to activity, according to sources,” Schefter wrote.

Though Nix won’t be available for the remainder of the postseason, the good news is that he’ll be ready to go when the season starts next year. He had a strong second season in the league, and the hope is that he can carry that over to the next time he plays.

After his surgery, Nix wrote a letter sharing his emotions surrounding his injury and the faith that he has in Jarrett Stidham to lead the team.

“What started as one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been a part of ended with some of the most devastating football news I’ve ever received,” Nix wrote. “This is not how I imagined my season would come to an end, but our season has been defined by overcoming adversity and responding to it.

“I can’t express how much this team and organization mean to me and how much I believe in them. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys. I couldn’t be more confident in Jarrett. And I couldn’t be more excited for what’s next.”

It seems as if everyone in the organization has the ultimate belief in Stidham to get the job done, and it will be interesting to see what he does to try to help them get to the Super Bowl.

The post Bo Nix’s injury timetable revealed after ankle surgery appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The franchise confirmed the move Saturday evening. Stidham won’t be trusting a reserve center after all against a loaded Pats defense.

But that’s not all from Denver before hosting the conference championship game.

“We also elevated wide receivers Michael Bandy and Elijah Moore,” the team announced on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.

Luke Wattenberg boosts Broncos’ chances vs. Patriots

Wattenberg emerged as one of the league’s top interior blockers.

He owns a 74.4 run blocking grade and 71.0 pass blocking grade by Pro Football Focus. His NFL Injury became significant before what later occurred for Bo Nix after the divisional round win over Buffalo.

Stidham officially becomes the NFL Playoffs QB facing the most pressure in conference championship weekend. He gets to lead a Sean Payton offense with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line — and as someone with no previous 2025 starts. Plus he’s facing one of the better pass rushes left among the league’s final four.

But Broncos legend and SB winner Peyton Manning has trust in Stidham. Former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky also believes Denver is in great hands with Stidham.

Stidham won’t be the first backup to try and will his team to a Super Bowl trip. The 2017 season NFC title game featured backups Nick Foles and Case Keenum — with the former leading the Eagles to victory. Payton’s old boss Bill Parcells once relied on Jeff Hostetler to lead the 1990 New York Giants to the NFC title, eventually winning the Super Bowl too.

The post Broncos activate Luke Wattenberg off IR before Patriots clash appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Stidham will get the starting nod for the Broncos in Sunday’s AFC Championship against the New England Patriots. Stidham was thrust into the starting role after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending foot injury against the Buffalo Bills.

Manning, who has known Stidham for several years, expressed strong confidence in the young quarterback’s ability to step up in this crucial moment.

“I shot him a text on Sunday when I heard the news like everybody else and wished him luck and he said ‘looking forward to a fun weekend,'” said Manning. “So, he’s excited about the opportunity and obviously hates it for Bo, like all of us do. But it’s a great opportunity for him and I’m pulling hard for him.”

Manning highlights Jarrett Stidham’s preparation and honesty

Manning also praised Stidham’s work ethic and emphasized his honesty as one of his strengths.

“He’s a great guy. Look, he’s very confident because he puts the work in,” said Manning. “Obviously, he hasn’t been on the field, and he’s not trying to make you think he’s played more than he has. He’s honest about how much he’s played. But you hear his teammates talk about how hard he prepares, so I think he’s able to play all season because he puts the time in.”

The five-time MVP also expressed his confidence in head coach Sean Payton, while also offering a little advice of his own ahead of Sunday’s big matchup.

“I think Sean’s gonna rally the troops,” said Manning. “I think the fact the Broncos are underdogs, Sean’s gonna use that to the Broncos advantage and kind of tell the team that nobody thinks they can win.

“Don’t hold anything back in this game. You’ve got a good play, you’ve got a trick play, you’ve got something you think might work, go for it. Because it’s a long offseason if you don’t win this game, so might as well go for it.”

The Broncos and Patriots will kick off the AFC Championship at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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Of the five teams that have already taken the field, their combined record doesn’t set a particularly promising precedent for the Broncos, sitting at 1-4 with the lone victory belonging to the combination of Jim Kelly and Frank Reich in Buffalo.

Asked if he believes Jarrett Stidham can buck the trend and take his Broncos to the Super Bowl in February on NFL Live, Dan Orlovsky said no, noting that even if Sean Payton is an elite offensive mind, his quarterback has simply been on the shelf too long to compete against a very good New England defense.

“I think that trend continues for the backup quarterbacks. We’ve watched this Patriots defense really minimize two good quarterbacks in the last two weeks of the playoffs and CJ Stroud and Justin Herbert and candidly make them look terrible,” Orlovsky noted. “Sean Payton’s absolutely outstanding. This is a good offense in Denver. It’s the first time this guy’s going to be playing in three years. I think that trend continues.”

Now, as Nick Foles pointed out, the Patriots have a bad record of losing games with championship implications against backup quarterbacks, as he and the Philadelphia Eagles took down Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and company back in 2018, but this isn’t the same New England team by any means. No, unless Stidham has been secretly a franchise quarterback hanging out on the bench for the last three years, it’s hard to imagine the one-time Patriot will be able to take down his former franchise in such a pivotal game.

"This is the first time this guy's going to be playing in three years, I think that trend continues."@danorlovsky7 believes history will repeat itself with the Denver Broncos' backup quarterback pic.twitter.com/Ehg2gzvsTn

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 23, 2026

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Suffering a foot injury on Nov. 6 in the 10-7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, it was the last time Dobbins had seen the field in a game. It will now be another game out for the crucial player as he’s been limited at practice all week, but still ruled out, as per Denver’s injury report.

Besides Dobbins, the Broncos have rookie RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin, who are more than capable of carrying a backfield, though it still hurts to be without another key offensive weapon. There was some positivity around Dobbins possibly playing in the AFC title game as offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey spoke about how he was glad to see the running back on the field at practice.

“J.K. is a hell of a player, hell of a force for us. Hopefully — we’re all praying that he’s cleared to go, but we’re ready for whoever’s back there. Our running backs have done a great job all year,” McGlinchey said on Wednesday, according to Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan.

The next opportunity for Dobbins to play would be in the Super Bowl if Denver can make it past the Patriots in the AFC championship game. It won’t be a walk in the park as head coach Sean Payton looks to navigate a win with Stidham at quarterback, after losing Nix to injury, which was found out after the divisional playoff win over the Buffalo Bills.

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Denver, in all likelihood, would have been the favorite to win this game had their quarterback, Bo Nix, not suffered a season-ending ankle injury. The injury occurred late in last week’s Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills.

The injury has forced the Broncos to start unproven backup QB Jarrett Stidham. Therefore, Vegas installed the Patriots as 5.5-point favorites when the line first opened. It has since been bet down to 4.5.

But I am here to tell you, Vegas got it wrong. But before I do, I feel compelled to express why this has nothing to do with personal bias. I grew up in Boston and have been a life-long Patriots fan. So, I hope that I am wrong.

But there are far too many factors working against New England entering the AFC Championship. So, let’s get to the 5 reasons that the Broncos will defeat the Patriots to reach the Super Bowl.

Sean Payton’s Wizardry

From the moment it was announced that Nix was done for the season, the Broncos have expressed confidence in Stidham. But what organization wouldn’t? Of course, they stated they were confident he could run their offense.

But unlike almost every other organization, the Broncos have a head coach that can actually pull it off.

Payton is 14-7 in his career as head coach when starting a backup at quarterback. Granted, much of that was with Teddy Bridgewater in New Orleans. But the point still holds.

But maybe more importantly, the Patriots have essentially zero tape to study. That is a big deal.

The former Saints head coach built a reputation for being an offensive guru. I fully expect Denver to put Stidham in the best position possible to succeed on Sunday. And for anyone who counters with how well New England’s defense played the first two weeks of the players, remember this: The Patriots were facing arguably the worst offensive lines in the NFL.

Denver has one of the best O lines in the league.

Stidham, who was drafted by New England and backed up Tom Brady for a year, is more athletic than most realize. I look for Payton to utilize that and get him on the move, in combination with a solid run game.

JK Dobbins’ Return to be a Problem

Speaking of the Denver running game, it appears that they will be getting J.K. Dobbins back this week.

Dobbins missed the second half of the year with a foot injury. Before going down, he led the team in all statistical rushing categories. But not just by default, he illustrated how effective he has always been.

He had 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns through nine games. For his career, Dobbins’ 5.2 yards per carry ranks among the best in NFL history. Yes, you read that right. Among qualified running backs, Jamaal Charles has the greatest mark at 5.4.

His presence this week will allow Denver to let everyone play their proper role. Rookie tailback RJ Harvey will go back to being the complementary back, while Jaleel McGloughlin will become the third-down, pass-catching specialist.

I expect Denver to have success on the ground. The Patriots got Milton Williams back in Week 18, and that is very important. But not enough to completely stop the Broncos from finding some success rushing the football.

Patriots’ Captain to Miss the AFC Championship

One thing that typically helps a defense slow down an opposing run game is a defensive captain and Pro Bowler. That is something that the Patriots will not have this week.

On Friday, it was revealed that veteran linebacker Harold Landry will miss Sunday’s game. Landry is dealing with a knee injury that will cost him the biggest game of the season. How big is that loss?

It looms rather large. He was a defensive captain for the Patriots, and for good reason. The 29-year-old led the team with 8.5 sacks this season and was one of the key contributors against the run.

Let’s not forget, the biggest weakness of the Patriots’ defense all season has been their inability to get to the quarterback. How effective will they be without their sack leader?

Drake Maye’s mistakes finally prove costly?

There is no denying that Patriots QB Drake Maye had a breakout season. He earned an MVP nomination after leading the NFL in completion percentage.

But there is also no denying that he has not played very well in his first two playoff starts. In wins against the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans, Maye threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball six times.

No, that is not a typo. Six fumbles, in two games, almost all of which came on strip sacks.

Maye led the NFL in deep throws. But this week, he’ll face the best pass rush in the NFL. Denver finished the regular season with 68 sacks, only four shy of the record set by the 1984 Chicago Bears.

That is not a recipe for success.

The Patriots turned their opponents over even more in the two wins. If that doesn’t happen again this week, New England will be in trouble.

History is not on the Patriots’ side vs. the Broncos

Everyone knows that Mile High is one of the, if not the most difficult, places to play in the NFL. But that is especially true for New England.

Tom Brady began his career 10-0 in the playoffs. Guess where his first playoff loss came? Yeah, in Denver.

He later played two AFC Championship games in that same building, earning the same results. The Patriots, as a franchise, are 0-4 in Denver in the playoffs all-time.

But other factors are also working against the Patriots.

Denver has an extra day of rest. Home teams in conference title games are 21-7 straight up with an added day to prepare. Home underdogs of at least four points in conference title games are 9-0 vs. the spread, per Fox Sports. So, this game is a lock to be close if the Patriots were to win.

There are simply too many factors going in the wrong direction to ignore.

Again, I genuinely hope that I am wrong. But I do not believe I am. The Broncos will earn their ninth trip to the Super Bowl (would be second most ever behind Patriots’ 11), 23-20.

The post AFC Championship: 5 undeniable reasons why Broncos will beat Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Congrats to everyone involved in the NFL’s final four, except for the New England Patriots fans, who everyone finds annoying at this point, and the referees who gifted the Denver Broncos a spot in the AFC Championship Game.

The outcomes of the Divisional Round matchups have set up an incredible NFC Conference Championship contest between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, and a game with the biggest home dog in Conference Championship Game history on the AFC side of the bracket. But hey, the Seahawks game last Saturday kicked off on time, so who cares the zebras didn’t review the biggest call of the game?

Bitter Bills fan rantings aside, after watching the 2025 NFL Playoffs to this point, it seems easy to predict that a Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl is the most realistic outcome once the dust has settled this Sunday. Even if that is the outcome, there is still a matter of the final scores, which is why we will make our picks and predictions straight up and against the spread now.

The NFL Conference Championship Round schedule brings us two Sunday games with the Broncos and Patriots kicking at 3:00 pm ET and the Rams and Seahawks starting at 6:30 pm ET.

After going 6-0 against the spread and 5-1 straight up in the Wild Card Round, we came back to earth in the Divisional Round, going 2-2 both straight up and ATS. We completely whiffed on Bills-Broncos, nailed Texans-Patriots, and won with the winner in 49ers-Seahawks and with the spread in Rams-Bears. This brings our overall record in the 2025 campaign to 172-110 when just picking winners and 133-143-6 ATS.

Previous weeks: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11  | Week 12 | Week 13| Week 14| Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17| Week 18 | Wild Card| Divisional Round

So, with that, let’s get right into the NFL Conference Championship Round picks, predictions, and odds.

Courtesy of DraftKings, here are the NFL odds.

New England Patriots (-4.5) at Denver Broncos

Despite the controversial ending to the Bills-Broncos game on Saturday, the AFC Championship looked like it was setting up to be a great one, featuring two second-year quarterbacks about to make their mark on NFL history.

However, when Sean Payton returned to the podium after his first presser to tell the gathered media that Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle and was done for the season, all that changed. Now we get Jarrett Stidham, who will become the QB with the fewest career starts (four) to start a Conference Championship Game.

What the Broncos now lack in QB play, they may be able to make up for with elite coaching. Sean Payton is a Super Bowl-winning coach who has taken Nix—a fairly average prospect— and made him into the signal-caller of the No. 1 seed and conference finalist. And the Broncos’ QB coach, Davis Webb, is only 30, but one of the hottest names in this head coaching cycle.

If Payton is the genius everyone thinks he is and Webb is the head coaching candidate teams and pundits are touting him as, then there is a real chance they can coach Stidham up enough to keep them in the game on Sunday. After that, if the defense steps up like it has all season, this game will be closer than predicted.

All that said, the other side has Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniel, who have proven to be one of the best coaching tandems in the NFL this season. And with MVP candidate Drake Maye at the helm, it’s easy to see why the Patriots are significant favorites on the road.

So, while the Broncos staff may be able to coach Stidham up, the Patriots are just too much of a wagon right now and they will cruise to the Big Game.

Pick: Patriots 27-17

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks (-2.5)

The conclusion of this NFC West trilogy should be a thrilling one. These teams met twice in the span of 32 days in November and December and put on two fascinating shows.

In Week 11, the Seahawks traveled to LA and fell to the Rams 21-19. Just over a month later, in Week 16, the two teams played a 38-37 thriller, which included one of the strangest two-point conversions in NFL history and Sam Darnold seeming to get the big game monkey off his back.

The Seahawks actually haven’t lost since that Week 11 tilt with the Rams. Winners of eight in a row, Seattle is the hottest team in the league right now. They dispatched another rival, the San Francisco 49ers, last week, and now they are on the verge of their first Super Bowl since 2014 (which may, ironically, be a rematch with the Patriots).

Matthew Stafford in the Rams won a Super Bowl just four seasons ago, and as recently as Week 12, they looked like the best team around. However, losses to the Carolina Panthers, Seahawks, and Atlanta Falcons followed, as did too-close playoff wins over those Panthers and the Chicago Bears.

While anything can happen in a division game, especially the third time around, the states of these two squads are just too far apart right now. The Rams’ defense was excellent early in the season, but it hasn’t been great down the stretch. Teams have scored 27 or more points on them in five of the last eight games.

On the Seahawks’ side, they are well-rested and firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball. And as is the policy of the NFL Conference Championship Round picks, predictions, and odds column, we now believe in Darnold in big games. We’ll take the Seahawks to walk into the Super Bowl as well.

Pick: Seahawks 31-24

The post NFL picks, predictions, odds for the Conference Championship Round: The final 4 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Broncos QB Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury on the penultimate play of their Divisional Round upset against the Bills. Now Broncos backup Jarrett Stidham will be thrust into action in the most important game of his life.

Denver is rallying behind Stidham and has complete confidence that he can lead them to the Super Bowl.

Multiple Broncos players have declared that the entire team has faith in Stidham. Linebacker Alex Singleton made it clear that all of the hype reporters are hearing about Stidham from Broncos players is genuine.

“You’re getting genuine answers out of everybody,” Singleton said.

He also suggested that Stidham having an extra day to prepare will make all the difference. Singleton predicted the Broncos will make it to the Super Bowl.

“When things go the right way, he’ll have an extra week,” Singleton concluded.

That is all well and good from a morale standpoint. But the biggest question heading into Sunday’s game is whether or not Stidham is talented enough to get the job done.

Will Stidham and the Broncos add another chapter to their fairytale season by punching their ticket to the Super Bowl? Or will the season come to an end in dramatic fashion at Mile High?

Below we will explore what Jarrett Stidham’s stat line in this weekend’s AFC Championship could look like.

What is Jarrett Stidham’s track record as an NFL starter?

Stidham’s resume as a backup quarterback is not as bad as many might assume. But it does not take away from the fact that he is a career backup.

The 29-year-old quarterback has a 1-3 record as a starter in the NFL. He started two games for the Raiders during the 2022 season and two games for the Broncos during the 2023 season.

Stidham was a capable starter in all of those contests. He never threw more interceptions than touchdowns and always maintained a passer rating of at least 76.0. It is a small sample size, but there are often times that multiple starting quarterbacks cannot make that same claim.

In total, Stidham went 85-of-136 for 1,080 passing yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions over those four games.

As for game results, Stidham’s one win came by just one score. He also lost one game in overtime, but was handily defeated in the other two matchups.

But the Broncos have a great supporting cast around Stidham, as well as an excellent coaching staff. That should at least give Broncos fans enough hope that they could win against the Patriots.

Patriots defense won’t mike life easy for Jarrett Stidham

But Sunday’s game will be far from easy for Stidham and the Broncos. The main reason why is New England’s swarming defense.

The Patriots had a statement win in the Divisional Round, absolutely demolishing CJ Stroud and the Texans’ offense. New England forced five turnovers, sacked Stroud three times, and only allowed 241 total yards. Once they smelled blood in the water, they kept pressure on Stroud and never let up.

Broncos fans have to be worried about a similar fate for Stidham this weekend.

Thankfully Denver has an elite defense of their own. They led the league in sacks (68) and surpassed New England’s defense in a few key metrics, including both yards and points allowed per game.

While Denver’s defense will not do anything to protect Stidham, it could give him some breathing room.

If Stidham does struggle in a few moments, the Broncos can at least have faith that their defense could bail them out with a stop.

Jarrett Stidham will have keep pace with Drake Maye as a passer

Now that we understand this matchup better, let’s dive into what Stidham’s statistical output could look like.

This will be the most important game of Stidham’s life, and I simply cannot believe Payton will not have him adequately prepared.

As a result, I can easily see Stidham going drive for drive with Patriots QB Drake Maye. I’m worried that Maye’s rushing ability could give the Patriots a slight advantage. However, I think Stidham can keep up as a passer.

I’m predicting that Stidham will have at least 200 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and a completion percentage of at least 60% during the AFC Championship. I also see him committing at least one turnover, be it an interception or a fumble.

If Stidham delivers that kind of performance, I believe he’ll have done enough to give Denver a chance to win the game.

The post Predicting Jarrett Stidham’s stat line in AFC Championship Game after replacing Bo Nix appeared first on ClutchPoints.

If the forecast becomes punishing, it could impact the respective strategies of both teams. The passing game tends to tighten up in cold weather, with the wind and snow making timing routes tougher to execute.

But for Broncos cornerback Jahdae Barron, the cold weather is the least of his worries—as long as they are being compensated.

“It’s okay. We get paid a lot of money for it, so it’s fine to go play in the cold. It’d be one thing if you’re doing it for free,” said Barron, as quoted by Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.

I asked #Broncos rookie CB Jahdae Barron about it being very cold for Sunday’s AFC title game: “It’s OK. We get paid a lot of money for it, so it’s fine to go play in the cold. It’d be one thing if you’re doing it for free.”

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) January 23, 2026

His teammates would agree.

While the Patriots may be more used to playing in cold weather, the Broncos will surely push themselves to the hilt.

As of writing, it is expected to be “brutally cold” in Denver on Sunday, as reported by Yahoo! Sports’ Andrew Holleran, citing a local meteorologist. He noted that the temperature could be “extremely low.”

The mental toughness of the Broncos and the Patriots will be severely tested if the forecast proves true. The pressure-packed game might be less about style and more about survival.

Denver is also handicapped without Bo Nix, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Broncos, however, are confident that Jarrett Stidham can take over and lead them to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2016.

The post Broncos’ Jahdae Barron is fine with playing in the cold, on one condition appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The play that changed everything happened in sudden death. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen went for the jugular, launching a deep shot to veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks. It initially looked like the veteran wideout had secured a massive gain, but McMillian wrestled the ball away as they hit the turf.

Joseph later revealed that the staff had specifically coached McMillian on how to “finish going up” against Cooks, a detail the young corner followed to the letter. Joseph noted after the game that McMillian is the team’s best “ball guy,” so he wasn’t shocked to see the sophomore defender make the game-deciding play.

While the Bills statistically dominated the box score, outgaining the Broncos 449 to 349 in total yards, Denver’s defense turned the game into a turnover clinic. They forced five Buffalo giveaways, which proved to be the ultimate equalizer.

Josh Allen threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns, but his mistakes kept the door open for Denver. On the other side, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix played a clean game, throwing for 279 yards and 3 scores with a single turnover.

McMillian’s interception at the Denver 20-yard line flipped the script entirely. It gave the Broncos the life they needed to set up Wil Lutz for a game-winning 23-yard field goal.

It was a historic win for Denver, though a bittersweet one, as the team confirmed Nix suffered a broken ankle on the final drive. As the Broncos head to the AFC Championship to face the New England Patriots, they do so knowing that Vance Joseph’s attention to detail is the reason their season is still alive.

The post Broncos’ Specific Vance Joseph ‘coaching point’ against Brandin Cooks helped cause key INT vs. Bills appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Bryant was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday’s practice after being limited on Wednesday. The rookie wideout suffered a concussion during Denver’s 33–30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. The injury occurred on his third reception of the opening drive, part of a three-catch, 32-yard performance. Despite playing only three offensive snaps in that game, Bryant still contributed on the stat sheet before exiting. Thursday’s full participation is an encouraging sign, but he must still receive clearance from an independent neurologist to be eligible for Sunday.

Bryant’s return would be huge for a Broncos offense already dealing with the loss of starting quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the win over Buffalo. Nix is the lone player on Denver’s 53-man roster to remain out of practice entirely. Jarrett Stidham will start at quarterback, increasing the importance of available pass catchers and blocking wideouts.

The rest of the Broncos’ injury report remained unchanged. Offensive tackle Frank Crum (ankle), tight end Lucas Krull (foot), linebacker Drew Sanders (ankle), safety JL Skinner (quad), and center Luke Wattenberg (shoulder) all practiced fully for a second straight day. Wattenberg, who landed on injured reserve on Christmas Day, has now been a full participant in multiple practices and is trending toward a return, though he must still be activated to the active roster.

Running back JK Dobbins (foot), wide receiver Troy Franklin (hamstring), and center Alex Forsyth (ankle) were limited participants for the second consecutive day. Dobbins remains on injured reserve but has been practicing since the team opened his 21-day window earlier this week. He has not played since suffering a Lisfranc injury in early November. In the first 10 regular-season games he played, Denver averaged 128.6 rushing yards per game and 4.76 yards per carry, ranking ninth and eighth in the NFL. From Weeks 11–18 without him, those numbers dropped to 104.6 yards per game and 3.94 yards per rush, ranking 23rd and 24th.

Franklin, Broncos’ second-leading receiver during the regular season with 65 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns, continues to work through his hamstring issue. While still limited, he participated in drills on Thursday and does not yet carry a game designation.

Denver has until Saturday to activate players designated to return from injured reserve, including Dobbins, Wattenberg, Krull, and Sanders. Final game statuses will be announced on Friday as the Broncos prepare to host New England at Empower Field at Mile High.

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Reports claim that Stidham typically high-fives Nix during warm-ups. Despite the 25-year-old quarterback missing from practice, Stidham still went through the motions as if he were giving Nix a high-five while taking the field, according to Zac Stevens and Ryan Greene of DNVR Sports.

Jarrett Stidham typically high-fives Bo Nix during warm ups.

Jarrett kept that going even without Bo here
@RyanGreeneDNVR pic.twitter.com/7ZABpu1Len

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) January 22, 2026

The video caught the attention of Broncos fans everywhere. Many of them admitted the clip was making them emotional due to Bo Nix dealing with an injury. Meanwhile, others appreciated Jarrett Stidham for still acknowledging Nix even though he wasn’t on the field.

“Bruh… I’m not crying, you’re crying,” said one fan.

Another individual stated, “Don’t… [You’re] making a grown man [cry].”

Guys I think there is dust in the air and it’s getting in my eyes pic.twitter.com/ZTyiHjw0s5

— Jay (@whyam1onthis) January 22, 2026

“What a GOAT,” exclaimed another user.

This person asked,” Why did this make me choke up a little, though?”

pic.twitter.com/ipBLJT272a

— STIDZILLI (@DogeXZilla) January 22, 2026

“Still devastated that this had to happen to Bo,” claimed one fan.

Another fan pointed out, “This is amazing, and at the same time, Bo’s not dead, he will return at some point.”

Sunday’s contest against the Patriots will be Stidham’s fifth career start in the NFL. He began his career in 2019, ironically with New England. After taking the 2021-22 campaign off, the 29-year-old backup quarterback returned to the league with the Las Vegas Raiders. He signed with the Broncos in 2023 and has remained in Denver ever since.

Jarrett Stidham enters the AFC Championship with 1,422 career passing yards and eight touchdowns. He’s also thrown eight interceptions and owns a career 59.4% completion percentage.

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