The Broncos have several key needs ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Some of them, of course, could be filled during free agency.
The Denver Broncos exceeded expectations in 2024 by making the NFL playoffs with a 10-7 record. After getting bounced in the first round of the postseason, though, the Broncos need to improve the roster to make a deeper run next season.
Here’s an early look at some of the team’s top positions of need ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Denver could address some of these positions during free agency in March before the draft in April.
1. Tight end: The Broncos need a playmaker at the position and Penn State’s Tyler Warren would be a dream target.
2. Safety: Brandon Jones was excellent in 2024, but P.J. Locke struggled in a full-time starting role. Denver should make Locke a rotational defensive back next season and bring in a new starter across from Jones.
3. Running back: The Broncos need more juice at the position and Javonte Williams is set to become a free agent in March. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty probably won’t fall to Denver, but can you imagine if he did?
4. Inside linebacker: Alex Singleton is 31 and coming off a torn ACL. Cody Barton and Justin Strnad are both set to become free agents. The Broncos have needed a cover linebacker for years, and they will likely need to add at least one starting caliber ILB in 2025.
5. Wide receiver: Bo Nix desperately needs more weapons on offense. Too many passes were dropped in 2024 and nobody outside of Marvin Mims was a threat to make a big play on every touch.
6. Defensive line: This will become an even bigger need for Denver if D.J. Jones leaves during free agency. At the very least, the Broncos need to add more depth on the defensive line.
7. Cornerback: Riley Moss struggled down the stretch after returning from a knee injury, but he was excellent early in the season. Moss is likely to start across from Pat Surtain again in 2025, but Denver needs to improve the depth behind them.
8. Outside linebacker: Yes, OLB is on the list even after Nik Bonitto totaled 13.5 sacks in 2024. Bonitto is a great pass rusher, but he’s still not stout enough defending the run. Jonathon Cooper is probably the team’s most well-rounded edge defender, but he’s not an elite pass rusher. The Broncos can probably afford to go into 2025 with the same starters, but an outside linebacker capable of setting the edge would be a useful addition.
Denver could also add competition at center, and they will need a new punter if Riley Dixon is not re-signed during free agency (March 12). The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26.
The Broncos’ season has come to an end. Here’s what we learned from Denver’s 2024 campaign.
The Denver Broncos crashed out of the NFL playoffs with a 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon, ending their postseason run in the first round. With the season now wrapped up, here’s a quick look at ten takeaways from 2024.
1. Javonte Williams is probably done in Denver
(Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)
Williams, who will turn 25 in April, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. After rushing 217 times for 774 yards last season, Williams saw his carries drop to 139 in his second year under coach Sean Payton. His 3.7 yards per carry average was only slightly better than last season (3.6), and Payton seemed to prefer Jaleel McLaughlin down the stretch. Williams is a good blocker, but it’s hard to imagine the Broncos re-signing him this offseason. Payton will likely want to add a dynamic running back to the backfield in 2025.
2. Pat Surtain should win Defensive Player of the Year
(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Surtain had a brilliant season, allowing a league-low 306 passing yards among qualified cornerbacks. PS2 also grabbed four interceptions, including a 100-yard pick-six. After earning first-team All-Pro honors, Surtain seems like a near-lock to win the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award. Pass rusher Nik Bonitto also turned in a brilliant season with 13.5 sacks and a pair of defensive touchdowns.
3. Denver found a perfect role for Marvin Mims
(The Enquirer/Albert Cesare / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Mims made the Pro Bowl as a returner in his rookie season, but he was barely utilized on offense. That changed this year as Payton found creative ways to get Mims involved, including reps at running back. Mims ended the year with 39 receptions for 503 yards and six touchdowns plus 13 carries for 42 yards. He also made the Pro Bowl again after leading the NFL with 15.7 yards per punt return in 2024. Mims is an all-around weapon for Denver.
Allen had a career year with with 75 pressures, 61 tackles, 40 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one safety in 16 games. Allen only being a fourth alternate for the Pro Bowl was an absurd snub, demonstrated by the Associated Press naming him a second-team All-Pro.
5. Courtland Sutton was great, but the Broncos need more at WR
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Sutton posted career highs in receptions (81) and receiving touchdowns (eight) this year, and his 1,081 yards were just 31 shy of his career high. It was a strong year for the team’s No. 1 receiver, but Denver needs to add more playmakers at the position in 2025. Too many receivers (Sutton included) dropped passes this season, and Mims was the only WR on the team who was a big-play threat every time he touched the ball. Whether it’s through free agency or the draft (or both), the Broncos need to upgrade the position.
6. Vance Joseph had a strong season overall
(Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
There were, of course, bumps in the road, and the unit did not end the season on a strong note, but Joseph’s defense had a good year overall. The Broncos’ defense ended up ranked eighth in takeaways (25), seventh in yards allowed per game (317.1), third in points allowed (18.3) and first in sacks (63), posting a new franchise record. Joseph is now a head coach candidate, but it remains to be seen if he’ll land a promotion in 2025. Fans who look at the season-long picture will appreciate the job Joseph did, especially considering…
7. Denver needs to upgrade linebacker and safety
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
P.J. Locke is a quality nickelback and a very good No. 3 safety, but he was often a weak link in coverage as a starter during the 2024 season. The Broncos need to add a starting-caliber safety to play across from Brandon Jones in 2025. Denver also needs to add at least one starting inside linebacker, preferably one that excels in coverage. Cody Barton and Justin Strnad are both scheduled to become free agents and Alex Singleton will be coming off ACL surgery in 2025. Joseph needs better personnel, especially at LB and S.
8. Bo Nix had one of the best rookie seasons ever
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Nix struggled early in the season before taking huge strides. He ended the year with 29 passing touchdowns, second-most among rookies in NFL history. Nix broke all of Denver’s major rookie passing records and his seven games with multiple touchdowns and no turnovers are an NFL rookie record. Nix is also the first rookie QB to ever post multiple games with 300 passing yards, four touchdowns and a passer rating above 140. Additionally, Nix made plenty of plays on the ground, finishing third on the team with 430 rushing yards while tied for first with four rushing scores (and he caught a TD pass this year, too). Nix had his share of rookie growing pains, but it’s clear that the Broncos have found their guy at quarterback.
9. Sean Payton did more with less
(Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)
Going into the season, the Broncos had an over/under win total of 5.5, and their roster was ranked dead last in the NFL. Denver was also hindered by a $53 million dead money salary cap hit after releasing QB Russell Wilson. Despite those obstacles, Payton went 10-7 and made the NFL playoffs with a rookie quarterback under center. It certainly wasn’t a perfect season — and Payton wasn’t without blame for some of the losses — but it was a huge step in the right direction. Payton snapped the team’s eight-year losing streak and nine-year playoff drought in Year 2. Now with a full selection of draft picks and a lot more salary cap space, it’s fair to expect the Broncos to take another step forward under Payton in 2025.
10. The Broncos are trending up
(Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)
Despite being a young team, Denver produced five All-Pros, three Pro Bowlers and a whopping eight Pro Bowl alternates in 2024. The Broncos gave extensions to guard Quinn Meinerz, cornerback Pat Surtain, outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper and left tackle Garett Bolles in 2024, setting Nix up for success going forward. Nix still has three seasons left on his rookie contract, plus a fifth-year option for the 2028 season. With an impressive young core of players and a promising QB on a rookie contract, Denver has a legitimate chance to make noise sooner than later. The future looks bright in Denver.
The Broncos’ season came to an end with a playoff loss to the Bills on Sunday. Here are five quick takeaways following the loss.
The Buffalo Bills knocked the Denver Broncos out of the NFL playoffs on Sunday with a 31-7 victory at home. Following the game, here are five quick takeaways for the Broncos.
1. Bo Nix needs more weapons: Nix had a promising rookie year, and he didn’t have a bad game on Sunday, but it’s clear that he needs more support. The rookie QB had several passes dropped on Sunday, and he led the team in rushing yards (43), as he has done on more than one occasion this season. Denver needs to add a dynamic receiver, a pass-catching tight end and a productive running back on offense.
2. Denver needs to upgrade two spots on defense: Alex Singleton will be 31 and coming off an ACL injury next season, and Cody Barton and Justin Strnad are both scheduled to become free agents in March. The Broncos need to upgrade the position with a coverage linebacker in 2025. Denver also needs a to add a starting-caliber safety to push P.J. Locke across from Brandon Jones.
3. Sean Payton’s offense came up short: The Broncos’ defense will receive much-deserved criticism for Sunday’s failings, but the offensive struggles should not be overlooked. Denver was just 2-of-9 on third down with only 224 net yards on offense. The team’s running backs combined for a grand total of 35 rushing yards. There’s only so much Payton can do when receivers are dropping passes and running backs aren’t making plays, but only mustering seven points in a playoff game was a big offensive failure.
4. Vance Joseph seems unlikely to leave: Payton, of course, isn’t the only coach who had a bad day at the office. Joseph’s unit allowed 471 net yards of offense, including 210 yards on the ground. After a strong start, the Broncos’ defense allowed 31 points to the Bills, 30 points to the Bengals, 34 points to the Chargers and 32 points to the Browns down the stretch. Joseph is a candidate for at least one head coach job this offseason, but it’s hard to imagine him landing a promotion after the defense finished the year like that.
Sean’s offense gave up…
41 to the Ravens
32 to the Browns
34 to the Chargers
And 30 to the Bengals?
5. The Broncos’ season overall was a success: Nobody wants to hear it today because the pain of the loss is so fresh, but Denver had a successful season overall. Playing with a rookie quarterback, the Broncos overcame a big salary cap deficit in 2024 and made the playoffs with a 10-7 record. The postseason came to an end with a dud, but the team is still trending in the right direction going into 2025.
Su’a Cravens has hinted on social media that Justin Simmons is open to returning to the Broncos in 2025.
A former Denver Broncos defensive back has hinted that safety Justin Simmons would like to return to his old team.
After spending the first eight years of his career with the Broncos and missing the playoffs in all eight seasons, Simmons was cut this spring and later signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
Denver went on to make the NFL playoffs in 2024 while Atlanta failed to qualify for the postseason. Following that unfortunate turn of events for Simmons, an ex-teammate has hinted that the safety would like to return to the Broncos.
“Been speaking to J the last few weeks… Broncos Country, wouldn’t yal love to see Justin finish his career in Orange & Blue?! 🫣 I know that door ain’t closed if Sean wanted to make that call next season … I’m just sayin #BroncosCountry,” Su’a Cravens tweeted earlier this week.
Been speaking to J the last few weeks… Broncos Country, wouldn’t yal love to see Justin finish his career in Orange & Blue?! 🫣 I know that door ain’t closed if Sean wanted to make that call next season … I’m just sayin #BroncosCountryhttps://t.co/iiv9gk8QVT
Simmons, 31, is scheduled to become a free agent in March. Denver replaced him with Brandon Jones, who had an excellent season in 2024. If Simmons did return in 2025, there would be no guarantee he would have a starting role with the Broncos.
Cravens’ social media posts have not always been accurate over the years, but he is clearly still friends with Simmons. Cravens also correctly reported last summer that Simmons was finalizing a contract with the Falcons. That, of course, proved to be true.
Whether or not Simmons eventually returns to Denver remains to be seen.
Spears-Jennings was a part of Oklahoma’s dynamic safety room. He was a do-it-all safety for the Sooners, finishing second on the team in total tackles with 65, was fifth on the team with five tackles for loss, fourth on the team with 2.5 sacks, had an interception, and led the team with four forced fumbles in 2024.
He had what could have been one of the plays of the year when he came off the edge on a blitz and sacked Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and forced a fumble, which Oklahoma recovered at the five-yard line. Instead, it was forgotten because Jackson Arnold fumbled it right back to the Volunteers.
But [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] made a number of plays for the Sooners defense this year, showing his development.
He began to emerge as a rotational player in 2023 before earning a starting safety role in 2024. Spears-Jennings started the final 11 games of the season for the Sooners. This year, he finished third on the team in snaps behind Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman.
Among players with at least 150 snaps on the season, Spears-Jennings was the third highest-graded player on the team, according to Pro Football Focus.
With Bowman off to the NFL, Spears-Jennings will be relied upon to take on a bigger role on and off the field. Entering his fourth year with the Sooners, he’ll be one of the leaders of the defense.
He’s the second big-name player to announce their return for 2025 after Damonic Williams shared on Monday that he’ll be back for another year.
With a pair of cornerstone defensive pieces returning for the Sooners, OU’s defense will be a force again in 2025.
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Kansas City #Chiefs DB Justin Reid praises secondary depth: ‘Guys have been able to come in and make plays’ | @EdEastonJr
Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid has embraced his leadership role in a young secondary. During Thursday’s press conference, he shared his thoughts on their progression and overcoming all the injuries.
“The way it’s been all year has been the next guy up. We’ve had a constant rotation and have confidence in whoever is on the field. Chris Roland Wallace has been making plays.” said Reid. “Chamarri (Conner), if he is able to make it, he’ll be in there, and he’ll be making some plays for us. Josh Williams comes in and makes plays. Nazeeh Johnson comes in and makes plays. So, it doesn’t matter. Jaden Hicks, Bryan Cook, it doesn’t matter who’s on the field; when you’re on the field, you’re a starter.”
In the first quarter of their Week 15 victory against the Cleveland Browns, Bryan Cook intercepted a deep pass down the middle of the field from Jameis Winston, his second on the season. In the fourth quarter, Trent McDuffie recorded his first career interception, and with 1:26 left in the game, Jaden Hicks intercepted Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
“We have faith in all those guys to come in and perform,” said Reid. We have the record we have, because guys have been able to come in and make plays when we need them to.”
The injuries have sometimes hampered the Chiefs secondary, forcing the depth signing of veteran cornerback Steven Nelson last week.
BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from All-CAA transfer safety
This story was updated to add new information and correct a misspelling.
Wisconsin football’s transfer portal haul is growing by the minute.
The Badgers secured another commitment from the portal on Monday evening: former Richmond transfer safety Matthew Traynor.
Traynor is one of six transfer portal commitments Wisconsin gained on Monday, joining Arkansas long snapper Eli Stein, Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., UT-Martin defensive lineman Charles Perkins, Western Michigan defensive lineman Corey Walker and San Diego State quarterback Danny O’Neil. They join the program’s previous additions: Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger, Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol and Tulane defensive lineman Parker Petersen.
The talented safety announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 2 after two years with Spiders. The redshirt freshman played 13 games in 2024, totaling 69 total tackles, 4 1/2 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass deflections. That production was enough to earn him a spot on the All-Coastal Athletic Association third team.
Traynor’s acquisition is notable given UW’s recent defensive back movement. Since the portal opened on Dec. 9, cornerback Max Lofy, safety Kamo’i Latu, CB Braedyn Moore, defensive back Jace Arnold, CB Justin Taylor, CB Jonas Duclona and DB Amare Snowden have entered.
Wisconsin also loses 2024 starting safety Hunter Wohler (NFL draft). Traynor is a significant addition at a key position of need, and projects to start for the team for several years to come.
Ryan Clark ripped into Aaron Rodgers over hypocrisy and fraudulence in fiery response to Rodgers’ rant against ESPN and former players.
It appears former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark didn’t take too kindly to Jets QB Aaron Rodgers‘ latest rant regarding ESPN and the former players who work there. Rodgers took to the Pat McAfee Show to rip into ESPN, and Clark has fired back.
Clark, who revitalized his legendary football career through ESPN as an analyst following his retirement, went scorched earth on Rodgers’ comments and alluded to the hypocrisy of the former Packers QB: “My issue with him is that you’re doing the exact same thing. The reason you’re getting the opportunity to say these asinine things is because someone is paying you—who is exactly the same thing you are now speaking out against.”
Clark wasn’t finished just proving Rodgers to be hypocritical, however, as he continued to tear into the quarterback’s character: “This dude is a fraud. He’s been a fraud. He could throw a football, and that’s where it stops.”
It’s safe to say Clark and Rodgers will not be exchanging Christmas cards in 2024, but the 41-year-old New York Jets QB should consider the bridges he is burning once his football career is over.
This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.
Wisconsin safety Kamo’i Latu entered the transfer portal on Wednesday.
He is the 19th Badger to depart since the portal opened on Monday. 17 of those are scholarship players. The headliners include quarterbacks Braedyn Locke and Tyler Van Dyke, and defensive linemen Curt Neal and James Thompson Jr.
Latu enters the portal after three seasons with the Badgers. He originally transferred to the program back in 2022 after two years at Utah.
The hard-hitting safety’s best season with the Badgers was that 2022 campaign, a tumultuous one with the in-season firing of head coach Paul Chryst. Latu finished it with 55 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and three pass deflections.
He then played just 14 games over the next two seasons, including only three in an injury-limited 2024.
Latu’s departure emphasizes Wisconsin’s roster need at safety. Hunter Wohler is off to the draft, leaving an open starting spot across from Preston Zachman. It is already an area of focus as Luke Fickell and his staff begin their transfer portal recruiting efforts.
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“I like how we’re playing [at safety],” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.
Last year, the Denver Broncos went into the season with Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson as their starting safeties. Caden Sterns was listed as a co-starter with Jackson, but he suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 1. That injury left P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner as the team’s backup safeties in 2023.
Simmons played at his typical Pro Bowl level in 2023, but Jackson served two suspensions and was eventually released. Locke ended up starting eight games as a fill-in starter last season.
After parting ways with Jackson late in the 2023 season and releasing Simmons this spring, Denver signed Brandon Jones during free agency. Jones has been starting across from Locke this year, and they have been a dynamic safety duo for the Broncos.
Jones has recorded 79 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery through 11 games.
“We’re better overall on the backend at that position than we were a year ago,” coach Sean Payton said of the safety positon. “We’ve played a few different guys back there, but I like how we’re playing. We’re communicating. Our guys on defense, Vance [Joseph] and Jim Leonhard and all those guys are doing a fantastic job. We’re definitely I would say further along, and it was a good performance by those guys [Sunday].”
Denver’s backup safeties behind Jones and Locke are Devon Key and Skinner. Payton clearly feels that the Jones-Locke-Key-Skinner combination is better than the Simmons-Jackson-Locke-Turner-Yell rotation from last year. (Jackson, as one might expect, disagreed with that assessment.)
Jones and Locke will look to build on their impressive campaign when the Broncos host the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 13.
!!!!!!!!!!
: ESPN 
I know that door ain’t closed if Sean wanted to make that call next season … I’m just sayin 
#BroncosCountry,” Su’a Cravens 
