The Broncos placed a first-round bet down in Miami this spring, wagering significant draft capital to bring in Jaylen Waddle as the intermediate field-stretcher that Bo Nix hasn’t had in two seasons in Denver. Waddle and Nix have developed near-instant chemistry on quick slants this training camp, and the former Alabama star and Dolphins standout could be the missing piece to a Nix breakout and well-oiled Bronco machine.
Here’s a look at the Broncos’ probable offensive two-deep come the fall, with some by-committee approaches at running back and receiver.
Quarterback
Bo Nix | 10
6-foot-2, 217 pounds, 26 years old, 3rd season, Oregon
The ankle not-initially-heard ’round the world ended what was an inconsistent but promising second season for Nix, who has ended the year better than he’s started in two NFL campaigns. He hit a visible new level as a decision-maker from Week 11 on, with just three interceptions in 262 attempts in that span. Now, can he improve his efficiency under pressure and more consistently stretch the field between the hashes?
Jarrett Stidham | 8
6-foot-3, 215 pounds, 29 years old, 7th season, Auburn
Stiddy’s back for a fourth — and potentially final — season in Denver. His AFC Championship fill-in performance for Nix left little to be desired, but Stidham remains a solid if flawed backup.
Running back
J.K. Dobbins | 27
5-10, 212, 27, 7th season, Ohio State
Dobbins was one of the NFL’s most productive running backs before suffering a season-ending broken foot in Week 10 in 2025. After re-signing in Denver on a two-year deal this offseason, Dobbins will again bring his feisty personality to lead the Broncos’ rushing attack — if he can only stay healthy.
RJ Harvey | 37
5-8, 205, 25, 2nd season, UCF
Harvey had a mixed rookie season, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry but scoring an NFL-rookie-leading 12 touchdowns. Another year in Sean Payton’s system should benefit him as a runner, and Harvey is only continuing to grow as a route-running weapon out of the backfield.
Jonah Coleman | 20
5-8, 220, 22, Rookie, Washington
Coleman checks almost every box Denver could want in an instant-impact mid-round running back: not prone to fumbling, not prone to drops, smart, tough between the tackles, and terrific in pass protection. He could take rotational snaps right away.
Wide Receiver
Courtland Sutton | 14
6-4, 216, 30, 9th season, Southern Methodist
The Broncos’ ol’ reliable racked up a second straight 1,000-yard season as Bo Nix’s favorite target in 2025, and made his second Pro Bowl. Sutton could see slightly less volume with the addition of Waddle, but will still be the go-to guy on late downs.
Pat Bryant | 13
6-2, 204, 23, 2nd season, Illinois
Bryant became an instant fan favorite for his blocking and timely playmaking in the second half of Denver’s season, but his growing role was marred by a string of injuries. He’s a breakout candidate if he can stay healthy.
Wide Receiver
Jaylen Waddle | 17
5-10, 185, 27, 6th season, Alabama
The Broncos’ blue-chip addition of the offseason, Waddle racked up 5,039 receiving yards over the course of five seasons in Miami. His explosiveness in and out of breaks and after-the-catch burst have been on full display in training camp, and he could provide several doses of rocket fuel to Denver’s offense.
Troy Franklin | 11
6-3, 180, 23, 3rd season, Oregon
This spot could well fall to Marvin Mims Jr., too, as Denver really has five receivers. Franklin could find himself as the odd man out in a crowded room, but still enters the 2026 season as the Broncos’ second-leading receiver from last season.
Tight End
Evan Engram | 1
6-3, 240, 31, 10th season, Ole Miss
The “Joker” that was promised never materialized in 2025, as Engram often went invisible for long stretches of games during his first season in Denver. The Broncos chose to keep the veteran tight end rather than cut ties, though, and Engram still was easily the most productive receiving TE on the roster last season.
Adam Trautman | 82
6-5, 253, 29, 7th season, Dayton
Have blocking, will not travel. Trautman is now set to play his sixth out of seven NFL seasons for Payton dating back to New Orleans, and signed a new three-year deal this offseason as a blocking-forward TE.
Left Tackle
Garett Bolles | 72
6-5, 300, 34, 10th season, Utah
The Broncos’ eldest statesman continues to only get better with age, putting together the first Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro season of his career in 2025. Bolles has now played 51 straight regular-season games in Denver.
Frank Crum | 73
6-7, 315, 26, 3rd season, Wyoming
Frank the Tank made a splash with a trick-play touchdown in the Broncos’ AFC wild-card win over Buffalo last season, and continues to earn considerable trust and buzz in the Broncos’ offensive-line developmental pipeline.
Left Guard
Ben Powers | 74
6-4, 310, 29, 8th season, Oklahoma
Get this: Powers missed much of the 2025 season with a torn bicep, returned later in the year, broke his foot, played the entire rest of the season on that broken foot, and then took a pay cut after the year. He’s still an integral part of Denver’s run-blocking efforts.
Kage Casey | 78
6-5, 310, 22, Rookie, Boise State
The Broncos loved Casey’s versatility enough to snag him in the fourth round of April’s NFL Draft, and Casey has worked throughout the summer and training camp at left guard in an obvious succession plan for Powers.
Center
Luke Wattenberg | 60
6-5, 300, 28, 5th season, Washington
Payton has praised Wattenberg’s intelligence on multiple occasions, and the Broncos handed the starting center a four-year, $48 million extension last year.
Alex Forsyth | 54
6-4, 312, 27, 4th season, Oregon
Forsyth has stepped in seamlessly over the past two seasons when Wattenberg has missed time with injury, and continues to play a valuable depth role in the Broncos’ offensive line plans.
Right Guard
Quinn Meinerz | 77
6-3, 320, 27, 6th season, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Meinerz said that during this training camp, he was dealing with personal issues throughout 2025, but the star guard still earned his second straight first-team All-Pro nod. He wasn’t quite as consistent in pass protection as he was in 2024, and he struggled in the Broncos’ AFC Championship Game loss, but Meinerz remains a top-tier offensive-line talent in the NFL.
Right Tackle
Mike McGlinchey | 69
6-8, 315, 31, 9th season, Notre Dame
Like his tackle partner, McGlinchey continues to improve with age. The veteran turned in arguably the most consistent end-to-end season of his career in 2025, and has rounded into a leader on Denver’s front.
Alex Palczewski | 63
6-6, 314, 27, 4th season, Illinois
Palczewski slid all the way across the line last season to fill the injured Powers’ spot admirably for 10 games, and earned himself a nice two-year offseason extension in the process. He could be the first man up both at tackle and at guard in any case of injury.
Kicker
Wil Lutz | 3
5-11, 32, 11th season, Georgia State
Lutz continues to knock on the door of the NFL’s highest kicking tier, putting home 28 of 32 field goals (87.5%) in 2025. He fell back to earth from 40-plus yards last year, though, with a 7-of-11 success rate from that distance.
