The Denver Broncos had low public expectations for the 2024 NFL season, with rookie QB Bo Nix leading the charge.
Many saw the Broncos’ front office drafting Nix at No. 12 as a reach, but he silenced the critics instead. Denver finished the year with a 10-7 record, good enough for a Wild Card Round appearance. Although the Broncos fell short to the Buffalo Bills, 31-7, it’s clear the quarterback situation is no longer one to stress about.
With their season over, the Broncos can now focus on adding complementary pieces around Nix through the NFL Draft and free agency.
Broncos Predicted To Select Ashton Jeanty in NFL Draft
The Broncos have the No. 20 pick in the first round, meaning there’s no guarantee the Heisman Trophy runner-up is still on the board. His dream team, the Dallas Cowboys, holds the No. 12 pick. However, Denver’s front office could fall in love with Boise State RB enough to trade up.
PFN’s Alex Kennedy highlighted three potential landing spots for the Boise State star running back in PFN’s Jeanty draft hub, with the Broncos being one of the teams suggested. Here’s what Kennedy had to say about Jeanty’s fit in Denver:
“The Denver Broncos offense looked better than expected with Bo Nix at the helm, as Sean Payton has done a great job salvaging the Broncos’ post-Russell Wilson era.”
“However, the team is missing an explosive playmaker, a role Jeanty could certainly fill. Javonte Williams was inefficient, averaging 3.7 yards per carry this season. Jaleel McLaughlin has shown flashes, but he isn’t an every-down back. This season, the Broncos’ leading rusher had a paltry 513 yards.”
“Of course, the offensive line is to blame to a degree, but Jeanty’s dynamic running ability could certainly help. Seeing Payton help Jeanty realize his full potential would be fun, just as he did with Alvin Kamara on the New Orleans Saints.”
Nix relied heavily on short and intermediate passes during his rookie campaign, which is why Jeanty is such an appealing draft target. The threat of a bulldozer-style rusher in the backfield could force opposing secondaries to bite on play-action looks, and Nix can unload the ball downfield.
Not to mention, Denver’s offense was as average as they come, ranking No. 16 in Pro Football Network’s Offense+ statistic.
“Still, the 2024 Broncos were ahead of schedule, and snapping the team’s eight-season playoff drought qualifies as a huge success. Nix had impressive moments in the latter half of the year, and the arrow is pointing up entering 2025,” Sterling Xie wrote.
For the organization to continue trending in the right direction, ramping up the offensive firepower is necessary. What better way to do so than to draft a player coming off one of the best seasons in collegiate history?
It’s similar to how the Houston Texans went about last offseason, bringing in WR Stefon Diggs and RB Joe Mixon. Unfortunately, Texans sophomore QB C.J. Stroud had a down year largely due to injuries around him. If Broncos coach Sean Payton wants to see Nix continue to thrive and avoid a slump like Stroud, he needs to push for the addition of a dynamic playmaker like Jeanty.
