No one gets motion sickness from watching the Broncos offense. Or from playing in it.

The Broncos ranked 32nd in pre-snap motion last season. Oh, they had movement. They collected 26 pre-snap penalties. But Payton has long created mismatches with personnel groupings, something former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi called a non-negotiable.

It is something to remain mindful of when recalling that the Broncos won more close games than anyone could imagine last season. They won in more ways, rallying past the Eagles, stunning the Giants, paralyzing the Bills, than anyone thought possible.

But they lost the offseason, acquiring one player with star power in receiver Jaylen Waddle. Which pales in comparison to what they could lose next: their status as an AFC bully.

For the Broncos to avoid the next-season fate of teams that led the league in one-score wins, they need a fix. They must improve significantly on first and second down, particularly early in games.

As impressive as their final record was — all praise for exceeding expectations with 14 victories — the offensive numbers were sobering. According to Warren Sharp Football, the Broncos ranked 23rd overall in early down efficiency. Which tracks since Denver finished with 75 punts, and the most three-and-outs of any of the final eight teams in the postseason.

But the deeper the dig, the worse it gets, like , only to reveal an empty bottle.

In first halves, per Sharp, the Broncos ranked 27th in drives that reached the red zone, 26th in scoring drives and 25th in points per possession.

It is no wonder they needed Bo Nix to sprinkle pixie dust with a league-best seven game-winning drives. How unlikely was the success? The Broncos became the first team ever to win 14 games when trailing in 15.

All together now, this is not sustainable. Never has been. And certainly won’t be with the 2026 schedule.

“Trying to win like that puts a lot of stress on the players and coaches,” said Super Bowl 50 champion and NFL Westwood One analyst Ryan Harris. “They cannot continue to wait to change during the season.”

Payton appears prepared to do something about it. He promoted Davis Webb to play-caller, who seems intent on simplifying the offense to make it more consistent.

At first, I figured his focus would be on verbiage. But for the offense to click, let’s be real, it must go far beyond that.

“Part of that is what I talked to Davis Webb about: core philosophies. What are your core run plays that you can run against anything? What will you stick to? Of those core plays, how many passing concepts can you have that look identical and put defenders in major conflict?” explained Mark Schlereth, a former Pro Bowl offensive guard and current Fox NFL color commentator and 104.3 The Fan morning host. “There needs to be a real philosophical shift.”

Think of it in terms of a restaurant. Is it better to feature 60 dishes or six entrees?

Going from a Waffle House play sheet to the In-N-Out menu could mercifully end the slow starts over the past two seasons.

“Running the ball is like saving money. We all know we should do it, but we never do it enough. I can’t blame Sean Payton when you look at how he put together a team that reached the AFC Championship in (three years),” Harris said. “But, right now, opponents look at their offense and believe they want to pass with Bo Nix. They have to prove they are going to run.”

From the outside looking in, there was confusion about the scheme. The offseason was used to introduce the wide zone. It was a topic of conversation during training camp. But the Broncos rarely used it during the season. Complicating matters, Payton has a pattern of never repeating run calls in the first half. So 12 rushing attempts could include 12 different concepts.

That is no way to establish a rhythm. And the production bore this out in the statistics of starter J.K. Dobbins (4.1 yards per carry in the first half, 5.6 in the second) and R.J. Harvey (3.5, 3.9).

Don’t want the Broncos to press their luck in nail-biters? Abandon the potluck run game.

“Mike Tomlin told me once that every play is not a smorgasbord. Dobbins realized that a physical 3-and-half-yard run is a freaking awesome play,” Schlereth said. “They have to get to a place where they are not trying to do everything. When we were winning a ton of games with (coach) Mike (Shanahan), we ran six plays. I would joke about it. But it was true. It’s the 10,000-hour rule. You have defended it 100 times. We have spent 10,000 hours on it, so we don’t care if you know what is coming, we are going to execute it.”

If Webb can take Payton’s offense and retool the run game mix, everything would feel different. The middle of the field would no longer be radioactive. Everybody talks about Waddle delivering 70-yard plays, but what the Broncos need are 15-yard gains against safeties in between the hashes before going deep.

“And that’s where Davis Webb can bring the player’s perspective to the calls,” Harris said. “Don’t run play action until we have run for two first downs.”

If the Broncos impose their will on the ground, nothing is off the table for this team.

Dobbins will become the Broncos’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Phillip Lindsay in 2019. Rookie Jonah Coleman, who has an appetite for contact, will reinforce the identity. Even Harvey might figure it out and stop trying to bounce everything outside.

Nix is fantastic in the clutch. On this, we can all agree. It did not happen by accident. He waved the fourth-quarter wand practically every week. He got good at it.

Run with purpose on early downs, and Nix will become more accurate, more consistent. Run with balance that opens first-half leads, and the defense will double its meager 14 takeaways.

Gaining horsepower sounds simple. It is not.

But if the Broncos improve early-down efficiency, their late-season run will end at SoFi Stadium.

Parker ³Ò²¹²ú°ù¾±±ð±ô:ÌýWell, Troy, I am just a humble beat reporter who stumbled into the debate room this week and I certainly am no betting man, but every time we venture to the desert for AFC West football, I am reminded that the bookmakers seem to be pretty good at what they do. Imagine the electric bills in those casinos. I tend to agree with you that 23.5 feels a little light, though there are multiple factors — some that would be fine for the Broncos and some that definitely would not be — that might be pushing the line a little bit lower. Nix has a new play-caller in Davis Webb, which is being largely hailed as a good thing, including by head coach Sean Payton himself. But perhaps Webb will stay more committed to running the ball. Perhaps it will take him a bit of time to get his sea legs, especially given Denver’s brutal stretch of opponents to open the season. What if Nix gets hurt and misses four games? So much talk about his ankle this offseason, but an aggravation there obviously isn’t the only issue that could cost him time over a long season.

Renck: Put it this way: If Nix goes under the betting number, he is taking the season down into the deep with him. The Broncos want to run the ball more effectively. Payton writes it on his play sheet and will yell it into Webb’s ears on game day. However, the Broncos are a passing team, leaning on the short game. No one has dropped back more over the last two years than Nix. He led the league in attempts last season with 612. Even if that number dips, the addition of Jaylen Waddle screams that Nix will throw at least 25 touchdowns. Why? He threw 29 as a rookie and 25 a year ago. There is no way that number drops unless he or Waddle gets hurt.

³Ò²¹²ú°ù¾±±ð±ô:ÌýCould be, but — and this is strictly a guess from this hazy, early-summer vantage point — perhaps Webb wants Nix not only to not lead in pass attempts but also to come down considerably. That wouldn’t be a knock on his faith in his quarterback. Instead, it would be trying to take some pressure off him. Payton talks all the time about not putting quarterbacks on the high dive, but Nix has spent his first two seasons in the league working mostly from the 10-meter platform. If the Broncos build the kind of running game they think they can, 24 touchdown passes can be just fine. Denver had just 12 rushing scores in 2024 and only one of them was on an explosive run. That was all of 14 yards. The rest came from 8 or closer in. Last year, those numbers jumped to 18 and six. Good, but not great. The 18 TDs tied for No. 11. Their 10-plus run mark overall (51) was tied for No. 15 and their run rate (41.8%) was No. 22. All of those could realistically improve. A year ago, Seattle threw for 25 touchdown passes and finished third in the NFL in scoring. The play-caller, Klint Kubiak, got a Super Bowl title and a head coaching job out of it.

Renck: Webb was schooled in the Air Raid before the invention of the Air Pod. He is a few years removed from playing in the NFL. And he has a catalytic weapon in Waddle. The Broncos’ receivers ranked nearly last in yards per reception last season — 27th at 11.7 yards per catch, to be exact. Waddle averaged 14.2 in 2025. He is not a high-volume scorer, but posting eight touchdowns remains in reach opposite of Courtland Sutton because of his ability to turn short strikes into pay dirt. Realistically, Waddle, Sutton (eight) and Troy Franklin (five) should combine for 21 touchdowns. That means if the tight end position returns from witness protection and RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman catch a few well-timed wheel routes, Nix should finish closer to 30 touchdown passes than 25. I know they call Las Vegas Lost Wages for a reason. Casinos are built on bettors’ losses. But with Webb in charge and Nix healthy, the quarterback will establish a career-best, not a career-worst, in passing scores. Book it.

Luca ·¡±¹²¹²Ô²õ:ÌýWell, 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.

·¡±¹²¹²Ô²õ:ÌýYes. 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.

³¢³Ü³¦²¹:ÌýI 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.

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.

General manager George Payton and Sean Payton love their roster. They could pretend that jobs are open, that vacancy lights are flashing. But in reality, there is roughly one starting position up for grabs: defensive end.

John Franklin-Myers, who loved talking, sacking and eating Uncrustables, left as a free agent to the Titans. The Broncos wanted to keep him. But after they signed players to in-house contract extensions for more than $400 million over the last 18 months, JFM had to leave to cash in.

So when the Broncos finally got around to picking in the NFL draft — they had no selection in the first or second round for the first time since 1995 — they plucked Texas A&M defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim.

He might not be a dancing bear. But he can play anywhere up front. Just ask him.

“Man, I feel like I am a versatile player. I can play anywhere on the line,” Onyedim, voice still excited after realizing his dream of reaching the NFL as the 66th selection overall. “I have a good first step. I feel like I am a true defensive lineman.”

The numbers add up for him to push for playing time. He is 6-foot-3, 292 pounds with go-go Gadget arms and a thirst for stopping the run. He provides depth and youth, the type of athlete capable of competing for snaps with Sai’vion Jones, who was taken in the third round last season.

He is also familiar with the Broncos Orange Rush. Before transferring to Texas A&M, Onyedim was a teammate of Denver’s Eyioma Uwazurike at Iowa State. The two have remained close, with Onyedim saying they would be in each other’s weddings.

“That’s my big bro. That’s my dog,” Onyedim said. “I have studied all of those boys, you feel me. I can’t wait to learn from the best.”

It is sure not like it used to be, back in the days of desperation, when the Broncos’ draft felt like an expensive game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. In previous seasons, we would start talking about positioning for picks in October.

This spring, we have groused about the free agent yawnfest — they brought in special teams safety Tycen Anderson — and their desire to keep the band together. This could be a bad thing. But there’s no denying that it is a byproduct of a team that has become really, really good.

The Broncos went 15-4 last year, testing the expiration dates on miracle finishes, while suffocating opponents with a relentless defense.

The loss to the New England Patriots remains burned into memory because there are so many scenarios in which they should have won. Had Bo Nix not broken his ankle, had Jarrett “It ain’t pretty, it’s Stiddy” Stidham not turned the ball over inside the 20, had the Broncos run more successfully than a democrat in Wyoming, had Mother Nature not flexed its muscle with the only snow storm that would appear in months, Denver would have advanced to its ninth Super Bowl.

Instead, the Broncos were left with their noses against the windowpane, two wins shy of the most improbable season in franchise history.

They are banking on players improving, believing success through this path is more likely and preferable to adding outside influences to the locker room. Onyedim is, by all accounts, a good teammate who will fit in their culture.

What happened to Thursday and Friday? Jaylen Waddle. And the AFC Championship Game.

The Broncos chose to be strategic, their offseason a laser, not a crabbing net.

They sent away their first-rounder, 30th overall, to the Dolphins in exchange for an explosive, proven receiver. Waddle is everything the Broncos needed, a receiver capable of stopping and starting more effectively than a New York cabbie.

Indiana wideout Omar Cooper ultimately went to the Jets in that spot. No matter how much you like the Hoosier, there is zero chance he would have had Waddle’s impact this season.

In a Super Bowl window, the Broncos have very specific needs.

Now, this does not make them immune to second-guessing. Could they have packaged picks — there is no way seven new players make their roster — to move up in the second round for Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (Philadelphia traded up and took him at 54), Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (61st to Titans) or Ohio State’s Max Klare.

With the Rams taking Klare, they now have seven or eight tight ends — lost count — better than anyone on the Broncos. Denver traded back last year and bit them when R.J. Harvey fizzled as J.K. Dobbins’ replacement, making it clear they would have been better off with TreVeyon Henderson.

Listen, I would have preferred they take an offensive player. Payton likes the unit more than the rest of us. And clearly, the Broncos did not think enough of the tight ends to be aggressive. It puts pressure on them, however, to land a running back on Day 3, somebody like Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson or Washington’s Jonah Coleman.

The reality is that the Broncos are now smart and have earned trust. Now that they are a legitimate contender, ¶¶Òõapountry is willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

They are counting on the Broncos to win a Super Bowl in the next few years. With a roster as stacked as it has been since 2015, these are the expectations.

It also means that Paton and Paton don’t see many open competitions.

So, on Friday, after a nearly hour wait, you get Tyler Onyedim.

It is boring. It is also a byproduct of winning.

Not as good as J.K. Dobbins. But a good run nonetheless.

But the time has come to call Merriam-Webster and retire the word from the dictionary because clearly it is misunderstood.

When Dobbins re-signed with the Broncos earlier this month, he popped off on social media when someone questioned paying him for “seven games a season.”

“Go be a fan of a different team; lame (bleep) dude,” Dobbins tweeted. “And don’t try to turn around when I shut down the fluke injury (bleep) up this year.”

The reality is that it would be a fluke if Dobbins stayed healthy.

He has never played a full season in the NFL. He has started 30 of 64 games because of knee, Achilles and foot injuries. He missed the Broncos’ final nine games last season after a hip-drop tackle hurt his foot.

Here’s the thing. I have not interacted with a single person on social media, email or in the community who doesn’t love Dobbins. Or what he did last season. He ranked fifth in the league in rushing when he was sidelined. He emerged as a force in the second halves of games and against stacked boxes.

Dobbins averaged almost a full yard over expected on his carries, and was beloved in the building for his leadership and passion.

So, it was no surprise the Broncos ran it back at running back, especially after they balked at Travis Etienne Jr.’s asking price and became a stalking horse in negotiations given his desire to return home to Louisiana.

Appearing recently on NFL Network, Dobbins remained delusional about his medical files. His optimism is ideal for the Broncos.

But if the team does not add a running back in the draft it will be a mistake.

First, hear Dobbins out.

“We’ve got a great O-line, we’ve got everything. We’ve got an embarrassment of riches on this team of talent,” said Dobbins, who received $8 million guaranteed in his new contract. “I’m excited. I really am, because, call it what it is, I got hurt, I missed the last, what, seven games in the regular season. I’m fresh. I’m gonna be fresh and I’m gonna be pissed off because I’m tired of the unfortunate stuff. I know that I can do it. It’s gonna happen this year. It’s gonna be great.”

Dobbins should believe he will become a stranger to the trainer’s room. That it is his turn for good luck. He deserves it.

The Broncos, though, cannot use hope as a strategy. That is what happened in the AFC Championship Game. Remember how that turned out?

The Broncos were awful on the ground. While R.J. Harvey’s slump continued, the offensive line was not blameless, picking the wrong time to play its worst game.

Denver cannot hinge its offensive balance and performance on Dobbins’ health. It is not fair to the team or Dobbins.

The Broncos have to draft a running back. Filling out the offseason roster with Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie is fine. But if both make the team, then something has gone horribly wrong.

Dobbins, a fighter who has overcome injuries that would have ended careers, will open the season as the starter. The Broncos need a closer, and not an in-case-of-emergency-break-glass option.

There is a possibility Harvey, who became a weapon in the passing game, shows up in training camp and is more aggressive between the tackles. But he has to prove it.

Dobbins turns 28 in December. Even if the Broncos trust Dobbins to become durable, picking his successor is logical.

We all know what needs to be done. Couple “El Toro” with Geico.

There is a realistic possibility that Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price and Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. will be available when Denver selects at No. 62.

If Price is on the board, the Broncos should not pass on him. They like him, Price believes, based on his impressive interview at the NFL Combine.

Jeremiyah Love might be the best player in the draft. He split time with Price. That should tell you all you need to know.

Former Broncos tackle Ryan Harris, who serves as an analyst for Irish games, calls Price a “minotaur, an absolute horse who is going to have a great career.”

Based on college tape and combine performances, Price projects as a plus-NFL starter with a higher ceiling than Harvey. He brings size, and is capable of getting dirty work yards, while remaining elusive in space.

Does he project as a three-down starter? Not yet.

As a rookie, he would not need to fill that role. Harvey can play on passing downs. Price could provide a way to keep Dobbins available, and also brings special teams value in the return game, which will be needed if McLaughlin or Badie don’t make the final cut.

Washington works, too. He has the speed to turn any carry into a gash play, and at 223 pounds, he is bigger than any back on the roster. But will he go north-and-south with conviction?

This question hangs over Washington and Harvey. And it is also the reason Sean Payton cut Audric Estime last summer, failing to convince him to run over defenders instead of around them.

The truth of this season lies not in the defense, Jaylen Waddle’s fit, a grizzly bear schedule or Bo Nix’s ankle. It is in the backfield.

The only thing standing between the Broncos and a Super Bowl run is the ability to consistently run.

Dobbins can do it. He has shown it. Trusting him for 17 games, however, is too dangerous. His misfortune derailed last season. And there was nothing fluky about it.

The Broncos need Dobbins. But not as much as they need insurance.

You are welcome, Broncos. This is your free agent wish list. Your offseason orange and blueprint.

Enough with starter by committee.

Enough with sacrificing games to develop a prospect.

Enough with a screen game that should be a drinking scream game.

Enough with under 4 yards per carry.

The Broncos have sprung to life over the past three years under coach Sean Payton. But when it comes to their offense, enough is enough. Payton surrendered play-calling to Davis Webb — it is in name only until evidence arrives in games — but that cannot suffice.

For the Broncos to reach the Super Bowl and win it — the last two steps on this remarkable climb back to relevancy — they have to go for it. Sign free agent running back Travis Etienne Jr.

Take cues from the Avs. No team understands the urgency of operating in a championship window like the local hockey club. The Nazem Kadri trade is a sensational move by an organization that cares about one thing — winning a championship.

Payton deserves praise for his work. As does general manager George Paton for creating a sturdy foundation through the draft.

But there is no longer room for patience. Be proactive, not reactive.

The NFL roster narrative is simple to follow. Construction hinges on having a franchise quarterback, as the Broncos have in Bo Nix.

And when you have one on a rookie contract, it provides an opportunity to take big swings at other positions. The Broncos are good at the most important: edge rusher, cornerback and left tackle.

They are not paying big money to a receiver or a tight end. And this is not the March to max out the credit card on those positions when reinforcements can be added in the draft.

That is not the case at running back. Once Jeremiyah Love comes off the board — possibly in the top five — the infatuation ends.

So pick up the phone and go big.

Etienne checks the boxes. He is dynamic. He is fast, capable of accelerating through the hole and shifting into third gear in the open field. He has soft hands and is better in space than an astronaut.

In many ways, he is a more available version of J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins was a terrific fit, but he played in only 10 games, unable to run away from his injury history.

Etienne, 27, has missed six games in four seasons. Durability is a skill. He has it. And he has also improved as a pass protector, meaning there should be no concern about leaving him in the game on third down.

It is a must to have a player like this. An obvious starter. And upgrade. R.J. Harvey boasts Joker traits in the passing game. He will not be forgotten. But context matters. The Broncos possess a championship-caliber defense. They are close.

This is not the platform to let a second-year player figure it out as he goes.

Enough.

The Broncos must address this position in a meaningful way. It feels like ¶¶Òõapountry would rather step in front of a moving bus than add someone like Rico Dowdle or Kenneth Gainwell.

Kenneth Walker III? Sure. He is coming off the best game of his career. In the biggest game of his life. That requires paying showroom floor prices.

It is not my money, so the $14.6 million annually he will command — using Breece Hall’s franchise tag as the floor — does not bother me.

The issue? It does not make as much sense since Walker is not an every-down back. Even after Zach Charbonnet tore up his knee, Walker still yielded snaps to the backup.

Let the Chiefs set the market. It is clear they will add a runner to take the pressure off Patrick Mahomes as he recovers from knee surgery.

His patience as a runner is the most appealing characteristic, a style that could finally marry the solid blocking metrics with results.

It has been an uncomfortable question after the past two seasons. The Broncos’ offensive line ranks near the top of the pack, and somehow the run game remains mediocre or, as in the case of a huge fourth down in the AFC Championship, unreliable.

Payton and Paton have earned the benefit of the doubt in the way they have built this team. But goodwill will get siphoned without a big splash.

The external and internal expectations should intersect this week.

Last year was different. Objectively, the Broncos were a year ahead of schedule. So they can be forgiven for trying to get by without explosive weapons. Their one stab at it did not work as Evan Engram morphed into a platoon player.

The Broncos cannot afford to try to live on that margin again. The Rams are going for it, acquiring star cornerback Trent McDuffie. The Bills are making a strong push, acquiring receiver D.J. Moore. The Ravens are shipping off two first-round picks for edge rusher Maxx Crosby. And the Seahawks, even if Walker signs somewhere else, are not going anywhere.

This is the type of approach required in Denver. It is easy to argue that this is the most important offseason since the Broncos added DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Emmanuel Sanders in 2014. That was back when John Elway was acting like George Steinbrenner.

This time around, the Broncos are only a fraction of that daring. A dash of that bold.

The Broncos have a problem. Their offense is not good enough for a championship. So, fix it.

Go to the ATM and sign Etienne.

It will be money well spent.

Sean Keeler: For me, Breece Hall was “it,” but the Jets said at the combine that he’ll get tagged. We know what Harvey can do in space as a receiver, or outside the hash marks, so you’d prefer somebody who can do well what the former UCF star doesn’t. Right now, that’s running against a stacked box and grinding between the tackles. averaging 4.94 yards per tote when everybody knew what was coming. That’s a good hammer to have, especially when Harvey averaged 3.17 against crowded boxes. The obvious answer would be to back a Walton-Penner Brink’s truck into Kenneth Walker III’s driveway. But the trick with tailbacks is getting value on the dollar — and ex-Carolina back Rico Dowdle (4.34 yards per carry vs. stacked boxes) might give you Walker-esque power without a Super Bowl MVP’s price tag.

Renck: Don’t overthink it. The answer is clobbering the Broncos over the head, like, say, the Jacksonville Jaguars did last winter. Etienne boasts 206 yards on 40 carries in two games against Denver. He was the best player on the field in London in 2022, part of a career that includes three seasons eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing and 1,400 in all-purpose yards. And don’t give me the lacking pass protection nonsense. He ranked sixth in blocking efficiency in 2025. His versatility and durability — he has missed six games in four years; Dobbins missed nine last season — make him a fit.

Keeler: Etienne didn’t allow a sack as a pass protector last year. When you don’t want personnel to give away your intent before the snap, a 1,000-yard rusher who can block like a third-down specialist is a ridiculous weapon in a pinch. Here’s the problem: Would the Broncos be willing to get into a bidding war for Etienne’s services? Our old friend Javonte Williams just landed a three-year, $24-million extension from Dallas, for an AAV of $8 million per season. Over the last two years, Etienne has a higher percentage of offensive snaps than Williams (54%), a higher rush-yards-per-game average (52) and a higher rate of rush touchdowns per game (0.28). Do you see the law firm of Payton & Paton forking over $8.5-9 million per year of cap space for a 1A/1B/timeshare back? Because I don’t.

Renck: Sign Breece Hall.That’s where all my emails go. One problem: there will be no Hall pass out of New York. He has an interest in Denver because of his connections to the coaching staff. But all indications are that the Jets will franchise tag Hall. That means he is not an option. And Walker, frankly, is not a three-down back, making his price prohibitive. That leaves Etienne, Tyler Allgeier and Rico Dowdle, another capable pass protector. The Super Bowl window demands a shrewd decision at this position. Give me Etienne, and if not him, Dowdle. And for good measure, draft Indiana’s Roman Hemby in the mid rounds.

Keeler: No love for Kenneth Gainwell, who averaged a Dobbins-esque 4.91 yards per carry against a stacked box for the Steelers last season, and 3.51 per tote vs. stacked boxes with Philly in 2023? I’d take Walker if price were no object, and Etienne works for largely the same reasons. We’re both in the Dowdle camp as a mid-priced option. And I’m absolutely with you when it comes to tossing a rookie in the mix, too. If Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson or Washington’s Jonah Coleman are somehow still on the board early in Day 3, you’d be nuts not to give them at least a sniff.

And because of these two decisions, the Broncos are not playing in the one game that defines a season.

Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.

It should have been Denver. The Broncos are better than the Patriots, but it makes no sense to play the victim, to campaign for president of the “what if Bo Nix…” fan club. He broke his ankle. And the Patriots broke the Broncos’ hearts.

It is water under the bridge. The shark has jumped. The Patriots won and moved on.

But what will unfold on Sunday will really make you Sea Sick.

Watching the Seahawks clobber the Patriots should let ¶¶Òõapountry know what Denver needs and guide the Broncos’ offseason plans. Seattle is not just better than Denver — I would have predicted them to rout the Broncos without Nix — but faster. More aggressive. More balanced. And opportunistic (25 takeaways).

The gap is not daunting, but it exists, and will become obvious when Seattle receives soothing balm on its beak for not giving the ball to Marshawn Lynch at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX 11 years ago.

The Broncos cannot run from the truth. Their offense is not good enough to win a Super Bowl. Even if Davis Webb calls plays — and with ESPN’s Adam Schefter saying the 31-year-old’s new salary exceeds $3 million, he should.

Denver needs diversity in its portfolio. Payton does not regret going for it on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter of the AFC Championship Game, eschewing a chip shot field goal. But he laments the play call — a sprint out pass by Stidham with only one viable target.

How did he land there? It was clear he did not trust the run game. Easy to understand. The Broncos didn’t have one.

Through 10 games, J.K. Dobbins averaged 5 yards per carry and ranked third in rushing with 772 yards. In the nine games without him, rookie starter R.J. Harvey averaged 3.3 yards per pop and rushed for 383 yards.

Does that sound at all like Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III? (Or, whispers, Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson, the player the Broncos should have drafted?).

Walker eclipsed 1,000 yards this season. He was Dobbins, but healthier. And he has gained more traction in the postseason, collecting 178 yards.

Walker is a bull at the point of attack and takes pressure off quarterback Sam Darnold. It’s not like the Seahawks are making anyone forget “The Greatest Show on Turf.” But their top receiver, NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, is several rungs on the ladder above Courtland Sutton. And Walker is an upgrade over any Broncos runner.

The Broncos need more juice.

Why? There is zero chance they go 12-3 in one-score games again next season. Miracle comebacks, like those against the Eagles and Giants, have expiration dates.

A boost can come from a receiver. A trade makes more sense than overpaying on the free agent market.

How about signing an explosive runner? Now, we are talking.

It could be Breece Hall, Travis Etienne Jr. or even Walker. But before making any decision, the Broncos need to figure out their identity in the run game. Are they going to use the wide zone? A power attack?

The offensive line continues to receive high grades on the ground, but it does not translate into the stats. It is time to figure out where the disconnect lies: in the scheme or the runners?

For Nix to reach his ceiling, he needs help around him. The window to win a title is open, but it will quickly close on fingers once Nix is no longer on his rookie contract.

But the addition of playmakers should not be reserved for the offense. Again, watch Seattle. The Broncos need their version of inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV. He impacts the game everywhere on the field.

Forget the 126 tackles. The Broncos have backers who tackle. It is the five interceptions. That is as many as the Broncos’ starting secondary — Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Brandon Jones, Talanoa Hufanga — combined for last season.

Of the current three inside linebackers — Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Dre Greenlaw — the Broncos must keep one, then head to the ATM and pursue Jacksonville free agent Devin Lloyd. He collected five picks last season as he earned All-Pro honors.

Spotrac projects a three-year, $60.4 million contract.

The draft is bursting with linebackers, but again, the championship window, remember? Urgency matters. The Broncos have not had a sideline-to-sideline backer since Danny Trevathan. Lloyd could finally solve that problem.

The Broncos had more humps than a pack of camels when Payton took over in 2023. They have gotten over all of them, save for one.

The franchise is now in Super Bo or bust mode.

The Broncos should be proud. ¶¶Òõapountry should puff out its chest. But it cannot say the Broncos are better than the Seahawks.

Not yet.

They must follow Seattle’s lead and find their sea legs with a dynamic running back and linebacker.

Sean Keeler: If I can only take one, give me Dobbins — only minus the hometown discount and with a boatload of health-related/games-played-related incentives thrown in. If I can take two, give me Dobbins and Dre Greenlaw, as the latter can get downhill to stop the run and defend the short-passing game, whereas Alex Singleton sort of does one well (the run) and Justin Strnad excels at the other (pass defense). If I can go off the list, give that money to nickel back Ja’Quan McMillian. Sorry, Jahdae Barron, but where would Vance Joseph’s D be without The Mighty Mac? With a $1.03 million cap hit, McMillian (four sacks, two interceptions, two fumbles forced, nine pass break-ups) was one of the best bargains in the NFL last fall. And as Ja’Quan’s also slated to be a restricted free agent, he won’t be the same bargain anymore.

Renck: Don’t be bull-headed. The answer is simple: “El Toro,” also known as the bilingual Dobbins. In any language, he is an effective runner, and the price will be right at roughly $2.5 million on a one-year deal. Of course, Dobbins will want a multi-season contract, but the Broncos can wait him out. The key is pairing Dobbins. Perhaps, R.J. Harvey takes the next step with a more focused running game — Denver never fully committed to the wide zone attack last season. But adding a veteran and a drafted back to replace Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin could also make Dobbins a healthy contributor for a full season.

Keeler: Only you know, and I know, that trusting Dobbins’ body to hold up for 17-19 games is a load of bull-oney. Harvey proved himself as a fun at-the-hashmarks weapon in the passing game (drops notwithstanding), especially in the red zone. RJ finishes runs strong. He just sometimes has trouble starting them, especially between the tackles. Harvey looks like a situational or  “conditional” back — someone who needs a big, bruising, north-south guy as a partner/caddy. Dobbins was every bit that guy, minus the “big” part — until he got hurt. Because he always gets hurt. So he’s “conditional,” too, in that Dobbins needs a partner back to finish the season out for him. That’s way too many “conditionals” in one backfield, my friend.

Renck: Billed as a Joker to create passing game mismatches, Engram fell out of favor because of his blocking skills, losing the starting job to Adam Trautman in training camp. If Engram was not the primary receiver on a play, he did not get the ball. Even with Davis Webb becoming the offensive coordinator, it is difficult to see Engram blossoming. The Broncos would save $3.8 million if they cut him, but absorb a $10.33 million dead cap hit, per Spotrac. It is worth it if they only plan on employing him as a platoon player. Moving on from Greenlaw brings $4.3 million in dead cap money. Greenlaw’s body betrayed him with quad and hamstring injuries. He wasn’t as effective in coverage as hoped, and his postseason presser cast doubt about whether he wants to return to play for Sean Payton, whose practice schedule, as noted by the linebacker, is a lot more strenuous than Kyle Shanahan’s. If bringing back one of the three, make mine Dobbins.

Keeler: Last Monday’s exit interviews at Dove Valley were telling. Engram and Greenlaw said some of the quiet parts out loud regarding the methods to Payton’s madness. Dobbins, by contrast, sounded positively giddy about getting back onto the field in Broncos orange. Greenlaw’s contract for 2026 So if you were looking to cut him, this might be the best window.