Last season ended in heartbreak for the Denver Broncos. They lost to the New England Patriots by a score of 10-7 in the AFC Conference Championship. The defeat, though, became overshadowed by endless hypotheticals.
What if Bo Nix hadn’t broken his ankle and had been able to play? What if coach Sean Payton had elected to take a field goal on fourth down? What if there hadn’t been a blizzard in the second half?
These questions will likely haunt Denver fans for years to come.
It’s human nature to focus on the negatives. But there were still plenty of positives for the Broncos in the 2025-26 campaign. They finished tied for first in the entire NFL with a 14-3 record. They tied a franchise record with four first-team All-Pros. The mere fact that they made it to the AFC Championship is reason enough to celebrate a fantastic season.
Regardless of whether Broncos fans are mourning their loss or celebrating their success, time only moves forward. As such, they must prepare for the changes and chaos that the offseason brings.
Denver already survived the coaching carousel, as they kept defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and promoted Davis Webb to offensive coordinator. What’s next now is the NFL Draft. As stellar as their roster is, they must continue to add to it to stay at the top of the pack. But with all their talent, many fans find themselves wondering what the team needs to redeem itself next season.
A New Linebacker Is Likely
The largest position of need from the Broncos last season was undoubtedly linebacker. Dre Greenlaw has been fantastic when healthy, but his health has not been a given. Greenlaw missed nearly all of the 2024-25 season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII. He also missed the first six games of last season due to a torn quad suffered in the offseason.
Denver’s other starting linebacker, Alex Singleton, has had a long history of injuries as well. Singleton tore his ACL early in the 2024-25 season, playing in only three games that year. Additionally, outside of just injuries, Singleton is already 32 years old. Some fear that his best days are behind him, as his lack of speed and weakness in pass coverage make him a defensive liability on occasion. Singleton is also an unrestricted free agent, meaning he could be on his way out regardless.
In the second round of the 2023 Draft, the Broncos selected Drew Sanders from Arkansas to be their linebacker of the future. However, between an Achilles tear and a foot injury, he has only played in four games in the last two seasons.
Between all those injuries, inside linebacker was a constant position of need for Denver last season. If healthy, those three could likely get the job done. However, with Singleton seemingly out the door, and with the history that Greenlaw and Sanders have, a linebacker selection feels very possible.
Defensive Line Decision
Unlike linebacker, the defensive line was not a weakness for the Broncos. In fact, it was one of their biggest assets.
Their pass rush has led the league in sacks over the last two years, but great teams don’t stay great by being complacent. Adding to one’s strengths is arguably just as important as patching up a weakness.
With a pass rush led by Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, and All-Pro Zach Allen, many may not see the reasoning for continuing to bolster the line. However, they will likely have a spot to fill.
Defensive End John Franklin-Myers, who plays opposite Allen, is an unrestricted free agent. Franklin-Myers finished the season with an impressive 7.5 sacks, but his ability to apply pressure in both the running and passing game made more of an impact than stats can show. After such a strong season, he will likely leave to go chase money that Denver cannot or will not give him. This leaves an opening in the starting lineup that the Broncos will need to fill.
That spot may be taken from within, as backup lineman Malcolm Roach has had a great past two seasons. Joseph likes to keep his defense fresh. So, despite not being listed as a starter, Roach has seen plenty of playing time.
Regardless of whether or not Roach becomes a consistent starter, the Broncos will still need another body on the defensive line. If they choose to add through the draft, they can get one for cheap that can start on the bench, learn, and work his way up.
Too Early To Tell
Ultimately, there’s no way of knowing yet what the Broncos will need come draft day. We are still basically two months away, and a lot could change between now and then. Denver could trade away players, opening up a new position. They could decide to target these needs in free agency instead of the draft. Or (god forbid) someone could get injured, which would force them to seriously reevaluate their needs.
As of now, at least, linebacker is the most likely, given how long it has been a need. Taking one in the first round should put an end to the problem for years to come. Defensive line would also make sense if Franklin-Myers walks, as they will need to replace him to continue their dominance. Additionally, given how their talent across the depth chart and how late they are picking, the Broncos may just go best available. Sometimes the best decision is to take the best player and figure out the rest later.
Nevertheless, one thing is for sure: if the Broncos want to get back to the promised land, nailing their first-round pick could be what gets them there.
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