National pundits have very low expectations for the Denver Broncos in 2024, and on paper, it’s hard to blame them.
Eight starters from last season are no longer on the team, including star safety Justin Simmons, talented center Lloyd Cushenberry, key inside linebacker Josey Jewell, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and quarterback Russell Wilson.
The candidates to replace Wilson are journeyman Jarrett Stidham, 2021 first-round bust Zach Wilson and rookie Bo Nix. Nate Davis of USA TODAY seems to believe Nix will win the starting job, but he doesn’t have much faith in the QB’s supporting cast:
Rookie QB Bo Nix may execute HC Sean Payton’s offense more efficiently than did Wilson, his two-year tenure in the Rockies coming to an abrupt and expensive end in March. But Nix doesn’t appear to have nearly the help that fellow rookies Caleb Williams and even Daniels have in what has all the makings of a reset in Denver – one that may not bear serious fruit for several years.
In his annual NFL record projections piece, Davis has the Broncos finishing with a 4-13 record. Last week, Denver coach Sean Payton was asked about national media members predicting the Broncos will have a poor season.
“If I spent time on that in 2006, we would have never gone to the NFC Championship Game — and I mean that seriously — back in my first year in New Orleans,” Payton said. “I don’t have time to spend time on that, nor do I wish to spend time on that.
“I understand they have a job to do and where we are selected. None of that means anything. It’s stuff to talk about when the media cycle is quiet. We will get ready to play. We expect to compete and expect to win.”
Payton went 8-9 in his first season in Denver last fall. Pundits expect the team to take a step back in 2024. We’ll see if he can prove them wrong.
