Assuming Denver makes it through training camp and the preseason relatively healthy, here’s another safe bet: Sean Payton’s starting lineup figures to look an awful lot like the 11 that took the field for the first snap of Week 1 last fall against Tennessee.

There’s always the chance for a rogue opening formation to open offensive coordinator Davis Webb’s tenure as the Broncos’ primary play caller, but overall it����ap possible that the only change will be Jaylen Waddle in place of tight end Lucas Krull.

The other 10, in the form of the same starting offensive line, quarterback Bo Nix, running back J.K. Dobbins, tight end Adam Trautman and wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin all figure to have major roles again this fall for Denver.

There are, of course, twists and turns every summer. Injuries happen over the course of training camp. Last August the Broncos traded a potential starter in receiver Devaughn Vele. Sometimes a young player puts together such a strong camp that he snatches a job clean away from an established veteran.

Overall, though, Payton is betting that returning nearly every major contributor from Denver’s 2025 offense while adding Waddle and installing Webb as the play-caller is enough to elevate the Broncos’ offense away from the middle of the pack and toward the league’s upper echelon.

That means, on paper, there are not many starting jobs to be won. At most offensive positions, normal 53-man roster thresholds are met or nearly so before true competition for spots enters the equation.

And yet, there are many roles to be solidified and at least a handful of roster spots up for grabs as the Broncos near their reporting dates for rookies (July 22) and veterans (July 28). Here’s an early look at a projected offensive two-deep, with the obvious caveat that this represents a starting point ahead of camp’s outset.

Quarterback

1. Bo Nix

2. Sam Ehlinger

Starting point: The reality of life in the NFL: Much of what the Broncos want to accomplish in 2026 rests on Nix not just staying healthy for all or most of the season, but also on his game taking another step forward in Year 3, as well. Nix has a talented defense and an experienced, improved offense around him, plus Payton’s leadership and a new play-caller in Webb. He had played in every NFL game over his first two seasons until fracturing his ankle in the divisional round in January. Two operations and six months of combined rehab later, Nix and the Broncos say there’s no reason for concern. If they’re right, Denver’s in great shape. If the ankle issue lingers or comes back, that would be trouble.

Projecting Ehlinger as the No. 2 is perhaps a bit out on a limb considering Stidham has earned considerable equity with the front office, staff and locker room as he enters his fourth season with the Broncos. The notion that Ehlinger could beat him out is not rooted in Stidham’s performance in the AFC title game, but rather just in the staff’s excitement about Ehlinger a year ago, his mobility and a potential jump in performance in his second summer with the Broncos. Whoever ends up No. 3 might have the chance to be a No. 2 somewhere else at the end of August. That makes it basically a straight-out battle to be Nix’s primary backup. If there’s a way for Denver to keep all three — especially if the Broncos can get one to the practice squad to start the season as they did with Ehlinger last year —the club will almost certainly give it strong consideration.

Running back

1. J.K. Dobbins

2. RJ Harvey

Starting point: Dobbins is adamant he would have played in the Super Bowl after a November Lisfranc injury to his foot. He’s been healthy through Denver’s offseason program and enters camp as the clear lead back. Through 10 weeks last year, he was one of the most efficient runners in the NFL. The pecking order after him is likely to shape up more by role than anything else, unless Harvey takes a major leap in Year 2 – which, of course, the Broncos would more than welcome.

Harvey enters camp as the favorite to be second in terms of playing time and is the kind of player who, in Payton offenses, previously has racked up touches in the passing game. Rookie Jonah Coleman, a talented pass protector in college, looks like Denver’s third-down back right off the bat. That����ap a cleaner-fitting trio than last year if Coleman earns that trust right out of the gate. One interesting wrinkle here is what would happen if Dobbins were to get hurt. There’s a world in which Coleman might be a better lead back than Harvey; Harvey’s role stays about the same or expands some, and somebody else – a practice-squad Tyler Badie, perhaps — becomes the third-down back. The Broncos, naturally, hope Dobbins plays his first healthy season in the NFL and as long as the group stays on the field, it has the makings of a dynamic, dangerous trio.

Wide receiver

1. Courtland Sutton

2. Pat Bryant

1. Jaylen Waddle

2. Marvin Mims Jr.

1. Troy Franklin

2. Lil’Jordan Humphrey

Starting point: Waddle’s arrival changes this room in ways big and small. It goes from being one of the Broncos have seemed to like better than the industry does over the past couple of years to one that has a chance to be among the most dangerous in the NFL. They’ve got a dynamic pairing in Waddle and Sutton atop the room and they’ve got a myriad of skill sets behind. One of the most interesting questions of training camp is what the pecking order will look like behind Sutton and Waddle. The answer, at least early in the season, might be as simple as what the game situation is. The Broncos can mix up looks with Mims and even play him out of the backfield. They can be fast with Franklin on the field alongside Waddle. Or they can be big and physical with Bryant as the third man. One thing is certain: Denver is shaping up to play a ton of three-receiver and even four-receiver sets in Webb’s first season as a play-caller. The group is a clear strength on offense with Waddle’s addition.

Tight end

1. Adam Trautman

2. Evan Engram

Starting point: Engram, assuming good health, should easily lead the room in receiving targets again in 2026. Trautman, though, outpaced Engram in playing time by a wide margin last year (57% to 40%) and it would be a surprise if he didn’t do so again this fall. They are different types of players — Trautman more blocking with a bit of pass-catching ability and Engram essentially a receiver who is referred to as a tight end — but they are similar in the sense that Denver could have tried to replace either on the free agent market this spring and ultimately did not. What the Broncos did do, however, is use a pair of Day 3 draft picks to add players to the room who look like potential longer-term replacements. Fifth-rounder Justin Joly fits the Engram mold while seventh-rounder Dallen Bentley is more Trautman-esque. Payton spoke highly of second-year man Caleb Lohner and Denver also has Nate Adkins and Lucas Krull back on the 90-man roster for training camp. One of the positions where there are perhaps multiple 53-man roster spots up for grabs and where the Broncos hope the future of the position starts to come into focus this fall.

Offensive line

LT: Garrett Bolles, Matt Peart

LG: Ben Powers, Kage Casey

C: Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth

RG: Quinn Meinerz, Alex Palczewski

RT:  Mike McGlinchey, Frank Crum

Starting point: The front five is set to return for a rare third straight season together unless a surprise trade pops up, injury hits or somebody like Palczewski can cleanly beat out Powers for a starting job. Above, the second line is essentially only placeholders except for Forsyth, who will have to fend off veteran Michael Deiter to retain his hold on the No. 2 center job.�� “Palcho” could end up as the primary backup at both guard spots and right tackle. Or, he could be the next man in at guard and Crum at tackle, regardless of side. Either way, it����ap pretty easy to find nine for the 53-man roster here: The starters plus Palcho, Crum, Casey (a fourth-round pick this spring) and Forsyth. Denver not only has one of the best starting groups in football but also some proven, functional depth. It����ap not just going to be a task to make the 53 for anybody on the outside of that nine looking in, but there will be competition for practice squad spots, too. That could come down to choosing between veterans like Peart, Deiter and Calvin Throckmorton and younger players like rookie tackles Tyler Miller and Gavin Ortega or Nick Gargiulo.

On the roster (seven): Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Justin Joly, Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, Dallen Bentley, Caleb Lohner

How many on the 53? Four or five. This is an overstuffed room with several guys who have complementary skillsets, meaning the Broncos will likely whittle the group down through training camp.

Most impactful offseason move: Drafting Joly and Bentley.

The Broncos went double-tight-end in April’s draft, trading up for the athletic Joly in the fifth round and swinging on Utah’s Bentley with the second-to-last pick of the proceedings. The emphasis was clear after Engram turned in a less-than-stellar season in his first year in Denver: add more youth with pass-catching upside at the position.

Both will give Denver options to pad out its roster with two types of TEs. Joly is a versatile “F” tight end similar to Engram, a sort-of hybrid slot receiver who can shift across a variety of alignments; Bentley profiles as a more traditional in-line option, similar to Trautman. In that vein, the Broncos essentially drafted younger versions of the 31-year-old Engram and recently-re-signed Trautman. If Joly and Bentley show in camp they’re ready for roster spots right away, get ready for a bunch of reshuffling in this room.

Biggest question to answer in camp: Can Davis Webb unlock Engram?

On March 13, 2025, a day after agreeing to a two-year contract with Denver, Engram tweeted a GIF of Heath Ledger’s Joker from Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” He has not typed out and sent a single tweet since. It was a strange year.

On one hand, Engram finished third on the Broncos in catches (50) and racked up the most receiving yards (461) of any Broncos tight end since Noah Fant in 2021. On the other hand, he finished 13th on the team in offensive snap share and turned invisible for long stretches of games. Looking through any prism, Engram’s 2025 season paled in comparison to fanbase expectations for the franchise’s heralded “Joker” signing last season.

Denver explored alternatives in the TE market in free agency but didn’t find an upgrade at the right price. The Broncos could still save themselves $6.5 million in cap room by cutting Engram; entering training camp, though, he still currently stands as Denver’s best receiving option at tight end, in part because the Broncos feel there’s more they can unlock from the two-time Pro Bowler. Engram signed with the Broncos last free agency in large part because of his relationship with new play-caller Davis Webb, with whom he played in New York at the beginning of his career in 2017 and 2018.

Webb won’t reveal the entire bag of tricks this preseason, but keep an eye on training camp for reports on how Engram’s looking in Denver’s offense.

Battle to watch: Anything involving Caleb Lohner.

Will the 24-year-old Lohner actually compete for a roster spot in camp? Who knows. Impossible to say, actually, because the 2025 seventh-round flier was absent from OTAs and minicamp with injury. But head coach Sean Payton set off a buzz when he talked up Lohner during May’s rookie minicamp, and it would certainly give Denver’s offense a new element of dynamism if the 6-foot-7 Lohner can show he’s grown enough as a blocker and route-runner to earn a roster spot for red-zone work in 2026.

It’s highly unlikely that Lohner beats out Joly, and he’ll have his work cut out for him to shake veterans Krull and Adkins for a spot. But Lohner did substantial work with former Pro Bowl wide receiver Donald Driver this offseason, and is entering just his third full season of full-time football at any level after switching from basketball before his final year of college. The upside will be fun to monitor.

Under the radar: Adkins, the Swiss Army Knife

The 27-year-old Adkins played just nine games in 2025 thanks to a seeming never-ending string of injuries, and his functionality might be diluted with the emergence of fullback Adam Prentice. But Payton has repeatedly talked up Adkins’ importance to the offense as a blocking tight end/fullback hybrid — enough to keep him off injured reserve when Adkins was set to miss multiple games at the start of the 2025 season.

“He’s too good a football player for us,” Payton said last August.

If Adkins is healthy during camp, he should have an early foothold for a roster spot at tight end, which would significantly squeeze the rest of the room.

On the roster (12): Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Michael Bandy, Hakeem Butler, Kolbe Katsis, Dane Key, Joseph Manjack IV and Cameron Ross

How many on the 53? Five as a baseline. Six or even seven would be unlikely but not impossible.

Most impactful offseason move: Trading for Jaylen Waddle

This wasn’t just the most impactful roster move of the offseason for the Broncos’ receivers. It was the move of the offseason for the franchise. Combine Waddle’s addition with Davis Webb taking over the playcalling duties and you’ve got most of what Denver is hoping will elevate its offense this fall. Waddle was expensive — the Broncos gave up a first-round pick and more — but he’s also exactly what this unit needed. He can play from the slot or outside; he’s the kind of explosive playmaker Denver has lacked for years, and he’s got a mentality that already seems to fit Payton’s mold. Webb himself, in June, likened the acquisition to his time in Buffalo, when the Bills landed Stefon Diggs ahead of quarterback Josh Allen’s third pro season. If third-year QB Bo Nix and Waddle have anything like that kind of connection, look out.

Biggest question to answer in camp: Could the receiver room see another trade this summer?

Last spring and summer, the Broncos were adamant they liked their receiver depth and adamant they didn’t need to trade anybody. In the middle of the preseason, though, they got an offer they couldn’t refuse and shipped Devaughn Vele to New Orleans for a fourth-round pick and more. Broncos brass once again say they love their depth and don’t need to trade anybody after acquiring Waddle. They can stick to that, reminded by what it looked like when they were down to a couple of healthy bodies in the postseason. Or they could once again be tempted if the overlapping skill sets of some players — most likely Waddle, Franklin and Mims — make somebody dispensable. Mims is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, while Franklin has this season and 2027 before free agency.

Battle to watch: The quest for targets after Sutton and Waddle

Franklin and Mims are two of the key players in this conversation, as is second-year man Bryant. It����ap not impossible others could get in the mix, too, but that trio is clearly in the running. Franklin had a breakout second season with the Broncos last fall, catching 65 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns. His 104 targets were second only to Sutton’s 124, well more than third-place Evan Engram (76) and more than double any other receiver (Mims third at 51). From Week 6 onward, though, Bryant closed the gap some. He averaged 4.5 targets per game to Franklin’s six. Mims had a tough time finding consistent playing time, but when injuries hit down the stretch, he turned in big performance after big performance and left Payton after the season swearing, again, that he needed to find more ways to get his multi-talented former second-round pick the ball more. Sutton has averaged 130 targets in two years playing with Nix. Waddle should come close to (or slightly exceed) Sutton’s mark atop the room, though it����ap possible each is slightly below Sutton’s dominant target share over the past two seasons. Either way, figure that if both are healthy, they’re good for well north of 200 targets and perhaps pushing toward 250. In the past two seasons, Denver’s receivers have totaled 351 targets (on 612 attempts in 2025) and 359 targets (on 570 attempts in 2024).

Under the radar: Humphrey

There are names that might be a little bit more fun — the undrafted rookie Ross, for example, made some plays in the offseason program and could be an intriguing camp story if he can keep it rolling into August, as could jumbo-sized UFL summer addition Butler — but that����ap kind of the reason Humphrey gets the nod here. Humphrey’s not that exciting. He’s been shuffled on and off the practice squad here over the years. But he appeared in every game for Denver in the 2023-24 seasons, then seven more last fall after starting the season with the New York Giants. He played 36% of snaps after jumping back into the fold in the middle of the fall. Is he a lock to make the initial 53-man roster out of training camp? Hardly. But is Humphrey likely to make an impact in some way, shape or form for Denver this fall? There’s no reason to bet against it at this point.

What’s the biggest battle going into training camp? I know everyone’s talking RB2, but WR3 is going to be interesting after the Jaylen Waddle trade. Between Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant, we’re not going to have enough touches going around.

— Marshall, Parker

Hey Marshall, thanks for writing in and getting this midsummer edition of the mailbag going. We can all enjoy July for a few more weeks, but three weeks from now, the Broncos will be gathered for training camp — boarding the aircraft carrier for a multi-month tour, as head coach Sean Payton likes to say.

The two battles you mentioned should be interesting, and they get at a broader sense I have as camp approaches. There will be jobs up for grabs on the roster bubble, but most of the interesting battles in training camp will be among players who are sure bets (or at least strong candidates) for the 53-man roster. That����ap a sign of a deep, talented team.

This group doesn’t have a ton of roster spots up for grabs, but there are a pretty decent number of snaps up for grabs.

We’ll start with the normal summer caveat that injuries happen during training camp and we haven’t yet seen this rendition of the Broncos in pads. A lot will happen between now and Sept. 14 at Arrowhead Stadium.

This year in particular, perhaps it����ap also worth pointing out something interesting that offensive coordinator and playcaller Davis Webb brought up this summer: He noted that the Los Angeles Rams didn’t start leaning into their three-tight-end personnel groupings until about six weeks into last year. Then it became, in many ways, their offensive identity.

So, just remember that, particularly with a new playcaller, the early part of the regular season often brings more shifting and role changes as teams, like Payton always harps on, race to improve over the first quarter of the season.

All of that being said, the receiver group is among the most interesting in terms of how playing time will shake out. Assuming good health, Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton will be on the field together. A lot. So that����ap two spots occupied by nearly every-down players.

Last year, the Broncos were No. 11 in the NFL in 11-personnel (three receivers, one running back, one tight end) at 63%. They have not been dynamic at tight end in recent seasons and have the same personnel, plus rookies Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley back this fall. From here, that looks like a recipe to play a ton of 11 personnel and maybe even a healthy dose of four receivers. Interesting for a team that wants to pride itself on running the football, but outside of a stretch early last year, really has not been able to forge that identity under Payton.

Maybe Denver can play WR-heavy, force defenses to play light and then run the ball efficiently thanks to blocking work from a guy like Pat Bryant. That����ap a good argument for him being a go-to third receiver. At times, Denver will want to pair Troy Franklin’s speed with Waddle and really threaten secondaries. Payton continues to say that Marvin Mims Jr. doesn’t have to prove he belongs on the field and that the staff just has to do a better job of making sure he is.

Beyond those three contenders, Payton and the Broncos staff clearly trust Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy. They have some interesting undrafted rookies in training camp, too. Overall, though, the question entering camp feels like whether one of Bryant, Franklin, or Mims can separate himself. Can one of them help push the Broncos’ offense toward an identity? Or will the offensive direction shift more broadly and end up dictating which of those three has the biggest role?

Tight end was our weakest position last year. Why did we keep the same guys instead of going out to find an improvement? Jonnu Smith is still out there. Why don’t we bring him in to battle in camp?

— Levi, Los Angeles

Alright, let����ap keep it going on the offensive side. Thanks for writing, Levi. The answer to your first question has multiple layers.

First, the Broncos didn’t think their tight end play was as bad as perhaps others outside the building did. They value Adam Trautman as not only a blocker but also as a leader, culture-keeper, and Sean Payton playbook encyclopedia, which is helpful to a young quarterback like Bo Nix. Evan Engram made some big plays, even though overall it was an underwhelming first season in Denver. Nate Adkins battled injury and never really got into rhythm. Similar for Lucas Krull.

Teams also tend to value their own players more highly than external options due to familiarity. So, did the Broncos think free agents like Cade Otton or Charlie Kolar could have represented an on-field upgrade over Trautman? Yeah, but not so much as to justify the gap between where Trautman ended up ($5.7 million per year) and where the market went on Otton ($10 million per), Kollar ($8 million) and others. The Broncos had pretty solid thresholds in the free-agent market that they didn’t want to exceed. Ultimately, they mostly opted for retention over swinging in free agency. Not saying that����ap right, wrong or otherwise. It����ap just the path they chose to take.

As for adding a veteran, never say never, but the more likely option (again assuming good health) is internal competition. Perhaps it����ap unlikely this summer, but can Bentley or second-year man Caleb Lohner push Trautman for some work? Can Joly show he’s ready to play right away and compete with Engram for snaps? With the depth Denver has elsewhere on the roster, it would have to be counted as a surprise if all of Joly, Bentley and Lohner make the initial 53. Even if two make it, that probably means turnover at the expense of Adkins and Krull. Or Denver could make a big change and jettison Engram, though the more common time to make a move like that would have been this spring.

The bottom line in all of that: Denver is banking on the development of young players, a second year in the system for Engram, and potentially some role shake-ups, with Webb calling the plays, as a recipe for better results at tight end.

Do you think the Broncos will re-sign Riley Moss after this year? His rookie contract runs out after this year and we have bit of a dilemma. If he plays great, he’s due for a big payday. If he regresses, would we even want to re-sign him? What do you think?

— Mac, Castle Rock

Yeah, Mac, great question and one that I’m not sure anybody outside the building knows the answer to at this point. I wrote about Moss last week and we’ve covered pretty extensively the fact that he and Ja’Quan McMillian are both entering contract years while 2025 first-rounder Jahdae Barron waits his turn for full-time work.

Surprises are always possible, but it certainly feels like the Broncos will eventually have to choose between Moss and McMillian for a long-term extension. Denver has typically done most of its extensions just ahead of or during training camp, or around the bye week (this year, in the middle of November). So, that����ap definitely something to watch as training camp approaches and then gets going.

Payton spoke highly of McMillian in June when asked about him and said emphatically that he’s the kind of player the Broncos want around long-term.

“Absolutely,” Payton said then. “He has all the things you’re looking for.”

To be fair, Payton wasn’t asked about Moss specifically this summer but has consistently referred to him as a high-level player.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph likes both players but calls McMillian the heartbeat of the defense. At the same time, Joseph himself could be a head coach somewhere else a year from now.

This all adds up to perhaps the most interesting roster question for the Broncos to answer over the next year. The way this defense under Joseph is currently aligned, there’s a good argument to be made that Moss is a really good player, but McMillian is indispensable. Maybe it����ap that simple. At the same time, coaches, approaches and personnel change all the time in the NFL and paying your two outside corners and letting your prized first-round pick take over in the slot — his most natural position — would be a more typical resource allocation.

Parker, what happens next with Jonathon Cooper? Do we release him? Surely, he’s not on the roster come Week 1, right?

And how do we fill his spot? Do you see Jonah Elliss or Dondrea Tillman rising up the depth chart to become a starter?

— Mark, Arvada

Hey Mark, there’s a lot left to play out in Cooper’s legal case, but suffice it to say the Broncos and the league have several options for handling the football side as training camp approaches. The Broncos could simply release Cooper. The NFL could decide on a suspension sooner rather than later. Roger Goodell could place Cooper on the commissioner’s exempt list, which would mean Cooper doesn’t count against the 53-man roster but does get paid.

It����ap really probably best not to speculate about what might happen on that front. Do I think he’ll play for the Broncos in Week 1? I don’t, but I also can’t categorically say one way or the other. Beyond that, it����ap best to let the process play out.

As for filling his spot, you nailed it with Elliss and Tillman, but don’t forget about Que Robinson. Joseph said this summer that he thinks Robinson can be a starter for the Broncos, and he’s done nothing but impress when he’s had chances to play. This summer will also be a big opportunity for Drew Sanders to prove he can stay healthy. When he’s been available, he’s shown tantalizing flashes. He just hasn’t been available much the past two years. Add him to the list of interesting players entering contract years.

Do you think Von Miller coming back to Denver is back on the table with this Jonathon Cooper debacle?

— M.K., Aurora

Hey M.K., thanks for writing. Wouldn’t that be a heck of a story? Again, never say never, but there just hasn’t been much movement on the Broncos-Von Reunion Tour front. Cooper missing a chunk of the season or being jettisoned altogether would leave a production gap, but there are few positions where the team seems better-suited to internal solutions.

Miller, though, has certainly put the hard sell on Denver this offseason. Imagine the fervor if he signed the second week of training camp or something like that.

What would be the cap implications for the Broncos if they would trade Jonathon Cooper? Can you even trade a suspended player? Thanks!

— Chieflittleeagle, Little Eagle, Utah

Hey Chief, not sure what the trade value of Cooper would be before his situation is resolved. Once it is, the Broncos would theoretically want him either on the field or off the team. Hard to see a scenario in which Denver decides it����ap done with Cooper, but other teams are lining up to give up draft capital for him.

Still, the cap implications will come into play if the Broncos release Cooper.

Before any other considerations, if Denver cut Cooper today, they’d take his 2026 cap number of $5.78 million as dead cap this year and an additional $13.02 million dead next year.

Denver, though, could try to avoid paying Cooper $10.275 million in 2026 money, which the team converted to a signing bonus. That could more than cut in half the total dead cap hits the Broncos would face, dropping the numbers to $3.725 million this year and lopping more than $8 million off of the 2027 dead cap hit.

In the most extreme scenario, the Broncos could go after all of the signing bonus money that����ap been prorated into the future on Cooper’s deal, meaning they could try to recoup about $17 million that����ap already been paid or is due to be paid this year. That would undoubtedly come with a fight, likely in the form of a formal grievance filed by Cooper and the NFLPA.

If the Broncos did that and prevailed, they’d get a salary cap credit for essentially all of their remaining obligations for Cooper.

How it plays out, of course, remains to be seen, but the Broncos will be working through this situation well after they (or the NFL) makes an initial decision on Cooper’s status for the 2026 season.

Luca �������Բ�:��Well, one reality became abundantly clear from watching Broncos practices through OTAs and minicamp: Coleman is going to play right away. There’s a reason Denver drafted him in the fourth round, stemming from a longtime trust and friendship between Washington head coach Jedd Fisch and Broncos general manager George Paton. And Sean Payton should love Coleman, who doesn’t fumble, doesn’t drop passes and should instantly prove an upgrade from Tyler Badie’s lack of third-down juice last season. Harvey has faded considerably in fan discussion for some reason, but hasn’t faded whatsoever from the Broncos’ plans. He led all NFL rookies in touchdowns last season, for crying out loud. Coleman could just take some difficult touches off Harvey’s plate if (and likely when) Dobbins misses time.

Renck: Coleman is built like Dobbins. He runs like Dobbins. This is not an opinion, but the words of the Broncos after they drafted him. Impact is a vague word, though, don’t you think? I will take advantage of the elasticity in my prediction. Coleman will become a training camp darling and finish second behind Dobbins in rushing yards this season. How does 550 and five touchdowns sound for a prospect who also seems capable in pass protection? Does that mean Harvey blends into the bench? Not exactly. The Broncos had a joker last season; it just wasn’t tight end Evan Engram. You watch the film, Luca, and know it was Harvey.

�������Բ�:��Yes. Absolutely. Harvey is that guy with a truly special ability to simply bounce off contact in the open field. But as long as we’re talking pass-catching ability, don’t rule Coleman out from a 30-to-40-catch rookie season. Harvey didn’t have explosive receiving numbers in college, after all, and Coleman just finished with 31 grabs for 354 yards in 12 games in his final season at Washington. He caught a heap of passes through OTAs and minicamp, and don’t forget Badie had 31 targets in just 192 offensive snaps last season. Plus, Payton’s offenses — think Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles — have consistently been able to field two running backs as pass-catchers out of the backfield. Coleman could have a sizable contribution as a receiver and more of an impact on short-yardage carries this season than Harvey.

Renck: Harvey did not lack talent. He lacked direction. Too often, he ran east and west instead of north and south. He now understands what is required. The days of bouncing runs outside at the first sign of trouble are over. But as Harvey comes off labrum surgery, it presents an opportunity for Coleman to become Dobbins’ backup on first and second downs. That leaves third for Harvey. His work out of the backfield cannot be dismissed. He caught 47 passes for 356 yards, five touchdowns and 18 first downs. It is going to take three backs for the Broncos’ offense to reach its potential under first-time play caller Davis Webb. At season’s end, it will feel like Coleman was a bigger contributor, but Denver requires Harvey to shine as a receiver to become a Super Bowl contender.

���ܳ���:��I actually disagree with you that Coleman will spell Dobbins on first and second downs, although I think there will certainly be plenty of that. In my mind, third downs are now Coleman Central in Denver. Bo Nix threw 93 passes last season in third-down situations facing seven yards to go or more, and a majority of those reps will likely go to Coleman for his abilities in pass protection. Go watch Coleman’s on Sonny Styles for proof. Fantasy-wise, Harvey is the much safer bet for raw yardage and production. But in terms of sheer software updates — as you put it — Coleman’s addition can have a larger impact on taking Denver’s offense up another level.

But a few days after the Broncos’ summer minicamp ended last week, quarterbacks Bo Nix and Sam Ehlinger organized a throwing session in Austin, Texas, with a handful of skill players. Ehlinger, an Austin native who is the “sheriff over there,” as receiver Troy Franklin put it, organized a few additional activities. And thus, a few key Broncos — from receivers Courtland Sutton, Franklin and Pat Bryant to tight end Evan Engram — found themselves posing for a photo on a boat with Nix and Ehlinger, that such a picture .

This is cool:

A number of Broncos, including Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton, Evan Engram, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and RJ Harvey, spent the weekend together.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR)

One key new face was missing. Star receiver Jaylen Waddle, of course, will have a massive impact on Denver’s ability to avoid a post-boat slump — like those Giants of yesteryear.

But the photo, too, was a reminder of the holdovers who still need to grow in 2026 for the Broncos to truly bloom as Super Bowl hopefuls. Chief among them is the 23-year-old Franklin, throwing up a peace sign on that Austin boat.

“He’s a guy who’s coming in who’s a first-rounder,” Franklin told The Post Tuesday at his youth football camp hosted at Englewood High. “We traded high value for (Waddle), and he’s gonna get his touches, you know?

“But I think the same thing to where we’re not just going to be predictable … ‘Oh, yeah, we’re giving 17 the ball every play,'” Franklin said, referencing Waddle’s number. “It����ap just one of those deals where I think we just always gotta be ready.”

Franklin, Denver’s 2024 fourth-round pick, stands to be impacted as much as anyone on the roster with Waddle’s arrival. Just four months ago, Franklin told The Post he was aiming for a 1,000-yard season in 2026. Any path there has become improbable with the Broncos’ trade for Waddle, a 27-year-old burner who has gone over 1,000 yards in three of five NFL seasons.

On Tuesday, Franklin was asked his immediate reaction to the Waddle trade: Did he think more on his own decreased targets, or on easier looks opening up for him?

“Obviously, I think it’s a bit of both,” Franklin told The Post. “You got a guy coming in like that — obviously he’s getting paid more than me, or whatever the case is,” he said. “I feel like that����ap the thought any receiver has when they get somebody coming into the receiver room, you know?

“But I know me, personally, I’m always up for a challenge, competition. I think I’m hyper-competitive. I know what I can do out there, man. Especially just building off of last year. And I’m just building now, with him there. Trying to figure out my role in the offense now, and all that good stuff. And it����ap been going good, man.”

Franklin’s mental focus in offseason training, he told The Post, has been working with receivers coach Drew Lieberman in Atlanta to “attack, and kill.” It is a broad concept, with specific applications to a promising mixed bag of a 2025 season. Franklin finished tied for 25th among all NFL receivers in catches last season; he also caught just 54% of his targets that didn’t come via a screen, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.

Anything can happen, as Franklin pointed out. But it’s highly unlikely he sees the same total target volume in his third NFL season, given the presence of Waddle and Denver’s 2025 leading receiver Courtland Sutton. If his overall touches decrease, Franklin’s growth needs to come in his ability to make them count — finishing dead-last in catch rate among 29 NFL receivers with more than 25 targets on vertical routes last year.

And Franklin is well aware, himself, that he may have to trade volume for efficiency in 2026.

“I just gotta go out there and be consistent and make plays when the ball comes my way,” Franklin said. “And to be real — say I do get like, what, two to three targets a game? If I make a play each target the whole season, nobody’s going to say anything.”

No free agent signing generated more excitement last March than the addition of Engram. He profiled as a mismatch in space in the passing game. By season’s end, he was lost in space. While Engram worked hard, remained humbled and never publicly complained, he filled a diminished role, catching 50 passes for 461 yards and one touchdown.

He had three big plays — a catalytic touchdown against the Eagles in a shocking comeback win, a first down in the go-ahead drive against the Jets in London and a 41-yard overtime reception in Washington, schooling Bobby Wagner to set up a score.

This was who we thought Engram would be after watching OTAs in 2025.

Flash forward to the past two weeks. Engram is making light work of linebackers in coverage with eye-widening catches.

“He’s doing well. He’s moving well. He’s extending plays. Again, it����ap a little easier for those guys that are further away from the ball in these types of OTAs than the linemen,” coach Sean Payton said Thursday. “Yet it����ap important timing and it����ap important for him in his second year. He’s doing a good job with it.”

Is his performance telling? Or misleading? Is it time to buy into what Engram is showing?

The answer is yes. With a caveat.

There is confidence that new offensive coordinator Davis Webb will find a way to expand Engram’s role. They were teammates with the Giants. Webb recruited Engram to the Broncos. With Jaylen Waddle in the mix, there should be obvious openings in the middle of the field for Bo Nix, an area where he has struggled in his first two seasons.

If Waddle takes coverage on a slant that leaves Engram in man-to-man on a stick route or RPO quick hitter. The Broncos did not forget about Engram last season. He received 76 targets. And while Nix never totally clicked with Engram, especially when plays broke down, it is on the 31-year-old to do his part.

Engram posted a 10.2 % drop rate last season, the highest of his career. That won’t fly. He needs to continue earning trust this month and at training camp. The Broncos plan to use heavy personnel, so Engram’s career-low 42 % snap count is not going to suddenly spike.

It is all about maximizing opportunities, using sticky fingers to produce 60 catches for 550 yards and three scores.

At the risk of getting fooled again, Engram is ripe for a bounce-back season.

Sorsby solution: Conferences continue to melt down over a handpicked judge ruling Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby can play this season after committing the cardinal sin of betting on his team. The Big 12 is mulling boycotting Tech games. Why? Because Tech makes it worse every time the school’s leadership opens its mouth. They are using straw arguments about domestic violence and murder to diminish Sorsby’s actions. They claim they are motivated to help Sorsby fight his gambling addiction, then laughably insist he can only overcome it by playing. He should be banned, even as few are pure when it comes to gambling, whether it is through participation or accepted advertising. Texas Tech won’t do the right thing — honor Sorsby’s NIL money, let him practice and prepare for the NFL draft without suiting up. This mess has shown the clear need for football players to be unionized under a collective bargaining agreement, or for a football commissioner to rule with less red tape.

Outfoxed: Every historic comeback needs someone to page Dr. Heimlich. The Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit in Game 4 because of unconscious fourth-quarter shooting and complete brain freezes by Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox. You can take the guard out of Sacramento, but you cannot take Sacramento out of the guard. His decision to shoot a layup with 10 seconds left was foolish, perhaps only topped by double-teaming Jalen Brunson with Victor Wembanyama rather than guarding inbounder OG Anunoby. San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson has not draped himself in glory in this series, but if he wants to inspire a Spurs comeback, he must play Dylan Harper and make Fox a frequent spectator.

He is no longer calling plays. It is like asking Paul McCartney to only play bass for the Beatles. For 15 years, no one was better at piling up points than Payton.

In his previous life in New Orleans, Payton always had the answers as the voice in Drew Brees’ head. But that was 1,300 miles away.

And $18 million ago. That is his annual salary.

With an organization’s hopes in his grip, with his Hall of Fame bid hanging in the balance, Payton was brought here to make decisions like this.

He wasn’t hired to deliver a winning record, even if one was desperately needed after a seven-year drought, or capture an AFC West title, or post a playoff victory.

It was never about that.

It has always been about this: winning a Super Bowl.

That is why he makes more money than any coach in Broncos history. He is a legendary culture builder. And no NFL boss pushes the right buttons as an underdog like Payton.

But to achieve a championship — “Go The Distance,” aka GTD, the new offseason slogan — he was brought in to make tough choices, including about himself.

Want to throttle up the offense? Promote The Mad Scientist.

Thursday offered the media’s first chance to see Davis Webb — “The Mad Scientist,” Courtland Sutton said — calling plays.

It is June. There are no pads. And Bo Nix is still recovering from a check-up procedure on his ankle after an offseason of the Broncos putting their foot in their mouth about his health.

But watching Webb speak into the walkie-talkie, seeing Evan Engram look reborn and Jaylen Waddle turn routes into blurs, there was an obvious conclusion to draw: this should work.

It is time for a new chapter. For Payton to transition into a CEO position.

This is how he can achieve the ultimate goal. At Thursday’s practice, Payton showed a willingness to fade into the background, watching from a distance, glancing at his play sheet and providing pointers to receivers.

Webb was steering the wheel. And he looked comfortable in the cockpit.

“It����ap a combination of things that he has learned from coach Payton and things that he has liked and seen from his own experience of playing and coaching in this league. I know he is ready. There is not a thought behind it,” Sutton said. “I know that he is ready and being able to listen to the way he coaches and the way he is teaching the terminology to us on the field and in the classroom has been amazing.”

Webb, 31, has the hardest job outside of Rockies pitching coach. Working for Payton is a challenge, and now he is taking over one of the coach’s favorite things to do.

Regardless of how Payton relinquished the role — cajoling, self-reflection, kicking and screaming — it was the right decision. Payton can provide a 10,000-foot view, blending his experience with Webb’s innovation.

During the open viewing session, the Broncos ran a lot of three-wide. Sutton and Waddle showed why they will be a problem — good luck to defensive coordinators deciding where to slide coverage — and Engram lost linebackers easier than Ozempic does weight.

Maybe Payton and Webb were just showing off for the cameras.

But the way the players talk about Webb is inspiring confidence. Nix has been all in since he met him. Garett Bolles calls him “scary smart,” saying on the “Up and Adams” podcast a few weeks ago that he is not “afraid to put everything on the line and let it rip.”

Think of Payton as Robin Williams and Webb as Will Hunting.

All those screams from Nix to the sidelines, all those punts (third most in the league), don’t lie.

Payton can still dial up gash plays, but the mechanics of communicating them to Nix have become problematic.

Into this equation comes Webb. He is an obvious solution. And not just for the reasons mentioned above.

Everyone knows Webb has a high football IQ. He has been keeping notebooks of plays since high school, which he later converted to PDF files. He is cerebral.

But that is not what has me convinced that Webb can pull this off.

It is Webb, the person, the player. Webb brings a swagger, an edge, a presence, a thick skin. He walks into the room at 6-foot-5, 220-ish pounds and fills the space. He is a former quarterback in every way.

Even if his ideas get squashed, he is not afraid to speak up to Payton. Just like Nix. Friction is a defining quality in any productive relationship with Payton.

And the good part, when it comes to squeezing every ounce of juice out of this offense? Webb bet on himself.

Talking to industry folks over the last several months, it is clear that Webb nearly landed head-coaching jobs with the Raiders and Bills. If he wanted to play the iron off the tee box, Webb could have stayed in his role as the Broncos quarterbacks coach.

He did not need to call plays to land a head coaching job next offseason.

Like backup quarterbacks, assistant coaches benefit from the great unknown.

And yet, Webb muscled his way into a promotion with his performance the past two seasons, his first as a coach since retiring from the NFL.

Payton wasn’t giving up his play-calling for just anyone. Webb was in the building, and with his interview list long, it drove home what Payton already knew.

Now was the time, like it or not, to hand off the play-calling.

It would be naive to suggest Webb won’t struggle, hit rough patches. He has not developed the scar tissue to overcome a second-and-25 after a failed reverse, or a fourth-down stop when the defense makes it look like Webb was tipping his pitches.

But that is what makes this so fascinating. Will Payton show patience after the third three-and-out? He must, or this is all so much cotton candy, empty calories.

Webb must microwave his development. And he needs Payton’s help.

The coach can provide institutional knowledge, in-game advice, and Webb can see the defense through a current quarterback’s eyes.

Time is ticking faster than the play clock on this experiment. If it goes well, Webb will be a head coach in February.

There is a lot to like here, particularly if you want an offense that features a modern twist.

The Broncos have a duo that can make this team better.

Webb is ready. And if this goes as planned, a Super Bowl berth will cement Payton’s Hall of Fame legacy.

They have very few starting spots up for grabs, at least on paper.

They have, relatively speaking, very few question marks.

And yet, Sean Payton’s fourth team will have plenty of competition throughout the early portions of the summer and into training camp.

There are, by The Post����ap count, somewhere in the neighborhood of seven to nine spots up for grabs on the 53-man roster at the moment and a pool of perhaps 18-20 players vying for them. Those counts come before any of the inevitable injuries that will crop up between now and the end of August.

This early projection comes before any potential substantial roster move, of which Denver has typically made at least one between OTAs and the start of the regular season. A year ago, for example, the Broncos signed running back J.K. Dobbins in June and then traded receiver Devaughn Vele in August.

It also comes before any big training camp surprise, a young player who makes a strong push or a veteran who suddenly appears out of gas.

Before Payton’s team starts OTAs on Tuesday, here’s an early attempt at a 53-man roster projection. The point of this exercise at this calendar waypoint is merely to mark a starting point and to attempt to determine where the most uncertainty — and opportunity — lies on the Broncos’ current 91-man roster.

Finding 53 among this group requires tough decisions even before any actual football activity has started. There are players that were difficult to leave off the roster and some groups — offensive and defensive lines, in particular — that are deep enough to impact other spots. Payton and general manager George Paton have shown time and time again they value quality players in the trenches.

There are a handful of veterans who could theoretically be considered cut candidates because of a combination of depth and salary, like tight end Evan Engram ($14.14 million cap hit) and left guard Ben Powers ($18.16 million). Denver could trade a veteran or quality player from a position of strength to help fortify elsewhere or accumulate future draft capital.

Among the players who look from this distance likely to exist somewhere around the bubble, however, none has a bigger cap number than offensive lineman Matt Peart����ap $2.39 million or more guaranteed money than quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s $1 million.

So, away we go. Players in the bubble conversation, both above and below the roster cut in this exercise, are in italics.

OFFENSE (25)

Quarterback (3)

Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger

The question, really, with Denver’s quarterbacks is this: two or three? Denver started last year with two when Ehlinger agreed to start the season on the practice squad. If a similar scenario plays out — he’s got $1 million guaranteed — then the Broncos could well take two. Denver values Ehlinger, though, and he’s going to get a bunch of work in OTAs and likely minicamp after Bo Nix had a second ankle procedure last month. This makes for tougher calls at other spots on a deep roster, but let����ap not mess around with the quarterback position when you’ve got players you like. If nothing else, using three as the starting point in this exercise ups the difficulty level the rest of the way.

Running back (4)

J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman and Adam Prentice (FB) 

Also: Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Cody Schrader

Coleman’s selection in the fourth round changes the complexion here by quite a bit. He’s a potential third-down back right away and the Broncos are high on him if he’s needed beyond that early on. With a cleaner-fitting trio of backs, McLaughlin and Badie both have a tough road to the roster. If Denver wanted four plus Prentice, McLaughlin probably heads into the summer with the lead.

Tight end (4)

Adam Trautman, Evan Engram, Justin Joly and Caleb Lohner 

Also: Dallen Bentley, Nate Adkins and Lucas Krull

One of the toughest projections. Lohner gets the nod for the moment after Payton raved about him earlier in May, especially because Payton was particularly impressed with Lohner’s physicality and blocking. This, like many bubble decisions, could come down to who Denver thinks it can get to the practice squad between Lohner and Bentley, the No. 256 overall pick in April. With a bounce-back summer, Adkins could re-establish himself as a key role player. He could end up competing for a spot with Prentice, though, as much as it seems he could play some fullback; the Broncos just haven’t asked him to do it much so far in his career.

Wide receiver (5)

Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr.

Also: Michael Bandy, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Michael Woods, Cam Ross, Kolbie Katsis, Joseph Manjack and Dane Key

Assuming no trades, it����ap hard to see how anybody besides the top five makes the initial 53-man roster. Waddle was the Broncos’ big offseason splash and, though he will impact playing time for the rest of the room, Denver’s brass has been consistent in saying they’re not looking to move on from any of the regulars. Bandy and Humphrey are no strangers to starting the season on a practice squad and eventually seeing time on the 53-man roster. It’ll be interesting to see if an undrafted rookie like Ross can make the Broncos think twice about going status quo, but that����ap a tall task.

Offensive line (9)

Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Frank Crum, Kage Casey and Alex Forsyth 

Also: Matt Peart, Nick Gargiulo, Calvin Throckmorton, Tyler Miller, Gavin Ortega, Michael Dieter and Nash Jones

The Broncos have enviable depth on their offensive line, but, like with wide receiver, the roles are defined enough that it����ap difficult to imagine a ton of wiggle room. Palczewski and Crum are valued depth and development pieces and Casey, a fourth-round pick, joins them in a similar mold. Forsyth has been the clear No. 2 center for two seasons behind Wattenberg. That����ap nine. Peart and Throckmorton are veterans who have stepped in and played, while Gargiulo showed some promise before a bad preseason knee injury last summer. Miller and Ortega are interesting undrafted rookies but, outside a rash of injuries or major training camp push, it����ap reasonable to think they’re ticketed for the practice squad.

DEFENSE (25)

Defensive line (7)

Zach Allen, DJ Jones, Malcolm Roach, Eyioma Uwauzurike, Tyler Onyedim, Sai’Vion Jones and Jordan Jackson

Also: Matt Henningsen, Jordan Miller and Kristian Williams

A key part of the rationale for going heavy here again: Each of the past two years the roster cutdown has passed and Payton and Paton have made it clear that Jackson made the 53-man roster easily. We’ll bet for now that the same ends up happening this summer. They might decide they just have to have a player at another position. Maybe somebody else is a surprise cut, though among this group 2025 third-rounder Sai’Vion Jones is the only real candidate and that would be a major surprise given they traded up for him and also liked his development last season. So, Payton and Paton instead stick to their principles and go heavy up front once again.

Outside linebacker (4)

Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Que Robinson and Dondrea Tillman

Also: Drew Sanders, Johnny Walker and Dasan McCullough

The first three are absolute locks and there’s not much doubt about Tillman, either. The going gets tough from there. Health has been a major obstacle for Sanders, but if he plays all summer, he’ll probably be productive enough to make the roster. The numbers just get tight elsewhere in a hurry. Keeping four here is really 4.5 in a way because Jonah Elliss can play on the edge if needed, plus a deep defensive line group can help take some work off the edge guys against heavier teams. Sanders is a training camp wild card, though.

Inside linebacker (4)

Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Jonah Elliss and Red Murdock 

Also: Jordan Turner, Karene Reid, Levelle Bailey, Taurean York

Once again, this is about roster management and who makes it to the practice squad after the top three. Murdock was Mr. Irrelevant in the draft at No. 257, but forced 17 fumbles in his college career at Buffalo. Turner’s got real promise, so it was not an easy call to leave him off. Reid was a special teams regular after making the initial roster as an undrafted rookie last year, but this is maybe a tougher roster to make despite the release of Dre Greenlaw earlier this spring.

Cornerback (5)

Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine

Also: Reese Taylor, Jaden Robinson, Brent Austin, Ahmari Harvey and Paul Manning

Pretty straightforward here. The major storyline is more about beyond 2026, as McMillian and Moss are both entering contract years. For now, though, this is one of the deepest and most talented cornerback groups in football. Taylor has been a regular on the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster from mid-November on last year. The only question is if new secondary coaches Rob Livingston and Doug Belk see any of the personnel differently than Jim Leonhard and Addison Lynch previously.

Safety (5)

Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, Devon Key, Miles Scott and JL Skinner

Also: Tycen Anderson and Parker Robertson

There will be competition across multiple position groups based on special teams output. You can put Skinner, Anderson, Scott, Taylor, Turner, Reid, Sanders and more all into that group. The Broncos gave Anderson $650,000 guaranteed in part to be a key special teams player, so he might well make it. But over who? That signing was before Denver drafted Scott. Skinner is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is at a critical point in his career. The way coaches have talked about Key this offseason, he feels like the early favorite to replace P.J. Locke as the No. 3 safety. Denver signed Sam Franklin and gave him $1.34 million in guarantees last year, then cut him in August.

SPECIALIST (3)

PK Wil Lutz, P Jeremy Crawshaw and LS Mitch Fraboni

Also: LS Luke Basso

Not much mystery here. The Broncos signed the rookie Basso as summer competition, but Fraboni’s been solid and is under contract through 2027.

Sean Keeler: Like Fox Mulder, But as precedent goes, the best we’ve got to work with is new offensive play-caller Davis Webb’s dry run pushing the buttons during last August’s 27-7 preseason win over Arizona. The Broncos had 39 pass attempts between Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger, who completed 30. But here’s the catch: Of the 36 recorded targets that night, only six went to tight ends — Evan Engram, who logged one for 58 yards and a score; three to Caden Prieskorn for 52 yards in receptions; one for Caleb Lohner, who turned it into a 4-yard catch; and one to Lucas Krull for 3 yards. Small sample size, granted. But color me more skeptical than hopeful.

Troy Renck: Jaylen Waddle comes in and out of breaks better than any receiver on the roster. He starts and stops like a Porsche. He can run deep, and slice like a knife on slants. Why bring this up? His versatility should create room in the middle of the field for tight ends. Based on his roots in uptempo offenses, new offensive coordinator Davis Webb should be more open to using Engram, a player he recruited to Denver. Will Payton let him? Will Engram even be on the team if one of the prospects breaks through in training camp? Last season, the Broncos’ five tight ends caught 78 catches for 719 yards, the latter ranking 26th in the NFL. They combined for three touchdowns, good for 24th. No player had more than one. Bentley and Lohner are intriguing prospects. Bentley can block so he should see the field as a rookie, making him available for sneaky targets. And why not make Lohner a red-zone target with his vertical leap honed from his basketball background? Let’s be real. Waddle cannot make the Broncos more explosive on his own.

Keeler: I was banging the Lohner drum a year ago to try him as an end-zone specialist — you won’t find many linebackers with a 6-foot-7 frame, an 80-inch wingspan, a 4.69 40-yard-dash time and you’ll find even fewer safeties who could match up. If you could combine Bentley’s physicality with Lohner’s (literal) upside, you’d have the perfect Joker. Alas, Payton and Webb are likely going to have to draw the line at one of the two former Utes, once push comes to shove at the end of camp.

Renck: Where Bo Nix must improve over the middle and against zone coverage and tight ends can help. The idea the Broncos cannot incorporate dig, hook and leak routes is preposterous. The running back screen has not worked. Maybe it will improve with R.J. Harvey and Jonah Coleman. Regardless, the tight end must become more of a weapon for the Broncos to produce a top-10 offense and reach the Super Bowl as a top two team.

Keeler: You know what the last two Broncos Super Bowl teams had in common besides Peyton Manning at the controls? The 2013 and 2015 Denver offenses featured at least two tight ends in each of those campaigns who’d snatched at least 25 targets during the regular season. Fast forward a decade, and under Payton, the resurgent Broncos have had one tight end with 25 or more targets (Trautman) in ’23; none in ’24 (Krull led the TE room in targets, though, with 23); and one in ’25 (Engram, with 76). Seam routes matter. Keeping linebackers honest matters. Is Nix averse to throwing the rock across the middle of the field because he doesn’t trust his options, or because his options are so rarely open? It’s your classic chicken-or-the-egg dilemma, and I can’t wait to see Davis take a crack at it.