Broncos Championship Foundation: Draft Expert Reveals the Biggest Holes
The Denver Broncos seem to be on their way to a rebuild they’ve desperately needed for eight years with the release of All-Pro safety Justin Simmons. After one season as head coach in the Mile High City, Sean Payton is shipping out players who aren’t in the Broncos' future.
With Russell Wilson and Justin Simmons now off the roster, no one else should feel comfortable whether they’re a starter or backup. The Move the Sticks podcast hosts, Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah, broke down and evaluated Denver’s “championship foundation.” Let’s look at what players MTS believes are foundational pieces and which are just taking up space.
Blue Chip
Patrick Surtain II | CB
The Broncos' only blue-chip player is All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain ll. Surtain is far and away the best player Denver has had since Von Miller was traded away in 2021.
Patrick is a cornerstone of building a championship roster, having earned two All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in his three-year career.
Good
Quinn Meinerz | OG
Meinerz has been an absolute gem for a Broncos offensive line that has struggled mightily over the past eight seasons. PFF graded Meinerz as the third-best guard in the NFL and first in run blocking.
While Meinerz hasn’t received any All-Pro or Pro Bowl nominations, that is likely to change if he keeps up his level of play in the next few years. He is, without a doubt, an offensive lineman to build around.
Mike McGlinchey | OT
McGlinchey was also labeled as “good” in these rankings despite having an up-and-down season. PFF gave McGlinchey a grade of 67.5, which isn’t ideal for a sixth-year tackle.
He had some bouts with injuries to his ribs and knee, which held him back. Holding up in pass coverage while Russell Wilson is holding onto the football for ungodly seconds does put quite a strain on an offensive line. McGlinchey played solidly, but he must prove that he isn’t at replacement level in 2024.
Zach Allen | DL
Allen was left on an island as the only real pass rusher on the interior defensive line. Allen had a slow start to 2023 but ramped up his production, finishing the season with five sacks, 60 total tackles, eight for a loss, and an astounding 50 pressures.
Allen was a great free-agent signing for the Broncos and a player who should stick around in Denver for a while. If GM George Paton could add more talent to the defensive line, Allen could genuinely shine.
Age/Injury/Contract Concerns
Jarrett Stidham | QB
Stidham was uninspiring as Denver's starter in the final two games, but no one expected fireworks. Stidham didn’t receive first-team reps until the last two games, so it makes sense that he’d look shaky, having no natural chemistry with the first-team offense.
Regardless, at best, Stidham is a decent stop-gap quarterback who will be kicked to the curb in favor of a more talented free agent or rookie. AKA, not a building block of a championship team. His $7 million cap hit is also a concern.
Javonte Wiliams | RB
Williams has felt the sting of the injury bug, tearing three ligaments in his knee in 2022. While he managed to play in 16 games this season, there was an apparent loss of explosiveness and ability to break tackles.
Williams' yards per carry dropped from 4.3 to 3.6. Due to his severe injury, it’s hard to predict if he will return to form. His future with the Broncos beyond 2024 is a mystery.
Courtland Sutton & Jerry Jeudy
Sutton and Jeudy have been the subject of trade rumors dating back to the trade deadline in 2022. Jeudy, in particular, has had a severe lack of production under three different coaching staffs, and his attitude has become more toxic by the season.
Any metric doesn’t justify Jeudy's $13 million cap hit. A change of scenery might do him good, and Denver could get around a fifth-round pick in return.
Sutton, on the other hand, had one of his best seasons with 772 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sutton may restructure his $17 million cap hit, or he could be traded for draft capital that Denver desperately needs.
Garett Bolles | OT
Bolles had a sneaky good season in 2023. The less you hear about your offensive tackles, the better. Bolles only had eight penalties and gave up a meager three sacks.
He’s improved mightily under the tutelage of offensive line coach Zach Strief. Unfortunately, Bolles has never been a part of a winning team since being drafted by Denver in 2017. He’s disgruntled and carries a $20 million cap hit. If not restructured, we could see Bolles shipped out of Denver.
The Broncos have released Justin Simmons. He will have a new home, likely with a contender in 2024.
Unproved/Young
Marvin Mims Jr.
Mims secured a Pro Bowl nod as a return specialist in his rookie season. While he’s proven as a special teams ace, Mims must show that he can step up more on offense.
If Mims can diversify his route tree, the sky is the limit for the young wideout from Oklahoma.
Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper & Baron Browning
The pass-rushing trio must make a more significant impact in 2024. Bonitto utilizes his speed to pressure the quarterback, but he could be more reliable in the run game.
Cooper has outkicked his coverage as a seventh-round pick. He’s been a solid rotational pass rusher, but that’s likely his ceiling.
Browning has shown the most out of the three as an explosive potential starting edge rusher; however, he can’t stay healthy for an entire season. Denver’s edge room is full of number twos who need to prove they can be number ones for the Broncos.
Ja'Quan McMillian | CB
McMillian burst onto the scene as Denver’s slot corner. In 16 games, starting in three, McMillian totaled two interceptions, forced and recovered two fumbles, two sacks, five passes defended, and 51 tackles.
Not too shabby for an undrafted rookie from 2022. McMillian's aggressive playstyle from the slot bodes well for his future as a Denver Bronco.
The Broncos have a few pieces worth keeping around if they hope to build a championship-caliber roster. They’re a couple of years off from seriously competing in the playoffs, but if they can add more talent around the building blocks already in place, they’ll set themselves up to compete in the future.
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