The Denver Broncos are setting Bo Nix up for success in his first season.
The Broncos turned down trade offers for No. 1 wide receiver Courtland Sutton, and they gave a massive contract extension to star guard Quinn Meinerz. Denver running back Javonte Williams is now fully healthy, Jaleel McLaughlin is back and the team added rookie Audric Estime to the mix.
On defense, the Broncos beefed up their front three by bringing in John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach this spring.
The pieces are in place for Nix to be supported by a punishing rushing attack and strong defense, two best friends of a young quarterback — or any QB.
“That’s the case — that’s not just for a rookie, that’s for Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or any of our great quarterbacks,” coach Sean Payton said ahead of the team’s preseason finale last week. “They themselves would say, ‘Man, if we’re struggling on defense, and we’re having trouble running the ball, it becomes harder to play that position the way you want to play it.’
“That’s what we’re in the midst of doing right now. We’re still trying to get the consistency we want in the run game. We have another weekend relative to a preseason game and practices to work on that, the same way defensively. I think we’ve played the run pretty well, but it’s a work in progress.”
Denver ranked near the middle of the NFL with 106.5 rushing yards per game in 2023. After a slow start, the defense finished well last season. Following the additions made this offseason, the Broncos believe they have a good supporting cast in place for Nix.
It’s still a work in progress, as Payton noted, but the run game and defense seem to be trending in the right direction.
